The Truth about Takai Voting to Increase the Pension Tax

Message to Supporters from Djou Campaign Manager Rep Barbara Marumoto   October 29, 2014

Mark Takai voted in favor of the pension tax.  That’s a statement of fact.

I served in the State House with Takai in 2011 and I was with him when he voted on first, second and third/final reading to pass the House pension tax bill.  Takai voted for the Abercrombie pension tax and knew he was voting to institute a pension tax at the time the vote was taken on third and FINAL reading in the State House.

What makes this even more disappointing is that Takai actually ran a TV commercial claiming he opposed the pension tax “every time.”  This is false and Takai knows it.

The fact is that Mark Takai first voted in favor of the pension tax bill (HB1092) on first reading on January 26, 2011.  Takai then voted again in favor of HB1092 HD1 on second reading on March 4, 2011.  And then he voted a third time in favor of the pension tax bill (HB1092 HD1) on third and final reading on March 8, 2011.

With Takai’s vote on March 8, 2011, the State Senate could have then adopted the State House’s version of the bill and sent the measure to Gov. Abercrombie for signature.  This March 8, 2011 vote would then stand as the final vote Takai took on the pension tax issue.  At no time did Takai ever vote against HB 1092.

Only after substantial protest by the senior community, did Takai flip his position on the pension tax and oppose the Senate bill, SB570.  This is far from Takai’s claim of opposing the pension tax “every time.”

The statement that Mark Takai voted for the pension tax is a simple fact and the plain truth.  Nothing deceptive about it.

There are a lot of good reasons to support Charles for Congress.  UH Professor, Panos Prevedouros, recently sent an email laying out his reasons for supporting Charles:

"Hawaii’s congressional seniority has dropped from stellar to minimal.  In a Republican controlled Senate and House, sending four Democrats is stupid, plain and simple. We’ve already been pushed to the back burner; next we’ll be permanently delegated to the pantry.  Charles has congressional seniority and will be positioned in the right side of the aisle. It’s a strategic move to Hawaii’s advantage."

Please remember to VOTE.  Walk-in voting at Honolulu Hale or Kapolei Hale runs from 8am to 4pm through this Saturday, Nov.1st. Election day is just five days away on Nov. 4th.

This is a very close election.  Everything and anything you do between now and election day will make a difference to help build a new Hawaii and better America.

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Djou - Takai is Right, Let's Talk About Taxes

News Release from Djou Campaign October 30, 2014

Former Congressman Charles Djou's campaign reacted to the negative campaigning in the race for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District now taken by his opponent Mark Takai.

"I am disappointed in the new hyper-negative tone of this race taken by my opponent," stated Congressman Djou.  "Mark Takai is right, however, that we need an honest discussion on tackling the cost of living and which candidate is best equipped to hold down taxes.  My campaign is excited to run on our record of always opposing tax increases and forcing the government to live within its means.  We are running a positive issue-based campaign.  We will reduce the cost of living by holding down tax increases and eliminating unnecessary government regulations, such as the Jones Act, that needlessly raises prices for local residents."

Former State Representative Barbara Marumoto, the Djou Hawaii campaign manager added, "Mark Takai simply has no new ideas and no plan.  That's why his campaign has become so negative, Takai has nothing to run on.  The Takai campaign is focused on fear because he has nothing to say about the future."  Marumoto served with Takai in the State House in 2011 when Takai voted for the Abercrombie pension tax.

The Djou campaign points out that Takai is on record raising taxes time and again.  Takai himself admitted in a September debate hosted by the Chamber of Commerce that he regularly supports tax increases.  Takai has run a TV commercial stating he's for the people "every time" and opposed the pension tax increase.  The truth is that on third and final reading on March 8, 2011, Takai voted for HB 1092, HD1, to establish the Abercrombie pension tax.  Only after substantial public outcry did Takai switch his position and then oppose the pension tax in the Senate version of the bill, after he was for it in the House version.

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