NO MORE BAILOUTS FOR RAIL!

Message to Supporters from Honolulu County Republican Party, August 14, 2017

The Mayor, Honolulu City Council and HART have made a real mess of this rail project since the first 16-year tax hike took effect in 2006.  Now, after extending that tax increase for another five years in 2015, a close-knit group of State lawmakers have been talking about a third tax hike for rail behind closed doors in preparation for today's informational hearing and the upcoming ‘special session’ at the State Capitol next week.

Some insight to these talks can be gleaned from a recent statement by Speaker Saiki, “When the legislature is forced to increase the General Excise Tax to pay for rail, to pay for a city project, it really prevents future legislatures from increasing the General Excise Tax for state purposes.” 

Our lawmakers are not concerned with the out of control rail costs, or it's gross mismanagement, they're more concerned about how they will be able to justify future extension of the GET for State purposes.

This means that today's information hearing is nothing more than kabuki theater designed to make us believe they're concerned.  Don't buy it!

We need to draw a line in the sand, please make your voice heard right now during this critical time before lawmakers hold the 'special session' of the state legislature.

Check out our new video which sets the record straight about this boondoggle.

Then, please sign our petition to tell State lawmakers NO MORE BAILOUTS FOR RAIL!

Finally, please start contacting your legislators and the governor today.  And prepare to testify (in person if possible) against legislation designed to make Hawaii even more of a tax nightmare.

Fellow Republicans, thank you for your support and welcome to the fight!

Respectfully,

Brett Kulbis

Honolulu County Chairman

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Rep. Tupola’s Statement on Rail Informational Briefing

News Release from Office of Rep Andria Tupola, August 13, 2017

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI –  Representative Andria Tupola (R-43 - ʻEwa Villages, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Nanakai Gardens, Ko Olina, Kahe Point, Nānākuli, Lualualei, Māʻili), a member  of the House Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on tomorrow’s informational briefing on the Honolulu Rail Project:

“The failed Honolulu Rail Project has been front and center for the majority of this year. The people are tired of the unrestrained use of their dollars for a project that is now three times more expensive than promised and the most expensive rail project, per capita, in the world.

“As we prepare for the informational briefing tomorrow morning, City and HART leaders need to prove to the entire state that they can handle taxpayer dollars responsibly by providing a step-by-step plan of action to ensure not one more dollar goes to waste.

“I will continue to fight for Hawaiʻi’s families that are tired of the burden of high taxation as we move towards special session.”

The Rail Informational Briefing will be held tomorrow, August 14th, 2017, beginning at 10:00am in the Auditorium of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol building.

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