Transcript: KITV Video

KITV: Republican Barbara Marumoto criticized the Governor’s plan to tax pensions for people making more than $37,500 a year. 

Marumoto: Its almost cruel…

Abercrombie:  So if you want to start an argument about what constitutes cruelty, then I think you ought to at least be accurate about what we’re talking about in terms of the numbers.

Marumoto: We receive a lot of entreaties to not pass this particular tax.

Abercrombie: That’s why it is egregious for you to indicate that what I’m saying is that somebody with a sole total income of $37,500—that that is their sole income—that they would be asked under those circumstances to pay that.  But if anybody wants to try and manipulate the numbers for a personal political agenda in order to  try and score political points, let me tell you—this is one Governor that’s not going to put up with it. 

KITV Daryl Huff:  Now afterwards the Governor’s Budget chief agreed that Marumoto’s facts—even though Abercrombie had attacked her for them—were accurate.  The Governor’s Pension Tax plan does indeed kick in at a total income of $37,500 per year.  And that’s another part of the Governor’ proposal that is very unlikely to come out the way he proposed it.

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ABERCROMBIE BUDGET LACKS FISCAL SENSE

From www.GOPHawaii.com

Hawaii Republican Party Chairman Jonah Ka`auwai released the following state today on reaction to Governor Abercrombie’s budget proposal and his exchange with State Representative Barbara Marumoto.

“Governor Abercrombie’s budget shows that he does not understand the simple concept that all families and business must face, when you don’t have money, stop spending.  The Governor's plan to increase spending by $700 million when we are already facing a $700 million deficit is hard to understand at best.  At worst it displays the broken tax and spend mentality that he learned in Washington DC is now going to be implemented in Hawaii.” Stated Ka`auwai.

Ka`auwai continued, “Not only does the Governor not understand how to balance the budget, he seems to not understand his own proposal.  In an inappropriate and embarrassing exchange with Rep. Marumoto yesterday the Governor attacked her for pointing out that taxing retirees who made only $37,500 in retirement income is cruel.  He accused Rep. Marumoto of misrepresenting the facts when the reality was he did not know what his own proposal said and Marumoto was 100% accurate.   This lack of understanding of his own budget should cause every taxpayer pause and concern.”

“Now that we are in Abercrombie’s “New Day” of tax and spend government in Hawaii, taxpayers can count on Republicans to stand up loud and clear against tax increases and fight to protect the current and future earnings of our residents.  Hawaii Republican’s believe that just like our families, government should live within its means and we will continue to fight for responsible and accountable government spending.” Ka`auwai concluded.

Click here to view the whole exchange between Abercrombie and Marumoto.  Click here to view the story clarifying that Abercrombie’s budget does in fact start taxing pension income of $37,500.