Entries for April 2017

TAT Tax Hike for Rail and HSTA and a Massive Income tax Hike on Small Business Owners....

How does a county raise money?

The bill will have it's final reading in the House on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, during the 9:00 a.m. Floor Session.  The Senate reading is also scheduled for May 2, 2017, during the 10:00 a.m. Floor Session....

... MAY 4, 2017 -- ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE ....

...Japan Market Led the Growth in Spending and Arrivals....

There are two factors contributing to this regional variation. The first is that higher-income taxpayers tend to take larger deductions....The second factor for county-by-county variation is that state and local tax regimes differ substantially....

...Revocation of the rulings would close a loophole that allows the use of non-Jones Act eligible vessels to support the offshore industry....

...Shifting Burden to Hotels Will Hurt Tourism and Employment....

On average, 23.3% of state and local tax revenues came from sales taxes in fiscal year 2014.  For Hawaii 37.6%....

“Hopefully soon.  Still waiting” – Rep Beth Fukumoto....

The most recent version of Rich States, Poor States has been released, and once again, Hawaii ends up on the wrong end of that title....

The election is slated to begin April 28, 2017 and end May 19, 2017....

Ninety-eight percent of the nearly 8,000 members of HSTA who cast ballots across the state today voted to ratify a new four-year contract....

...the phenomenon of locals leaving Hawaii to live on the mainland has been increasing significantly in recent years....

Most families in Hawaii know that they shouldn’t spend more money than they have. But somehow, Hawaii legislators haven’t gotten the message....

As comprehensive policy failures go, COFA may be the best-kept secret in Washington, D.C....

...the Jones Act is not just a Hawaii problem — it’s a national problem....

OHA today named David K. Laeha as the agency’s new Chief Financial Officer and Resource Management Director. He will start on May 16....

OHA Edited That Part Of The Meeting Video Out Before They Later Posted It Online....

The experts at Anderson Economic Group have considered 11 taxes that businesses pay in order to produce the most comprehensive business tax burden ranking to date....

There are six silver medal schools and five bronze medal schools from Hawaii included in the 2017 rankings of U.S. News Best High Schools....

Hawaii ranks 8th for problem gambling treatment ....

With only 10 of Hawaii’s 51 state representatives voting against SB 501, the measure will now go back to the state senate for a review of amendments....

Karen Pence, a champion for art therapy programs, visited the arts and crafts building at Schofield, where she spoke with patients currently enrolled in art therapy programs....

The maximum income for applicants is 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with rents ranging from $880 to $1,306 per month....

House and Senate conferees met on Monday to approve a final version of HB100 HD1 SD1, the state budget bill covering fiscal years 2018 and 2019....

The hearing will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday April 26 in Council Chambers on the eighth floor of Kalana O Maui at 200 S. High St....

...people would lean in close and whisper quietly if we were about GMOs....

Preparedness Index assesses all 50 states & District of Columbia for health security and preparedness....

28 key indicators of cost, quality and access to children’s health care....

The Vice President is concluding his trip with a visit to Honolulu, Hawaii on April 24....

Compelling licensed professionals to speak the government’s message is dangerous....

....Kahului, Pearl City, Waipahu, Hilo, Kaneohe....

IRS Ruling: Act 1 Cash Payout to HGEA members would cost ERS its nonprofit status .... 

HSTA members are very grateful to Gov. David Ige for personally taking part in negotiations over several days to help us....

...in 2016 26 percent of the electricity used by customers came from renewable resources - up from 23 percent the year before....

...Upcoming Legislative Dates....

...HB165 (now headed to a Conference Committee) would modernize the existing Sunshine Law by requiring electronic posting of public agency meeting notices and minutes and making board packets available for public inspection....

“To the visitors already in the Hawaiian Islands or planning a trip here in the coming months, there is no need to be overly concerned. Please patronize our restaurants...."

On April 21, 1898, Spain broke off diplomatic relations with the United States....

HTA commentary about House Bill 1471 and Senate Bill 704, as they relate to transient accommodations....

...the Final Environmental Impact Statement concluded that rail would reduce traffic congestion by less than 2% and that “traffic congestion will be worse in the future with rail than what it is today....

...Caldwell introduces bill authorizing city to extend GET surcharge to pay for rail construction....

...some environmentalists are saying open-ocean aquaculture deserves a fresh look....

The watered down version of SB501 (Relating to Health) has been scheduled for a hearing in the conference committee tomorrow (04-21-17) at 1:00PM in conference room 016....

...June 13, 2017....

...Governor of Hawaii, David Ige, has officially proclaimed May 13th as Children of Fallen Patriots Day....

Rep Gene Ward today sent Attorney General Doug Chin a letter asking for a first Amendment ruling regarding the potential misuse of censorship on the House Floor on April 11, 2017....