July 2010
2010 Legislative Score Card
Did Your Legislator Pass the Freedom Test?
This year, Hawaii
state legislators were put to the financial test. With a record state shortfall,
the legislature came up with all types of creative solutions.
One was to raise
taxes, which the House and Senate approved in more than a dozen different votes.
Another “solution” was to raid almost every special fund and use the money to
fill the depleted general fund. Unfortunately, spending cuts were not high on
the list.
In the link below, you will be able to see that each
legislator has been scored based on his or her performance in the 2010
legislative session. Scores indicate the percentage of votes in which
legislators voted in favor of limited government and greater individual liberty.
While a few legislators seized the shortfall as an opportunity to make tough
spending decisions, the vast majority voted to continue for the status
quo—excessive spending and even higher taxes for the people of Hawaii.
The scores are based on
the following six categories:
· Spending—bills
that reduce (+) or increase (-) spending.
· Taxes—bills that
reduce (+) or increase (-) the amount of taxes and fees paid to the State of
Hawaii.
· Scope of
government—bills that reduce (+) or increase (-) the size of government beyond
its necessary function.
· Business Climate—bills
that improve (+) or harm (-) Hawaii’s business climate through regulatory
changes.
· Individual
Liberty—bills that protect (+) or limit (-) individual liberties.
· Raids—bills that raid special funds in order to balance the general fund (-), or bills that creates new special funds in order to mask new or increased taxes or fees (-).
Blogs
The Mystery of Hawaiian History
Correcting historical revisionism and misconceptions promoted by the Akaka Bill.
Hawaii Spendometer
How Fast Does The State Government Spend Your Money?
$9,122,166,121.47
