Taxes and Spending

October 2009

A Time for Transparency

Why Hawaii Needs a New Transparency Web Site ASAP

by Jamie Story

The Grassroot Institute believes it is past time for the state to allow those who pay the bills to see the checkbook. We call on all state and local government agencies to voluntarily make this information available to the public—now! (more)

see comments

Taxes and Spending

July 2009

House Lagging on Public Posting of Expenses

by Pearl Hahn

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the House Chief Administrative Officer earlier this year to post expenses of House members online as soon as possible. Yet, the deadline for doing so has passed (three months and counting). Presently, there is no plan in place for the Senate to follow suit. Part of the hold-up is coming from the Committee on House Administration, which claims that security and support issues are delaying publication of the expenses. (more)

see comments

Taxes and Spending

July 2009

Honolulu Spending On Contracts

by Pearl Hahn

It takes a lot of work to run a city. In addition to various programs, officials must maintain sidewalks and roads, traffic lights, security, among other services. The State Procurement Office (SPO), which serves as the central authority on procurement statues and rules for all government bodies of the state, is the central source on all matters of procurement policy. The website is regularly updated with awards, bids, vendors, proposals, and more. (more)

see comments

Taxes and Spending

July 2009

The Facts Behind the Tax

by Pearl Hahn

Raising taxes on the tourism industry has forced several hotels to absorb hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses because it is too late to change rates already quoted to booked guests. (Check out the Advertiser's "Impact of Raising Hotel Tax"). (more)

see comments

Taxes and Spending

October 2008

The Real Cost of the Rail GET Increase

by

In April 2005 when state lawmakers debated giving the City and County of Honolulu the option to add a 0.5% surcharge to the state's four percent general excise tax (GET) for 15 years in order to pay for its transit project, Hawaii was a much different place. The 0.5% surcharge, a 12.5% increase to the GET rate, was approved without any tax relief to lower income residents and without an actual price tag for the transit project. (more)

see comments

Taxes and Spending

October 2008

What Can Bring Increased Accountability to Hawaii Government?

The ConCon Can

by Pearl Hahn

The 1978 Constitutional Convention illustrated the impact 102 Hawaii citizens could have in shaping the state. Most of the delegates to the convention were everyday people of different backgrounds and political affiliations, coming together not in pursuit of selfish interests but with a common commitment to exercise their right to be heard. It was the start of political careers for some, such as future governor John Waihee and future Honolulu mayor Jeremy Harris, and a high note in the long volunteer service career of then civil servant Bill Paty and public interest attorney William Burgess. Thirty years later, we are presented with the same opportunity in a time of new predicaments and concerns. (more)

see comments