For many years, the counties and the State have been bickering about how much support from the State’s transient accommodations tax (TAT) they should get to help fund county infrastructure. County systems like fire, police, and parks maintenance undeniably help … Read More
Last week we wrote about an unflattering report on the State Auditor released by a working group convened by the House Speaker’s Office. The Speaker’s memo seemingly asked his working group to help the Auditor’s Office optimize its job prioritization … Read More
The House Speaker’s office recently released an unflattering report on the State Auditor. It faulted the Auditor’s Office for appointing executives without proper experience and said the move contributed to “delays and untimely reports,” and other actions that were “not … Read More
We wrote last week about House Bill 58, a “Frankenbill” made from bits and pieces of other bills. By putting those pieces into a bill that is still alive at the Legislature, those pieces are given new life. It turns … Read More
Most of us have heard of “Frankenstein,” a novel written in 1818 by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. The story’s protagonist, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, created a creature by assembling bits and pieces from cadavers and then bringing it to life using some … Read More
A little more than a month ago, we ranted on about Senate Bill 815, the “maintenance of effort” bill, that would ensure funding for the Department of Education (DOE). After some refinement after going through several legislative committees, it now … Read More
We in Hawaii are getting national (and some international) attention. But not the good kind. Witness an editorial from the Wall Street Journal that was published on March 12, 2021, titled “Confiscation in Paradise: Move to Hawaii, pay the nation’s … Read More
In the couple of weeks before the Legislature’s “First Decking” deadline, legislators were hearing tax-related bills, not only the “Enola Gay” bill we discussed last week. Different tax increase bills of all stripes were being considered. The testimony in response … Read More
What we have been seeing at the Legislature in terms of bills proposing new taxes has been relatively tame. Until now, that is. Senate Bill 56, with the ominous title “Relating to Revenue Generation,” has been granted its first hearing … Read More
We have been railing for some weeks now about the goings-on at our Legislature. This week we spotlight the Department of Taxation. On February 16th, the Department published a Tax Information Release, a public statement of interpretation of the law, … Read More