PHOCUSED Hawaii

07/30/2024

A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy lifts up the significant tax contributions that undocumented immigrants make to our federal, state and local governments through the taxes they pay each year.

04/26/2024

04/09/2024

“But critics say that relaxing the estate tax would benefit only Hawai‘i’s wealthiest residents while costing the state some $43.3 million per year in lost revenue.

“Gavin Thornton, executive director of the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, told lawmakers the measure would only benefit the wealthiest 0.2% of Hawai‘i residents.

“‘We cannot afford to provide a $43 million tax break at a time of such great need for our broader community: Maui wildfire relief; hazard pay for state workers; and numerous other services and supports for Hawai‘i’s people,’ Thornton said in written testimony.

“Senate Bill 3289 sparked a heated debate on the House floor on Friday, with a dozen Democrats voting against the bill and other lawmakers expressing reservations about the measure. Rep. Burt Kobayashi, a member of the Finance Committee, urged his colleagues to reject the bill.

“‘I’ve decided that this bill puts you on the side of either for the people, or for the very wealthy, and by very wealthy I mean couples that have an estate exceeding $11 million, which are very, very few,’ Kobayashi said.

“He said the state and the community have no guarantee that granting the tax break to some of Hawai‘i’s wealthiest families will result in any benefit to anyone else.

“The measure is scheduled for another floor vote on Tuesday, but it is not certain that the House will again vote to approve it.”

Tell your lawmakers to reject estate tax giveaways for the rich at bit.ly/hitaxfairness

Dayton, Kevin, “The Last Major Tax Bills Still Alive This Session Would Cut Income And Estate Taxes,” Honolulu Civil Beat, April 9, 2024, https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/04/the-last-major-tax-bills-still-alive-this-session-would-cut-income-and-estate-taxes

04/05/2024

A bill allowing this has already passed through the state Senate with no votes in opposition.

02/29/2024

02/06/2024

🚨 Submit testimony in SUPPORT of SB2784 by Tues., Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. 🚨

This bill repeals the authority of employers to pay tipped employees less than the minimum wage. The so-called "tip credit" is actually a penalty that renders tipped workers twice as likely to live in poverty.

08/25/2023

“Our vision is to promote community safety while focusing on rehabilitation and ensure a successful reintegration back into the community,” he said, acknowledging the challenges of overcrowding in facilities and funding.

Johnson said the system is old and antiquated, and the facilities are designed neither for the current large population nor rehabilitation.

He said he wants to partner with community organizations to break the cycle of generational incarceration.

“We need as many jail diversion programs as possible to stop people from coming to jail and provide the services they need,” he said.

Three hundred people gathered in Kona on Wednesday to discuss and analyze the problem of prison recidivism among former inmates.