Below is a listing of the latest news on legislative issues and anti-smoking movements affecting your personal freedom and rights to enjoy cigars. Get Involved, Learn about the Issues, and Take Action!
Hawaii taxes to go up July 1 as lawmakers override governor
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| May 9th, 2009, 07:04 AM | Hawaii |
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MAY 9 - The dramatic final week of the state legislative session wound down yesterday with Democratic lawmakers following through on a promise to override Gov. Linda Lingle's vetoes of four measures that will increase taxes to balance the state budget.
Hawai'i now has the highest income tax rate for top bracket earners in the country, and visitors paying $200 a night for a hotel room will pay an additional $4 in taxes by 2011.
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Lingle vetoes tax hikes, Democrats plan overrides
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| May 7th, 2009, 10:47 AM | Hawaii |
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HONOLULU (AP), MAY 7 — Hundreds of people cheered "veto, veto, veto" as Republican Gov. Linda Lingle smacked her red veto stamp on tax hikes on tourists, high-income earners and property sales.
More than 400 business leaders, tax protesters and hotel workers joined Lingle in the Capitol rotunda for a public vetoing ceremony in an effort to pressure the majority Democratic Legislature into backing off their planned veto overrides.
"They can't tax their way to prosperity. They can't tax their way out of this economic crisis," Lingle told the applauding crowd. "The only thing that gets us out of this crisis is more visitors coming, more homes being built, more jobs being created."
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Hawaii Legislature passes tax hikes to ease budget gap
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| April 23rd, 2009, 05:16 AM | Hawaii |
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APR 23 - Ignoring Gov. Linda Lingle's veto threat, the state House and Senate voted yesterday to raise taxes to help balance the state's budget.
The bills would increase state income taxes on the affluent, hotel-room taxes that fall mainly on tourists, cigarette and other tobacco taxes, and the conveyance tax on the sale of luxury homes.
Lawmakers sent a bill that would restrict high-technology tax credits back to conference committee for further discussion, driving a wedge between House and Senate negotiators that halted budget talks last night.
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State Lawmakers Look To Enforce Smoking Ban
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| February 19th, 2009, 06:43 PM | Hawaii |
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HONOLULU, FEB 19 -- The state has had a sweeping smoking ban for more than two years, but the health department is not enforcing the ban, officials said.
The American Cancer Society said more and more bars are ignoring state smoking prohibitions and complaints are increasing.
Lawmakers considered a new tact on Wednesday -- a proposal to have country liquor inspectors help the state enforce the smoking laws.
Even though smoking is prohibited, an estimated 20 Oahu bar owners allow their customers to light up.
Bar keep Bill Comerford said with the poor economy more bars than ever are open to smoking to attract business.
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Lawmakers Consider Wakiki Beach Smoking Ban
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| February 4th, 2009, 01:58 PM | Hawaii |
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WAKIKI, Hawaii, FEB 4 -- Smoking would be banned along Waikiki Beach under a proposal making its way through the state Legislature.
A broader proposal for a smoking ban at all state beaches and beach parks failed last year's legislative session.
But KITV's Keoki Kerr reported that the more-focused smoking ban has a better chance of passing.
Waikiki Beach has surf, sand and cigarette butts, and there's a new proposal to ban smoking there.
Even smokers in the Beilharz family from Melbourne, Australia said they support the idea.
"Because I think a lot of people don't pick up their butts, and then why would you want it in the sand?" said Helen Beilharz.
They said they're already used to many smoking restrictions in Australia so it wouldn't bother them if they had to walk a few steps to the sidewalk or any private property along the beach to light up.
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