Entries for 'Grassroot Institute'

But signs in the media, the Legislature and the governor’s office all point to a special session this summer where the tax hikes are likely to materialize....

We're the Hawaii expats....

It's easier than ever before to rent space in your house, but a movement to crack down on home-sharing may threaten this new and evolving industry....

Today, the U.S. has fewer shipyards than any time in the recent past. Between 2006 and 2011, the Jones Act-eligible fleet shrank by over 17 percent....

That’s because when government salaries increase, so do pension promises....

...the phenomenon of locals leaving Hawaii to live on the mainland has been increasing significantly in recent years....

Most families in Hawaii know that they shouldn’t spend more money than they have. But somehow, Hawaii legislators haven’t gotten the message....

As comprehensive policy failures go, COFA may be the best-kept secret in Washington, D.C....

...the Jones Act is not just a Hawaii problem — it’s a national problem....

At nearly 100 years old, it is still able to defeat reform efforts … despite a mountain of evidence that it cripples the economy, fails to achieve its aims and is badly in need of modernization....

...Jones Act distorts U.S. economy, endangers military....

For Randy Perreira, head of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the problems at Hawaii’s airports are just a matter of not enough kumbaya....

When first introduced, HB1518 put forth a very worrisome proposal....

Hawaii lawmakers would like us to believe that they are cutting the state budget in the current legislative session, but it’s not true....

...The Governor did, at least, stop short of calling it his “Five Year Plan”....

...Hawaii’s public pension system has been operating like a Ponzi scheme....

...Ige’s current budget overspends by $292 million next year....

...Watchdog Group Says State Budget Must be Reevaluated....

... the Honolulu Star-Advertiser noted with apparent alarm the “uncommonly heavy load of tax proposals still moving through both state Capitol chambers” ....

...Unsustainable government salaries and pensions are worsening the crisis....

SB107 would raise the minimum wage 62% from $9.25 / hour ....

...if the minimum wage was increased, many grocery stores today would simply replace workers with automated tablets....

...Ige announced that he would cut $220 million from his current spending plan. However, the ‘cuts’ are only reductions in proposed spending increases....

 ...$9,450 a year more without spending a penny....

Hawaii is missing $23 billion ....

Keli'i Akina and Andy Blom share Grassroot insights from Hawaii and DC....

...Honolulu County workers make more than neighbor island workers....

...New data show government outpacing private sector, pointing to an unhealthy economy....

...give everybody a pay raise--by cutting taxes....

the Department of Taxation has been allowed to keep a full 10% of the rail surcharge for the costs of administering it, despite the fact that the law directs DOTAX to calculate how much is required for its management of the surcharge, then return the remainder to the rail project....

Salaries and benefits of Hawaii government workers have increased by 26 percent in the past decade....

...challenging times include high shipping costs, high taxes, a high rate of public sector unionism, shaky government pension programs, inadequate housing supply and pervasive homelessness, excessive business and employment regulations, cronyism and corruption....

Grassroot Institute Urges Legislature to Act on Surcharge "Skimming"....

...county workers in Hawaii make a mean average wage of $61,365 a year....

Students, parents and teachers from Lanakila Baptist School held a special event this week to celebrate National School Choice Week....

We congratulate the Senate Republican Conference for its vote on January 10th to keep the ban on earmarks....

...non-government workers in Hawaii make, on average, $43,544 in annual pay and benefits (adjusted for cost of living) which ranks as the lowest compensation in in the nation....

...Baylen Linnekin is the author of Biting the Hand that Feeds Us....

Dr Goodman is one of four people who have most influenced the changes shaping our health care system....

State lawmakers were in shock this week as Hawaii’s pension debt increased from $8 billion to $12 billion....

Case on appeal to Supreme Court challenges "chilling effect" of campaign finance law....

"Our membership will live two to three years longer, which means we’ll have to pay...."

The Hawaii state budget figures show a record high surplus of over $1 billion in 2016....

...the last project to be approved was in 2013....

Instead of spending money on enforcement, it would be better to use resources to expedite the permitting process....

Hawaii's ranking was dragged down by especially low scores in income tax (49th), sales tax (50th), and union density (48th)....

The term "shared economy" tends to bring to mind app-based services like Uber, Lyft, or Airbnb. But that's only one facet....