Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, February 6, 2014
SB 2169: GE Tax Cut Would Help Working Families and the Poor
By Grassroot Institute @ 11:41 PM :: 3833 Views :: Taxes

Grassroot Institute Testifies in Favor of Ending Tax on Food

SB 2169 Would Help Working Families and the Poor

News Release from Grassroot Institute

HONOLULU, Hawaii—February 6, 2014—Today, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii submitted testimony in favor of SB 2169, which would provide an exemption to the General Excise Tax for food and medical services.

In that testimony, Grassroot emphasized that the savings this represents to Hawaii's working families will give real and immediate help in difficult economic times. Already, 32 states have similar exemptions, and research has demonstrated that low and middle-income families spend a larger proportion of their income on food costs, making SB 2169 an effective way of providing relief to those who need it most..

"It has been a goal of this body and of the Grassroot Institute to relieve the burden that the high cost of living in Hawaii places on the working men and women of our state," stated Keli'i Akina, President of Grassroot Institute. "With the average Hawaii family of four paying more than $1000 dollars per month on groceries—nearly double the national average—this bill represents real and immediate relief for thousands of Hawaii citizens.  It is estimated that, if passed, this bill will save the average working family in our state approximately $450 per year. For many families, that $450 is the safety net needed to overcome an unexpected expense, such as a car repair or a way to pay the bills during a difficult phase of employment."

Dr. Akina concluded: "Grassroot Institute of Hawaii looks for free market solutions that would strengthen our state’s economy while remaining responsive to the needs of our citizens. It is our opinion that SB 2169 fits these goals admirably by reducing a tax that creates a disproportionate burden on the low-income and working families of our state."

Grassroot Institute's testimony can be read in full at: LINK

###

About the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii:

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, the free market, and limited, accountable government throughout Hawai`i and the Asia-Pacific region.  Read more about us at http://www.grassrootinstitute.org/

Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GrassrootInstitute

Donate to help us grow: http://tinyurl.com/GrassrootDonate

Tweet us at http://twitter.com/grassroothawaii

About Grassroot President:

Dr. Akina is a recognized scholar, educator, public policy spokesperson, and community leader. In 2012, he was a candidate for the non-partisan position of Trustee in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  Akina has decades-long experience leading non-profit organizations including Youth for Christ Hawai`i and the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders. An expert in East-West Philosophy, he has taught at universities in China and the United States, and continues as an adjunct instructor at Hawai`i Pacific University and the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa. Read more: http://bit.ly/AkinaBioInfo

Text, Status: SB2169

AP: Hawaii weighs lifting taxes on groceries, rent

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT