honolulutraffic.com
formerly The Alliance for Traffic Improvement
Seeking cost effective ways to reduce traffic congestion on Oahu
For & Against the rail tax:
Basically it is the federal, state, and city elected officials together with developers, non-bid consulting and construction companies, construction unions versus us.
The small business community is dead set against rail. The largest businesses are all over the place on the issue.
The Hawaii Chamber of Commerce first said they were for a rail tax. Subsequently on March 21, 2004, the Chamber flopped declaring,
" After lengthy meaningful discussions and debate between board members, some of the top business minds in the state, representing both large and small businesses, the Chamber’s decision is to oppose this bill." READ MORE
Later the Chamber flopped again. One line says it all:
" After lengthy discussion and careful deliberation with Congressman Abercrombie, Mayor Hannemann, state senators and representatives, state and county administrators, the Chamber believes:[they must support it]"
In other words, after talking to their business members they were opposed. Then they talked to the pols where they got worked, cajoled and logrolled. How pathetic. READ MORE
The Business Roundtable submitted written testimony to the City Council several times that said they would oppose the rail tax until such time as it had been shown by analysis that rail would offer significant benefits to offset the costs. However, their Executive Director, at the same times that he submitted written testimony, testified verbally that the Roundtable supported it. All rather strange. The Roundtable has now recently said they are for rail with no conditions.
ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSED TO GE TAX INCREASE
HAWAII
Hawaii
Transportation Association
Small Business
Hawaii, Sam Slom
NFIB, Ron Heller
Retail Merchants Association, Carol Pregill
Hawaii Assn. of Realtors, Karen Iwamoto
Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, Dave Rolf
Hawaii Business League, Tim Lyons (anti-tax only)
Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Lowell Kalapa (anti-tax only)
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Richard Rowland
honolulutraffic.com, Cliff Slater
League of Women Voters, Arlene Kim Ellis
American Society of Travel Agents - Hawaii
Hawaii Activities & Tours Association
NATIONAL
Americans for Tax Reform, Grover
Norquist
National Taxpayers Union
National Tax Foundation, Washington DC
Individuals opposed.