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The Economic Revitalization Task Force — appointed by Hawaii's governor and legislative leaders — released its unanimous package of recommendations just days before this broadcast, after months of deliberations involving some 170 working-group participants and more than 800 public suggestions. Roth convenes three task force members — Thomas C. Leppert, Patricia Loui, and Tom Okamura — to explain proposals that include raising the general excise tax from 4 to 5.35 percent while cutting personal income taxes and offering credits to households earning under $20,000. Leppert reports that Hawaii has lost roughly 20,000 jobs in five of the past six years and argues that eliminating GET pyramiding will offset much of the new burden on low-income residents. Okamura stresses that the governor, House Speaker, and Senate President were themselves task force members, lending the package unusual political weight. Critics push back forcefully: a dissenting Democrat in the legislature calls in early to warn of trickle-down effects and disproportionate impacts on the poor and elderly. Callers throughout the hour invoke Reaganomics and question whether a projected $400 million revenue reduction will stimulate growth or shrink essential services.
Transcript
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Companion newspaper commentaries
Commentaries by the guests, published in The Honolulu Advertiser around the broadcast.
