Jamie Story of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: Tax Hikes in the Aloha State

The Hawaii Legislature forced through several tax increases near the end of the legislative session, including raising the income tax as well as excise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. With the exception of the cigarette tax increase, all these tax hikes were vetoed by Governor Linda Lingle on May 7 in Hawaii's first-ever public veto ceremony attended by nearly a thousand taxpayers and citizens. However, on May 11 the state legislature was able to override each of...