GOP senators
reaffirm tax battle

They say they will fight the tax
and fee hikes that the Senate
is about to approve

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By Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com

Whatever Democrats call it, the Senate's three Republicans say it is a tax increase that they will continue to oppose as the Legislature heads into the second half of its session.

"If I'm paying for it, there's no distinction whatsoever ... whether we call it a tax, whether we call it a fee, whether we call it an entitlement, whether we call it an enhancement," Senate Minority Leader Sam Slom said.

The three Republicans compiled for reporters a list of tax increase proposals poised to be passed today by the Democratic-controlled Senate.

They include increases or initiation of taxes or fees on marriage, burial, liquor, airline passenger travel, driver education and long-term health care.

"All of these measures increase the cost for Arnie Aloha and his wife and his family, and that's why we should be looking at cost reductions, not increases," Slom said.

The Senate and the House are set today to vote on bills that originated in their respective chambers before the measures cross over to the other side.

Still, Republicans in the Senate said they have a lot in common with the Senate Democrats.

They say there is bipartisan support for the repeal of the controversial traffic camera program, decentralization of the public school system and staying clear of the $213 million Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to offset the $300 million shortfall in the state budget as Gov. Ben Cayetano is proposing.

"There's a difference of opinion, clearly, as to whether or not the hurricane relief fund should be returned to those that paid into it, but there is solid bipartisan support that the money should not be used by administration," Slom said.

During the second half of the session, Republicans will be focusing on getting the post-Sept. 11 economy back on track, he said.

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