April 14, 2006- Tax Relief

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Aloha,

This week, Hawai`i residents join fellow Americans in filing their state and federal taxes.  

For many, especially Hawai`i's lower-income wage earners, the tax burden continues to be too high.   They struggle to pay for basic necessities like food, rent and medical care.

For the past four years, our Administration has urged the Legislature to pass meaningful tax relief for the people who need it most.

We want to raise the standard deduction to increase people's take-home pay.

We also support the Senate President’s proposal to widen income tax brackets.

These two measures would reduce the tax burden by $86 million and benefit 80% of Hawai`i’s taxpayers.

I am also proposing an ongoing tax credit on food, medical services and non-prescription drugs for all but the highest income earners.

With the legislative session coming to an end on May 4, it is important now more then ever to encourage legislators to pass tax relief!

Mahalo. This is Governor Linda Lingle.