State of Hawaii Archives: on Corporations

Jill Tokuda: Allow taxing of short term rental accommodations

Honolulu Civil Beat analysis: Critics say SB1292 would require operators of short-term rentals to pay transient accommodation and general excise taxes, with hosting platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway acting as tax collectors on behalf of the state. Sen. Laura Thielen compared illegal vacation rentals to a crime that prevents local people from being able to own and rent homes.

Veto message: The State's taxation of transient accommodations through hosting platforms should complement the counties' regulation of transient accommodations. While SB1292 would not legalize these operations, it could be viewed as legitimizing these operations.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 50-1-0 on 4/9/19; Passed Senate 13-12-0 on 4/30; State Sen. Jill Tokuda voted YES; Vetoed by Gov. Ige on 7/9

Andria Tupola: Cut corporate taxes and unnecessary regulation

• Create an atmosphere for local businesses to thrive so more people can stay in this place we call home for generations to come.
• Decrease corporate tax and unnecessary regulation.
• Increase access to capital grants and build local partnerships.
• Increase vocational training for high schools and community colleges to connect more local families with available job opportunities.

Bob McDermott: Allow taxing of short term rental accommodations

Honolulu Civil Beat analysis: Critics say SB1292 would require operators of short-term rentals to pay transient accommodation and general excise taxes, with hosting platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway acting as tax collectors on behalf of the state. Sen. Laura Thielen compared illegal vacation rentals to a crime that prevents local people from being able to own and rent homes.

Veto message: The State's taxation of transient accommodations through hosting platforms should complement the counties' regulation of transient accommodations. While SB1292 would not legalize these operations, it could be viewed as legitimizing these operations.

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 50-1-0 on 4/9/19; State Rep. Bob McDermott voted YES; Passed Senate 13-12-0 on 4/30; Vetoed by Gov. Ige on 7/9

Cynthia Thielen: Allow taxing of short term rental accommodations

Honolulu Civil Beat analysis: Critics say SB1292 would require operators of short-term rentals to pay transient accommodation and general excise taxes, with hosting platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway acting as tax collectors on behalf of the state. Sen. Laura Thielen compared illegal vacation rentals to a crime that prevents local people from being able to own and rent homes.

Veto message: The State's taxation of transient accommodations through hosting platforms should complement the counties' regulation of transient accommodations. While SB1292 would not legalize these operations, it could be viewed as legitimizing these operations.

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 50-1-0 on 4/9/19; State Rep. Cynthia Thielen voted YES; Passed Senate 13-12-0 on 4/30; Vetoed by Gov. Ige on 7/9

David Ige: $10 million for HI Growth initiative to support innovation

It also includes the thousands of small businesses that make up the core of our economic engine--those ma and pa stores whose predecessors include success stories like Foodland and the ABC Stores.

We need to nurture an "innovation economy," in which entrepreneurs use technology to develop new processes and products from existing ones, like smart phone makers who have taken their products far beyond the original concept of a mobile phone and created entire new markets.

It's a whole new economic paradigm which we need to support with modern infrastructure, whether it's expanding our broadband network or building innovation parks. That's why we are providing $10 million for the HI Growth initiative to support innovation.

David Ige: Vetoed taxing of short term rental accommodations

Honolulu Civil Beat analysis: Critics say SB1292 would require operators of short-term rentals to pay transient accommodation and general excise taxes, with hosting platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway acting as tax collectors on behalf of the state. Sen. Laura Thielen compared illegal vacation rentals to a crime that prevents local people from being able to own and rent homes.

Veto message: The State's taxation of transient accommodations through hosting platforms should complement the counties' regulation of transient accommodations. While SB1292 would not legalize these operations, it could be viewed as legitimizing these operations.

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 50-1-0 on 4/9/19; Passed Senate 13-12-0 on 4/30; Vetoed by Gov. Ige on 7/9

Eddie Pirkowski: Zero taxes would attract corporate headquarters

A: Make Hawaii a zero tax state, (using Wyoming as a model) thereby bringing new corporate headquarters, data centers, a new Hawaii Stock Exchange, and high technology data centers to Hawaii for high speed internet, long term secure data backup, AI, Big Data analytics/high tech training, to attract high technology companies and to retain the best and brightest of Hawaii to bring new permanent lifetime jobs to Hawaii for all the families of Hawaii.

Kai Kahele: Don't allow taxing of short term rental accommodations

Honolulu Civil Beat analysis: Critics say SB1292 would require operators of short-term rentals to pay transient accommodation and general excise taxes, with hosting platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway acting as tax collectors on behalf of the state. Sen. Laura Thielen compared illegal vacation rentals to a crime that prevents local people from being able to own and rent homes.

Veto message: The State's taxation of transient accommodations through hosting platforms should complement the counties' regulation of transient accommodations. While SB1292 would not legalize these operations, it could be viewed as legitimizing these operations.

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 50-1-0 on 4/9/19; Passed Senate 13-12-0 on 4/30; State Sen. Kai Kahele voted NO; Vetoed by Gov. Ige on 7/9

Mark Takai: End tax breaks for largest oil and drug companies

In Congress, I will push for tax credits and low interest loans for small business to open and expand. I will push for research and development incentives so all businesses--large and small--have an opportunity to be leaders in innovation.

Mazie Hirono: US Chamber of Commerce does not reflect business community

Hirono's campaign issued this statement in response: "We welcome the debate over who is best positioned to work with President Obama, help grow our economy, and create jobs. It is clear that the US Chamber of Commerce does not reflect the entire business community here in Hawaii."