Last gasoline tax hike didn’t do much good
Here we go again (“Ige wants rise in gas tax to fund fixes,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 28).
In 1995, our gas tax in Hawaii was raised by 5 cents per gallon. This was sold to us as being necessary to maintain our roads and highways.
You only have to drive for a mile in any direction from your home to see that our roads are worse than those in some Third World countries. Either Gov. David Ige doesn’t remember the last time we were scammed or he thinks we don’t remember.
How about considering the idea of spending less on foolish projects instead of coming back for more milk from a dry cow?
Our illustrious politicians seem to think that citizens have unlimited money they can grab. Shame on them.
Ronald Torngren
Mililani
State lottery could help solve a lot of problems
We could already have paid for classroom air conditioning, solutions to the homeless challenge and much more without raising taxes or taking money away from other projects.
If we think of a state lottery as a means to solve these issues, it becomes a win-win. What are our legislators waiting for?
Marilyn Nagel
Kaneohe
Trump winning because America loves reality TV
The news anchors and journalists are still scratching their heads at how Donald Trump is dominating the polls.
There is an easy answer: The media won’t stop talking about him or following him around.
Even when Trump opts out of a debate, you think, OK, it’s time for the other candidates to speak. But Trump says jump, and the media ask how high. All other candidates get a fraction of prime-time news coverage.
America loves reality TV — “American Idol,” “Survivor,” “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “The Apprentice,” and now the 2016 presidential primary. That’s why Donald J. Trump will be the next president.
James “Kimo” Rosen
Kapaa, Kauai
Overpaid sub teachers should have spoken up
So 220 out of 223 substitute teachers chose to keep quiet about being overpaid (“DOE garnishing pay to make up for error linked to dated system,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 27).
If you got paid twice what you were owed, you would know it. I hope the three who came forward about being overpaid are moved to the top of the substitute list. Perhaps the other 220 could teach ethics classes, and the students could learn from them how not to be an ethical member of society.
Melanie Holden
Hilo
Kauai’s new law to stop barking dogs is worthy
As a dog trainer and author, I often am asked what can one do to stop their neighbors’ dogs from barking.
I know municipalities tend to be apathetic to these concerns, so I applaud Kauai’s effort to restore the peace (“Law that targets barking dogs is enacted on Garden Island,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 21).
Columnist Lee Cataluna wags in the wrong direction when she says, “Poor doggie” (“Barking-dog law a sad sign of changing times on Kauai,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 24). Dogs who are allowed to bark needlessly experience increased anxiety. While owners disconnect and tune out the noise, neighbors become more sensitive to it and, as a result, everyone suffers.
Fortunately, training and proper management strategies are simple to implement and they work. My hope is that this law motivates canine caretakers to accept their responsibilities, help their howling hounds and show respect to neighbors.
Amy Ammen
Waikiki
60 responses to “Last gasoline tax hike didn’t do much good”
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IRT Marilyn Nagel:”What are our legislators waiting for?” Their cut, as usual.
IRT Melanie Holden: You’ve got to be kidding. Those 3 should be fired immediately. If these adults have yet to realize that there are no ethics in this state’s government, they have no business teaching our youth. What other obvious things right in front of them are they missing? /
Subs…. many of them do not keep track of pay because they are doing it to help the schools. They’re paid about a month later when anyone can easily forget what the pay is for. They could just as easily be cheated out of pay.
Tutu, get real for a change.
Please, if they were shorted do you you really think they would’t know?
sometimes, I even forget to deposit the check.
Shame Ronald Torngren didn’t specify any foolish projects or perhaps the SA edited that part out? Perhaps cut the police department? War on drugs has been a complete failure and a waste of time and money.
IRT Amy Ammen: As you are a dog trainer and author, I was wondering what you think about these howling hounds being incarcerated at the Big Doghouse. Do you think the stripes on their uniforms should be horizontal or vertical? Also, should their pants cover all four legs, or just the back two? Just asking for a friend of mine with puppies. Thanks.
Wonder what the reaction would be if your neighbor was outside his house howling loudly all night every night. A dog is an extension of it’s owner. Dog barking laws are enforced on owners not their pets.
Rite80. I never had a neighbor who was in heat.
My puppies trained me instead.
James. Communist countries also want this non politician, Trump, to win. I’ll have my umbrella open just in case they launch a trajectile towards us.
You don’t have much to worry about with jectiles until they reach the professional level. However, if you are worried, you might check out my website where I have a line of tinfoil hats in various fashionable colors. We also make them to order and have a half a day turnaround.
Everyone gets lucky once in a while.
Mike, projectiles are launched; trajectories are the curves they follow.
Thanks. My high school teacher should have told me the difference when we were behind closed doors.
Gas tax? Go for it, I’ll gladly pay my 33 cents more per tank for better roads. Tax those big SUVs! We shouldn’t need a 5,000 pound vehicle to go to work in that tear up the roads faster. (Talk about losing weight!)
We just raised the tax in 2005 for exactly the same reason, and they roads only got worse and the money spent on totally unrelated projects.
blankhi still needs his “blanky”….I guess he didn’t read that part!
I did read that part, thank you. We are in general using less fuel per capita than in 2005. So less tax revenue is being generated. Add to that the cost of road repair has gone up, as has the number of miles of roads. So raising the tax is a reasonable thing to do. Don’t like it, buy less gas.
And that was after the Highway Fund was raided years earlier by some millions of dollars, and Joe Souki said, “We haven’t raised the gas tax since 1995,” but he didn’t say that the reason why they needed more money was the earlier raid on the fund.
Hawaii is a highway to heck.
I thought was 3 cents more per gallon!
So you just going to buy one gallon?
Yes, got a moped! Nah!
Gas tax? Why not. I am retired and don’t drive much. I also mostly drive an electric car so increase the gas tax a dollar for all I care.
How about your kids? They drive to work.
Soon will be getting electric cars. lol
Electric energy comes from burning coal. You really have a coal car. Enjoy your pollutant.
Sorry Sarge most of the electricity generated on Oahu comes from Oil. In our case half comes from the Sun.
Fossil fuel car?
Let’s install a retiree tax. Then Boots can wise up. LOL
SUV colorful brochures teased them by claiming about the “commanding ” view.
Clinton’s being unfairly criticized for vague illegal leaks from the FBI investigation. It looks like a purely political move.
Clinton is cooked. Prison
lol, perhaps will be next to Christie?
Willi–in case you missed it, the White House and the President are DEMOCRATS The FBI chief is appointed by the same D’s. So how could a Democrat FBI have a purely political move on Clinton. They are doing their JOB!!!!
Christie may be the prosecutor.
Republicans in the mix. Congress is demanding that they find something – even if they have to classify something after the fact.
Part of the vast right wing conspiracy no doubt.
No conspiracy. Republicans even boasted about it.
People in America needs to stop watching TV. Donald Trump is a businessman and showman. He is blowing smoke. He will win the Republican nomination and hopefully the voting public will see his down size and not vote for him.
You’re fired!
Love it!
Come on down!
“They’ll show up in numbers the establishment won’t believe”
Fuel taxes did benefit the pork barrel projects in Hawaii.
James, you are funny. You actually think the Donald will become president? The American public is going to vote for a person who has no governmental experience? Might work on the republican side since no candidate is worth anything but I think when people actually come down to making the decision in the general, they will go with the democratic candidate whether it be Hillary or Bernie as at least they have experience. The Donald would probably be like a fish out of water in Washington.
We’re already gas taxed up the Kazoos!! And we get? some BOZO Legislation suggesting More Gas Hikes!! Are you kidding me?Are they that insane!
People here in Hawaii are still struggling guys!Making ends meet is an every day chore!And even harder on some,who’s commute are farther away! C’mon guys!
This is what i mean about incompetent politicians.They have NO Imagination!They only know how to Tax and Spend!
This is a big break for all tax payers!And it’s not going to last forever!__Cheap Gas!Yay!
And yet,our esteemed politicians see that this is helping the consumers… So what’s their strategy? They Hit you with more taxes! C’mon now legislators!Give the Tax Payers a break instead of taxing everything under the rainbow!
Use your imagination! I thought you were there to serve the public’s interest…..Boy was I WRONG!
We all Know that Hawaii is Cash strapped, buying things we CANNOT afford.Only fools live like this!But who is the bigger fool here ?…… It’s all of you,you who voted for the Democratic Party….You know Hawaii? at some point you’ll need to wake up and stop voting for the same….use your “Imagination” and vote them out…Simple as that! IMUA
I was just thinking after reading your comment. If the representatives of the people treated this budget like a household family affair, we would be better off. A family would have the heads of the household thinking on how they can solve some financial problems. They would think of downsizing, getting rid of things that they don’t need, cutting back on usage of utilities, find ways to increase their incomes, and a lot of sacrifice. Too bad the representatives can’t do that. I guess with a full wallet of expense account money you don’t have to.
Welfare households overspend then ask for forbearence.
Let’s see if Mr. Rosen’s prediction is true.
In regards to “State lottery could help solve a lot of problems ” – Yes it would generate more revenue, however Hawaii wants to stay away from ‘gambling’. Gamblers go to Vegas. Allowing gambling here would attract more criminals.
State wants to do it the old fashion way and make the tax-payers liable. Take advantage of the low cost of oil when the chance is ripe.
yobo. Attract more criminals? Like the only criminals in Hawaii should be elected ones?
yobo–take advantage of the low cost of oil??? Notice how Matson and other monopoly shipping companies via the politically supported Jones Act have drastically dropped their prices??? Me neither!!
Jones Act for Main Street. High Frequency Trading of stocks for Wall Street. Even, Steven.
If Mr. James’s comment had any weight, then Kim Kardashian would win the reality TV show.
Holden. I always return any over payment. It just lets me have a better time going to sleep.
Pau already game starts in 8 minutes!
You mean giving the politicians more money to waste didn’t do much good.