Dear Friends,

Aloha and welcome to a new endeavor on the part of the Majority Caucus of the State Legislature – the Majority Caucus website.

I appreciate your interest in state government and your taking the time to get involved. It is with pride that I serve the people of Wailuku, Puunene, Kahului, and Paia. I am always interested in listening to your concerns and ideas on ways of improving our community.

My office is just a call, letter, or e-mail away. Maui No Ka Oi.

Sincerely,
Bob Nakasone
State Representative
9th District

TOPICS OF INTEREST

• Tax Relief
  Representative Nakasone believes that the existing tax rates are unfair to the lower and middle income households in Hawaii. House Bill No. 1794, H.D. 1, would have revised the state income tax brackets to bring the tax laws more in line with the economic realities of the high cost of living in Hawaii and to bring long-term tax relief to low- and middle-income families. However, this measure failed to gain Senate approval.
  
  
• Property Foreclosure Notice for Neighbor Islands
  Representing a portion of Maui, Representative Nakasone is acutely aware of problems facing the smaller counties in the state. One problem is the requirement that legal notices of foreclosed properties be noticed in statewide-circulated newspapers, which residents of smaller counties may not subscribe to. House Bill No. 1796, H.D. 1, would have amended the law by requiring foreclosure notices to be published in the county in which the mortgaged property lies. However, this measure failed to gain Senate approval.
  
  
• Long-term Care Insurance Premium Tax Credit
  Representative Nakasone has been a staunch supporter of long-term care insurance and tax relief for premiums. House Bill No. 3129, H.D. 1, would have encouraged taxpayers to purchase long-term care insurance by providing individual taxpayers and employers with a tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums. However, this measure failed to gain Senate approval.
  
  
• General Excise Tax Exemption - Education
  Representative Nakasone believes that the tax burden on business contracts involving the Department of Education (DOE) should be reduced to support the DOE's operations. House Bill No. 1823 would have exempted transactions involving DOE's capital improvement projects and purchases of goods and services from the general excise tax (GET). However, this measure failed to gain legislative approval.
  

• Suspension of GET; Motor Vehicle Gasoline
  Hawaii's consumers need to be protected from high energy costs. To reduce the tax burden with respect to gasoline, House Bill No. 2877, H.D. 1, would have suspended the collection of the GET on motor vehicle gasoline for two years. However, this measure failed to gain Senate approval.