REPORT FROM LINDA LINGLE’S US SENATE CAMPAIGN – Congresswoman Mazie Hirono twice voted to increase taxes on Hawaii’s middle-income families making $35,351 or more per year. The tax increases would have hurt over 115,000 working families in Hawaii, more than one third of all families who file income taxes in Hawaii. [1]
“Contrary to her rhetoric and her efforts to portray herself as caring about working people, Mazie Hirono’s actions clearly illustrate either that her words are just talk or that she simply does not understand the impact of her votes. We cannot afford a Senator who does not consider the effects of her policies on the people here at home,” said Campaign Manager, Bob Lee.
Mazie Hirono voted in 2011 and again in 2012 for the ‘Congressional Progressive Caucus’ budget, [2] which would increase by a full 12% the taxes paid by wage earners starting at $35,351. [3]
“This tax increase would squarely hit Hawaii’s middle class families. Thankfully in 2012, this proposal was defeated 78 to 346, with “no” votes from Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and 106 other Democrats. This is just another example of how Hirono’s policies are out of sync with what we need here at home,” added Lee.
“Mazie Hirono needs to explain why she would vote to increase the tax burden on Hawaii’s middle class. We are also waiting for answers on why she cut $716 billion from Medicare which will hurt our kupuna [4], as well as her vote for across-the-board cuts to our military that would severely affect Hawaii [5], and her vote against the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement [6] which would help Hawaii’s farmers. All of these votes cast severe doubt on Mazie Hirono’s claim that she stands with or even understands Hawaii’s middle class,” concluded Bob Lee.
Sources:
[1] U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Selected Economic Characteristics: 2006-2010 Hawaii, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (Geographic Area Profiles (5-Year Estimates) “DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics”) (available at: https://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/census/acs/ACS2010/ACS2010_5_Year/acs_hi_2010_profiles_5_yr_estimate).
[2] Roll Call Vote No. 148, Clerk of the House of Representatives (available at: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll148.xml); Roll Call Vote No. 274, Clerk of the House of Representatives (available at:https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll274.xml).
[3] Congressional Progressive Caucus Budget Analysis, Bipartisan Policy Center (March 2012) (available at: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/2012/03/congressional-progressive-caucus-fiscal-year-2013-budget-details).
[4] Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation Estimation of Direct Spending and Revenue Effects of H.R. 6079, Congressional Budget Office (July 24, 2012) (available at:https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/43471-hr6079.pdf); HR 4872, CQ Vote #167: Passed by a vote, (March 21, 2010) (Hirono Voted Yea); HR 3590, CQ Vote #165: Motion agreed to, (March 21, 2010) (Hirono Voted Yea).
[5] Roll Call Vote No. 690, Clerk of the House of Representatives (available at: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll690.xml).
[6] Roll Call Vote No. 783, Clerk of the House of Representatives (available at: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll783.xml).