STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2888

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2605

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2605, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the election fund contribution amount on state income tax returns for campaign spending purposes. 

     More specifically, the measure increases, from $2 to $3, the income tax check-off amount that a state taxpayer may elect to be deposited into the Hawaii election campaign fund from that taxpayer's tax liability.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the Campaign Spending Commission.  The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that the tax check-off is the primary source of funding for the Hawaii election campaign fund.  Your Committee believes that this measure will increase the amount of partial public funding available to candidates without creating a second system of public financing.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2605, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair