January 5, 2007 – GE Tax Exemption on Ethanol Tax

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Aloha!

With the start of the new year, many Hawai`i residents are seeing an increase in the cost of living.

One such increase may come when you fill your car with gasoline because the general excise tax exemption on ethanol-blended fuels expired on December 31st.

This past legislative session, my Administration proposed extending this tax exemption on ethanol.

The Legislature failed to approve our proposal and unfortunately allowed the exemption to expire.

I encourage legislators to help Hawai`i's consumers by extending the general excise tax exemption on ethanol-blended gasoline immediately upon reconvening on January 17th.

We will be proposing other kinds of tax relief this session as well and ask legislators to support these efforts.  It is our chance to help to bring down the cost of living.

Mahalo.  This is Governor Linda Lingle.