Hi, I'm Clayton Hee and I'm running for Governor.
Folks, we all know Hawaii is headed for a financial day of reckoning.
For too many years, government has been kicking the can down the road.
Instead of preparing for the inevitable.
Here are just three examples.
The cost of rail construction is way out of control.
What was supposed to be $3 billion dollars,
to go all the way from Kapolei to UH Manoa,
is likely to be $13 billion dollars
just to reach Ala Moana Shopping Center.
That's according to Professor Panos Prevedouros,
the Chairman of UH's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Government leaders have not said where all the money will come from.
Nor have they said, where they will get another $120 million dollars
each year, just to keep rail running.
A second example is our knowledge that sea levels will rise over time.
Studies show it will cost at least $15 billion dollars to relocate coastal highways on every island.
From Kahaluu to Haleiwa, or Mākua to Nānākuli on Oʻahu,
or from Lahaina to Kihei on Maui.
My third example is the State Health and Retirement Systems.
Which currently is underfunded by $25 billion dollars.
That's according to the latest official calculation.
People wonder,
where does government think this money will come from?
We just can't keep taxing our local people.
We need new sources of revenue and that's why I support
having a state run lottery.
45 states already have one
and together they have produced a $23 billion dollar financial windfall
to the participating states.
In summary, we know more revenue will be needed
because of rail, rising sea levels,
and a grossly underfunded health and retirement system.
The challenge is to find sources other than more taxes.
As Governor, I will fight to establish a state lottery.
It's way past time for Hawaii to join the other 45 states
and look for real alternatives to taxing Hawaii residents.
I'm Clayton Hee, and I'd appreciate your vote. Mahalo.
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