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Posted: Saturday, March 13th, 2010 7:38 AM HST

Hawaii Gov. Lingle speaks against new taxes

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is accusing lawmakers of raising the cost of living by increasing taxes and failing to approve her job creation ideas. The Republican governor attacked proposals in the Democrat-run Legislature that would increase taxes on oil, timeshare units and health insurers. House Finance Committee Chairman Marcus Oshiro said the state has to raise taxes and fees to provide government services, including health care, welfare, environmental protection and education. The Legislature is considering about a dozen tax measures to help close the state's more than $1.2 billion projected budget deficit, but lawmakers have backed off broad-based general excise tax or income tax hikes. (Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved)