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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:19 p.m., Monday, May 4, 2009

Lingle invites public to protest tax increases

Gov. Linda Lingle, trying to tap into populist anger over higher taxes,

invited the public to join her at the state Capitol on Thursday when she

plans to veto bills that would raise taxes.

The governor will either allow people to watch her veto the bills in her

fifth-floor offices or, if the crowd is too large, outside in the rotunda.

Lingle will veto bills that raise state income taxes on the wealthy,

increase the hotel-room tax, and hike the conveyance tax on luxury homes.

The governor is still reviewing whether to veto tax increases on cigarettes

and other tobacco products.

The tax increases would generate $250 million to help close the deficit in

the state's two-year budget and $800 million over the six-year financial

plan.