How One Senator Really Feels About Funding Rail

Gil Riviere has a ceremonial-size blank check in his office at the Hawaii State Capitol.

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Gil Riviere was one of only two state senators voting no on legislation Wednesday that would extend Oahu’s surcharge on the general excise tax to pay for Honolulu rail.

Riviere, a Republican-turned-Democrat whose district runs from Kaneohe to Laie to Waialua to Wahiawa, is expressing his displeasure over the bailout of the deficit-running project in other ways, too.

Stop by his office (Room 217) in the Hawaii State Capitol and you might get a glimpse of the large, ceremonial-size check he has on display.

For more on the rail funding, read Civil Beat’s Hawaii Legislature: Not So Fast on More Taxes for Rail.

Gil Riviere's HART check

Sen. Gil Riviere

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