OAHU- Grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity is pleased to announce Jay McWilliams and Laura Brown as the new Grassroots Chairs of Americans for Prosperity-Hawaii.

“The citizens of Hawaii are faced with $500 million in tax increases in the next 2 years alone to pay for significant increases in spending in Hawaii’s $22 billion budget,” Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips said. “Americans for Prosperity is proud to welcome aboard Jay and Laura who will lead the charge for fiscal responsibility and freedom in Hawaii.”

Jay McWilliams is a graduate of the University of Hawaii and has worked for numerous magazines and business newspapers. Jay also helped establish a daily online newspaper dedicated to making government more open and accessible to the public.

Laura Brown is an experienced reporter working in the Hawaii Legislature and has devoted her time advocating for limited government and free market principles in Hawaii for more than a decade. Laura’s advocacy efforts have resulted in a direct improvement for school choice for children with disabilities.

“Americans for Prosperity is a champion for free-market values. I am excited to join with AFP to help put Hawaii back on the path to prosperity.” Jay McWilliams said. “I look forward to ensuring the citizens of Hawaii are educated, organized, and motivated to speak up on important issues affecting their economic freedom and liberty.”

“Hawaii’s economic health is deteriorating. The price tag for public employee and retiree health benefits has ballooned to $14 billion and $500 million in taxes has been passed down with more likely to come,” Laura Brown said. “We will work to ensure common sense solutions on the local, state, and federal level by educating and mobilizing the citizens of Hawaii on the critical issues affecting limited government and economic freedom.”

Important bills AFP Hawaii is currently focusing on include the recently passed SB754 and the debt associated with unfunded liabilities. In raising taxes $350 million, SB754 will increase the cost of essential goods to the citizens of Hawaii, as evidenced by the price hike done by the Matson Navigation Company upon SB754’s passage. The citizens of Hawaii will face consequences of $26 billion of debt resulting from unemployment and debt pensions, as well, likely in the form of increased taxes.