This overcharge is simply the price that the good people of Oahu under the rule of their elected leaders had to pay in order to impose this tax. It really is unfair because the entire state benefits from a surcharge imposed on Oahu only. A current argument is that it would be more equitable to impose this tax statewide. This is because most (75%?) of the state's tax revenues are generated on Oahu and the rail project will be in aid of those revenues and help to increase them. Mayor Kirk came up with some good bait for the legislators. He offered to sacrifice Oahuans by increasing the County fuel and vehicle weight taxes AND give the state a LARGER share of the GET surcharge.....which sounds like an incentive to me. I bet the legislature goes for it, or something like it. I expect the "enhanced" GET to continue for ever. It rakes in a lot more money than would a "simple" sales tax and it is somewhat hidden to the average voter. There is the indisputable fact that the state needs more $$