State of Hawaii Archives: on Jobs

Benjamin Cayetano: Increase the minimum wage

David Ige: Make Hawaii farms more sustainable; above 15% level now

The cost of importing foods adds up to more than $3 billion leaving the state annually. If we replace just 10% of imports with locally grown food, it would generate $188 million in total sales, $94 million for farmers, $47 million in wages, $6 million in new taxes and 2,300 jobs.

To do that, we need to preserve farm lands, develop agricultural parks, combat invasive species, and reassess the areas that determine whether a local farmer can survive.

We will be meeting with farmers from each island to hear what they need to make Hawaii more self-sufficient. In the meantime, we are adding $5 million to the agriculture loan program and expanding use of the fund to include biosecurity and food safety needs.

Eddie Pirkowski: Responsible spending for jobs and stable growth

A: 2020 balanced budget amendment, with responsible spending for jobs and stable growth, while reducing overhead administrative costs, and duplicative costs for services provided.

Josh Green: Workers should earn a living wage, shouldn't live in poverty

No parent should have to choose between earning a living and caring for a sick child, or between buying food or affording medicine.

Linda Lingle: OpEd:Did nothing to save jobs when Aloha Airlines went under

"It's just too risky to send my opponent to the Senate. [Hirono]'s not a strong leader, has no history of getting things done and doesn't work well with others," said Lingle.

Mark Takai: Equal pay for equal work for men and women

I believe there are many businesses that on their own do right by their employees in terms of pay and benefits. But too many employers continue to reject the idea of progressive workplace values--where men and women workers are treated equally, with dignity and respect. It's in these workplaces where unions play a critical role in fighting to ensure fairness, equal pay for equal work, strong workplace safety standards and reasonable job protections.

Neil Abercrombie: Put money back into state Employer-Union Trust Fund

IGE: Last year Hawaii became the first state in the country to enact a plan for handling unfunded liabilities for the State Employer Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

ABERCROMBIE: The Employer-Union Trust Fund (EUTF) has never been prefunded until my administration came into office. With our financial turnaround of the state's finances, we've started to put money back into the EUTF to address its unfunded liabilities. Working with the Legislature, we passed Act 268 in 2013 to statutorily establish an annual required contribution. Hawaii was one of the first states to really address the unfunded liability for Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB).

Neil Abercrombie: 2-year agreement with Legislature to raise the minimum wage

ABERCROMBIE: We must acknowledge that living in the middle of the Pacific comes at a cost. After two years of lobbying the Legislature, I am pleased that we have finally come to an agreement to raise the minimum wage. Raising the purchasing power of our residents through higher incomes not only benefits our citizens directly, it also helps to stimulate our economy.

IGE: We must build homes that Hawaii's working families can afford--not luxury condominiums for out-of-state speculators. With average new home prices approaching $700,000, there needs to be leadership to increase the supply of housing at all price points while protecting Hawaii's natural beauty. The construction of the Honolulu rail system provides the opportunity for Transit Oriented Development incorporating housing along its 21-mile route.