Lawmakers plan initiatives on minimum wage, elections in new session
Lobbyists, lawmakers and activists have been busy for weeks, but the Hawaiʻi State Legislature officially opened Wednesday morning with chant, hula, prayers and song, and also some speeches that hinted at political tensions at the State Capitol.
Several lawmakers on Wednesday endorsed the idea of increasing the state minimum wage this year, and Senate President Ron Kouchi said he expects “serious discussion” on incrementally boosting the wage floor. The minimum wage increased to $10.10 an hour on Jan. 1, 2018.
Governor Ige suggested he has a plan to increase the minimum wage, but declined to give details before he announces his package of initiatives in his State of the State speech on Monday. Ige said he is not contemplating proposals by some Democrats to increase the minimum wage to $17 per hour.
“I think we’ll kind of see how that shakes out in the proposals. We’re looking at $15, but obviously I think there will be a lot of conversation about different levels,” Ige told reporters.
Republican House Minority Leader Gene Ward suggested a minimum wage hike might also win support from his caucus. “We have support for your minimum wage, I know that’s something that a lot of you have been thinking about, but please make it reasonable,” he said. “Not giant steps but reasonable increments, and we’re behind you 100 percent.”
“We need to concentrate on prosperity for all,” said Ward, (R, Kalama Valley- Queen’s Gate-Hawaii Kai). “We’re becoming increasingly the haves and have-nots, and I think we have to narrow that.”
