Sign minimum wage increase immediately

We urge Gov. David Ige to immediately sign into law the minimum-wage increase (“Wave of bills that could become law sent to Gov. David Ige,” Star-Advertiser, May 4). Don’t make our lowest-wage earners wait and wonder any longer. They need and deserve this modest raise.

Approximately 88,000 workers earn less than $12 per hour and will benefit from this much-needed boost in their incomes to $12 an hour in October. More workers will benefit as additional increases in the state minimum wage gradually take effect until the minimum wage reaches $18 per hour in 2028.

This legislation also would make the state earned income tax credit (EITC) permanent and refundable. Hawaii’s existing earned income tax credit expires this year and is not refundable, meaning many low-income taxpayers can’t use it because their earnings are too low to require significant taxes. The boost provided by a refundable state EITC is necessary now more than ever to realize a full economic recovery in the islands.