Democrats should show bona fides
A recent Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial rightly called on Governor David Ige and Lt. Governor Josh Green to “walk the talk” and come up with specific initiatives to deliver affordable housing, reduce homelessness, improve public education and use innovative technologies to improve life for all in Hawaiʻi.
The Raise Up Hawaiʻi coalition of progressive businesses and advocates for working families believes that this call should be directed to the legislature with equal urgency. Outgoing Republican administrations in states like Wisconsin and Michigan are doing all they can to undermine the power of incoming Democrats scheduled to take over the reins of government. The solidly blue Hawaiʻi State Legislature faces no such threat—so has no excuse.
The only threat to passage of progressive legislation lies in the lack of political will on the part of our elected officials and the degree to which they allow themselves to be constrained by their corporate donors and entrenched interests.
Working families are wondering exactly what our elected officials are going to do about the bruising and brutalizing experience of trying to make ends meet in this high cost state.
