WEBVTT

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>> committee on labor, culture,
and
the arts.
Today is thursday, March

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12,
2:20pm, room 224.

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We have one bill
this afternoon.

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Hb 2541.
Hd 1.

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This is related to helping
working
family
ies.

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This makes the state earned
income
tax credit refundable and

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permanent.

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Increases and amends the refundab
le

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food exsies tax credit for
basing
the amount of the credit

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on a tax
paver's hawaii earned income

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and

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federal adjusted gross until.
Increases
the minimum wage.

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We have a different set up
for our

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hearing today.

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We've tried to,

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I guess, comply or try to
be more

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cognizant of coronavirus
situation.

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So we apologize for any inconven
ience.

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but we hope that, um, yeah,
this is
the way we probably have

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to do it.

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So we do have television cameras
ought
side.

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Outside.
We have television

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side that people
outside
that people

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can watch the hearing.
We have
a lot of testify

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iers.
And so I will

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try to call them all out.

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We have a sign-in sheet.
So I'll

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probably call these people
who are
here to testify.

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I know there are

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a lot of people who submit
written
testimony only.

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So we will accept
their written testimony
into the

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report
record.

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But we will try to

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do this as expediently as
we can.

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So we'll begin with, I guess,
testimony

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from the office of the govern
governor.

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>> good morning.
We're happy to standbe

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our written testimony -- 
[Off mic].
>> thank you.

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Labor industrial regulars.
>> [Off mic].

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I just wanted to take

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a moment to express members
of the

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committee, I would like to
take a

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moment to express my gratitude
for

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hearing this and our support
for
it
it.
This bill as you know is

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not just an issue of minimum
wage
but the collective impact

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of the

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tax credits that will help
most

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hawaii's most immediately
family.

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I want to thank you for hearing
it
and recognize the department
does

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realize that cove covid-19
covid-19

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situation, we need to take
measures
to adjust for that.

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But we do believe this measure
is

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appropriate and that it
will help

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the most needy family
ies.
Thank
you very much.
I'll be happy to

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answer questions at the hospital
time.
>> thank you.

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Department of human
services.

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I thought we had their
written testimony.

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Department of
taxation.

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>> in support.
>> thank you.

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I guess I'll go through

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the rest -- and then -- [Off
mic].

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Okay.

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I guess I'll try to go this

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this as -- the number of
organizations
also here.

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Aloha united way.

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>> aloha united way -- stands
on the
testimony.
I would like it make

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a comment.

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Norm baker from aloha
united way.

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We stand on our written
testimony.
However I would like

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to add that the economic
downturn

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we're looking at right now
with this

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virus, makes the passage
of this

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bill much more critical.
We have

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to take care of the low income
folks
this this community.
And that's

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what this bill is intending
to do.
Thank you.

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>> thank you.

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Hawaii -- initiative,

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gary -- gary huscher.
Husch

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hoosier.

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If not, american association
of university
women.

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Tax noun indication
foundatio
n.

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Hawaii food industry association.

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>> thank you, chair.
Briefly.
Lauren -- 

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with hawaii food industry
association.

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We submitted comments on this.
We're

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appreciative of the thoughtful
thoughtfulness

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put into this package.
We're not

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oppose to this bill.
We note that

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we are unsure, economic

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funding
right now.
A lot of people are very
concerned.
And that hawaii does
have a history of being
ranked one

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of the the worst states in
the nation
to do business.

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We have a lot of

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overhead costs that other
states
do not have because of other

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requirements
placed on employer
employers.

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We're
thankful that legislatures

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have been
mindful about those issues

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as well
and taking those into considera

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tion.
So um, we would just hope

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that the
bill passes as is.

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Thank you so
much.

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>> that's
so that's in strong

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support?

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 -- alliance.

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Okay, democratic party

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of hawaii education caucus.

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chamber of commerce of hawaii.

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>> good afternoon, chair,
and members
of the committee.

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I will try and
be brief on our testimony.
You have

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a thorough written testimony
out
lying our reasons for our

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position.
I would like to say that

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the chamber

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of commerce hawaii does support

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hb
2541 hd 1 as is because we

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believe
in being part of the overall

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effort
in finding solutions for

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our collect
collective
problems facing our state.

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And we

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believe with the approach
that the

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legislature is taking and
coming

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up with a package of bills,
in addition
to this bill we also support

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the
other bills that were introduce

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e
d
as part of the package.

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However, we do ask the committee
to

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be mindful of what this
entails.

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While we do support the minimum
wage

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increase to $13.
And we do know

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that this will I am
impact
some of

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our local businesses, mom
and pop

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stars, we would like to express
some
of the concerns that will
be, will

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come out of this increase
increase.
And mind that we're the only

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state

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in the nation that provides
health

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care which adds another $3
per hour

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of the wage.
So that adds to the

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minimum wage increase.
So we're

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talking more than a 10% increase
in the first year.
Also there's

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an issue of wage woman
compressi
on.

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If we increase the minimum
wage,

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now the gap between the existing

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employees and those whose
wages
go up.

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We ask, can businesses afford

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that exponential increase
overall?

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While hawaii has benefit from
strong
national global economy

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economy,
the difficulty of operating

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a business
and high cost market does

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have its
implications.

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In fact we saw business closures
increase

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20% from 2016 to eight create
of
the and we can assume many

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of these
are local and small businesses.

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also wages are tied to simple
y,
simple
y

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an increase in minimum wage
but
tied to the wages.

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So for example,

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tdi, worker's comp, payroll
taxes,
unemployment insurance, they're

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all
tied to ij ca
wages.

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So if wages

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go up, these costs will also
go
up as well.

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Um, you know, obviously, we
cannot

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avoid talking about the
impact of

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the coronavirus.
We just recently

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surveyeded our members.
And we're
still getting numbers in.

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But definitely
there will be an economic
impact.

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We are concern
concerned with
the

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recovery process and how
the increase
will impact them.

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While we increase
the bill because we believe
in being

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part of the collective effort,
we

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do want you to be cognizant
of what

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the impact will be as we
face an

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uncertain time.
And pretty much

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unprecedented time in our
state.

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i'll stand on the rest of
my testimony.

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And we did provide profiles
of two
businesses and cost drivers

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of each.
Thank you.
>> thank you.

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>>

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hawaii food manufacturers

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association.
Are not in opposition.

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Apple seed -- 

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kaua'I apple seed -- economiccou
s.

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Economiccous
economic justice.

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Is the door longed?
Locked

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lock
long locked?

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Yeah, I know.
 -- 
.

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>> I just saw gary outside.
Just
in case.

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>> [Off mic].
>> sorry about that.

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I got stuck
outside.

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I'm nick ol' from what

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you awe apple seat -- we're
glad that

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the legislature is looking
at the

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struggles of hawaii's working
family
ies.

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Just to point out how we compare
to

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other states that have high
cost
of living.

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We have the highest cost
of living in the country.
You look

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at the next eight states,
they've

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already raised their wage
to $15
or even higher.

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We're just trying
to catch up where other states

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are.

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And $13 by 2024 would not
catch us
up.

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We would be falling far
behind

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the other high cost states.
The

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other states have refundable
ei

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eitcs,
more robust than what we

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have.
The
other states are getting

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a lot more
support in terms of their

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wages and

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tax credits than they would
here.

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So we also support this bill
very
much but we would like to
see the

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minimum wage part go up
so that

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our workers can get more
money.

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There's a lot of details in
our testimony.

00:11:17.623 --> 00:11:19.102
It shows that family
ies will
make

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a few hundred dollars, a
few hundred

00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:26.631
dollars extra from the ieitc
which
is money they need.

00:11:27.199 --> 00:11:29.199
But the minimum

00:11:29.201 --> 00:11:30.668
wage increase by another
dollar is

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about $2,000 a year for
every dollar
increase.

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We think that family
ies
need both.

00:11:38.310 --> 00:11:40.613
D bed, our department
of business and economic

00:11:40.613 --> 00:11:42.613
development

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and tourism has looked at
how much
it costs to will he in hawaii.

00:11:47.219 --> 00:11:49.588
The latest unlooked at 2018
it said
that a single person with

00:11:49.588 --> 00:11:51.588
no children

00:11:54.226 --> 00:11:56.160
who gets insurance from
their employer

00:11:58.164 --> 00:12:00.198
needs $16.
90 to live in hawaii.

00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:02.701
That's eight create.
That's giving

00:12:03.236 --> 00:12:05.300
us a sense of where this
wage needs

00:12:05.671 --> 00:12:07.639
to be if we don't want people
to
be relying

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relying on public
assistance

00:12:10.976 --> 00:12:12.577
and falling into helplessness.
D

00:12:15.811 --> 00:12:18.650
bed did a study looking
at the past
minimum wages in hawaii.
They can
give us confidence that
we're not

00:12:19.185 --> 00:12:21.219
going to lose jobs.
Prices are not

00:12:21.521 --> 00:12:23.588
going to go up too high.
They found

00:12:24.189 --> 00:12:26.910
little inflation and they
did not
see job loss.

00:12:26.592 --> 00:12:29.494
So there's a lot of
evidence
evidence, our unemploym
ent

00:12:30.629 --> 00:12:32.163
rate dropped by 52% the last
time

00:12:33.800 --> 00:12:35.601
we raised the wage between
2015
and 2018.

00:12:36.603 --> 00:12:38.603
And the number of restaurant

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.500
server jobs went up by 32%.

00:12:41.174 --> 00:12:43.609
It seems we can handle these
increases
and other states are doing

00:12:43.609 --> 00:12:45.677
it and
they're handling it.

00:12:45.711 --> 00:12:47.713
And finally,
we know that we're going

00:12:47.713 --> 00:12:49.748
to have
less consume

00:12:49.748 --> 00:12:52.170
er spending coming
from
tour

00:12:52.850 --> 00:12:54.586
tourist in the next
few months
to a year.

00:12:54.754 --> 00:12:57.322
And consume
er spending
is 70% of the economy.

00:12:57.657 --> 00:12:59.659
So one way
that the minimum wage helps

00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:02.228
the
economy is that it keeps

00:13:02.228 --> 00:13:04.228
money here

00:13:04.530 --> 00:13:05.774
in hawaii not going to corporat
e

00:13:06.666 --> 00:13:09.568
profits or corporate share
holders
on the mainland.

00:13:10.770 --> 00:13:13.390
We know that low
wage workers spend money

00:13:13.390 --> 00:13:15.273
in the
community.
So it's supporting the

00:13:15.709 --> 00:13:18.211
local restaurants and the
local
businesses, the mom and pop

00:13:18.211 --> 00:13:19.711
stop
shops.

00:13:21.140 --> 00:13:23.748
So one way to keep our
consume
er
spending going is make sure
that

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:29.256
lower wage workers have
enough money
to keep local businesses
afloat

00:13:29.256 --> 00:13:31.190
in their neighbor
neighborhoods.

00:13:32.392 --> 00:13:34.727
I'm happy to answer any question
s.
Thank you.
>> thank you.

00:13:39.766 --> 00:13:42.267
Kim -- 
>>

00:13:43.370 --> 00:13:45.370
hawaii restaurant association

00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:48.139
.

00:13:52.312 --> 00:13:54.312
Church of the crossroads.

00:14:02.890 --> 00:14:04.123
Robin
hart.

00:14:05.626 --> 00:14:08.194
>> I stand on my testimony.
>> thank you.

00:14:11.798 --> 00:14:13.798
>>

00:14:15.335 --> 00:14:17.335
clare -- .

00:14:24.812 --> 00:14:26.812
Jessica -- from hawaii

00:14:27.314 --> 00:14:29.314
methodist church.

00:14:40.227 --> 00:14:42.862
>> hello, senator taniguchi
and members.
Committee.

00:14:43.830 --> 00:14:45.830
Glad for the opportunity

00:14:48.268 --> 00:14:49.902
to speak to this propose
ed
bill.

00:14:50.771 --> 00:14:53.207
I come to you on my
, I drove

00:14:53.207 --> 00:14:55.209
out today
just to be here because

00:14:55.209 --> 00:14:57.712
I'm deeply
eastern
concerned about how

00:14:57.712 --> 00:15:00.346
hard
it is for our working familysto

00:15:01.816 --> 00:15:03.916
make ends meet here in hawaii.
I
include

00:15:04.318 --> 00:15:06.620
ed this in my written
testimony
that I went to food land

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:08.620
earlier

00:15:08.722 --> 00:15:10.323
this week and a half gallon
of milk

00:15:11.326 --> 00:15:13.326
costs $6.

00:15:13.728 --> 00:15:15.728
As someone who is living

00:15:15.830 --> 00:15:17.430
and working in a community
like -- 

00:15:19.367 --> 00:15:21.868
and I'm deeply aware of
the challenge
that's we all face.

00:15:23.204 --> 00:15:25.471
In being able
to thrive here in hawaii.

00:15:30.411 --> 00:15:32.379
So I just ask that you consider
increasing

00:15:33.815 --> 00:15:35.449
the $13 amount in this bill
to a

00:15:36.250 --> 00:15:38.452
higher amount that's more
reasonable

00:15:38.752 --> 00:15:40.855
given the cost of living
here.
So thank you for the opportunity
to

00:15:40.855 --> 00:15:42.955
testify.
>> thank you.

00:15:43.757 --> 00:15:45.757
Thanks for coming out.

00:15:56.404 --> 00:15:58.575
Kneel macpherson
neil macpherson

00:15:58.575 --> 00:16:00.575
.

00:16:03.445 --> 00:16:04.879
>> thank you senator, taniguchi
and

00:16:05.847 --> 00:16:08.160
members of the committee
committee.

00:16:08.160 --> 00:16:10.250
I'm speaking on behalf of
the living

00:16:10.418 --> 00:16:12.352
wage committee of faith
action.

00:16:20.896 --> 00:16:22.261
And our position is that people
who

00:16:22.965 --> 00:16:25.366
work in hawaii should earn
at least

00:16:26.834 --> 00:16:28.834
$17 an hour.

00:16:28.903 --> 00:16:30.903
Which would approach

00:16:31.306 --> 00:16:32.872
a living wage
wage.

00:16:35.977 --> 00:16:38.213
Um, I will not
read my testimony except

00:16:38.213 --> 00:16:40.213
for the

00:16:40.315 --> 00:16:42.516
last paragraph.
And the last paragraph

00:16:44.190 --> 00:16:45.719
of my testimony speaks of
the faith

00:16:47.289 --> 00:16:48.532
traditions which are very
much a

00:16:49.758 --> 00:16:51.758
part of faith action.

00:16:53.728 --> 00:16:55.362
And I submitted these words,
we of

00:16:57.766 --> 00:16:59.660
faith action stand within
the moral

00:17:00.969 --> 00:17:02.336
come pass of faith traditions
that

00:17:04.239 --> 00:17:05.840
seek to uphold the dignity
and worth

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:10.278
of all workers who by
by
their labor

00:17:10.278 --> 00:17:12.980
contribute to the common
good of
our society.

00:17:15.417 --> 00:17:17.785
These same traditions
support a living wage for

00:17:17.953 --> 00:17:20.855
all who
work.

00:17:21.556 --> 00:17:23.491
And the vision of the world
in which share

00:17:23.792 --> 00:17:26.527
ing by all
will mean

00:17:26.594 --> 00:17:28.930
scarce
scarcity for none.

00:17:28.930 --> 00:17:30.930
Please

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.834
amend this bill and raise
the minimum

00:17:38.407 --> 00:17:41.800
wage to $17 an hour by 2025.
Thank
you very much.

00:17:41.760 --> 00:17:43.760
>> thank you.

00:17:49.385 --> 00:17:51.920
Matthew -- 
>> hello.

00:17:55.591 --> 00:17:57.591
I would just like to comment,

00:17:57.693 --> 00:17:59.293
I support the idea of increasin
g
the wage.

00:18:01.897 --> 00:18:04.431
But $13 an hour is just
not enough for people to

00:18:04.466 --> 00:18:06.466
survive.

00:18:09.372 --> 00:18:11.439
And it's not fair to anyone
to expect

00:18:13.750 --> 00:18:15.643
someone to have reasonable,
make
reasonable decisions for

00:18:15.877 --> 00:18:18.512
their family
when they're not making enough

00:18:18.881 --> 00:18:20.881
money.

00:18:21.416 --> 00:18:22.897
And we always hear that suppose
e
dly

00:18:23.453 --> 00:18:25.921
the mom and pop shops are
in trouble.

00:18:27.230 --> 00:18:28.623
But to compare the suffering
of a

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:31.859
small business to the suffering

00:18:31.994 --> 00:18:34.696
of someone ho is making $10
an hour
is just ridiculous.

00:18:38.283 --> 00:18:40.535
And I hope you'll please consider
raising the minimum wage.
Thank
you.

00:18:40.670 --> 00:18:42.670
>> thank you.

00:18:43.206 --> 00:18:45.206
Riley manly.

00:18:49.979 --> 00:18:51.979
>> um, hi.

00:18:52.581 --> 00:18:54.515
I'm a sophomore at james
campbell high school.

00:18:54.950 --> 00:18:56.950
And I'm the

00:18:58.154 --> 00:19:00.154
second oldest of four siblings.

00:19:01.891 --> 00:19:04.860
So, um, I grew up getting,
given
clothes to me.

00:19:05.128 --> 00:19:06.528
And that was the
normal.

00:19:08.498 --> 00:19:10.498
So when I told that to

00:19:11.601 --> 00:19:13.603
my frens, they thought it
friends

00:19:13.603 --> 00:19:16.138
they thought it was weird.
I've
grown up with that though.

00:19:16.206 --> 00:19:18.206
So my

00:19:19.109 --> 00:19:21.176
mentality is constantly
why waste
money.

00:19:22.612 --> 00:19:25.214
And I realize this is because
my family never had that
much.

00:19:26.150 --> 00:19:28.116
My parents worked.
They work a hot.

00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:31.453
My father
a lot.

00:19:31.621 --> 00:19:33.540
My father as a full-time
job.

00:19:34.257 --> 00:19:36.558
My mother is a part-time
workers
worker.

00:19:37.427 --> 00:19:39.427
She gains minimum wage and

00:19:39.429 --> 00:19:41.429
she also has another job.

00:19:41.698 --> 00:19:43.598
And they do all this work
and it's

00:19:43.933 --> 00:19:45.701
still difficult to feed
my family

00:19:46.603 --> 00:19:49.400
every day and to pay our
bills.

00:19:49.773 --> 00:19:52.900
And besides just getting
to work
and drive

00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:54.276
ing us to school,
they have
to pay for gas.

00:19:55.120 --> 00:19:57.470
It just adds a
lot to other necessity

00:19:57.470 --> 00:19:59.515
ies.
So what

00:19:59.683 --> 00:20:01.116
they earn from minimum wage,
I just

00:20:02.252 --> 00:20:04.721
don't think it's enough
to support
every day family

00:20:04.721 --> 00:20:06.856
ies.
>>

00:20:06.856 --> 00:20:08.625
>> thank you.
>> thank you.

00:20:13.630 --> 00:20:15.630
David -- 

00:20:24.107 --> 00:20:26.609
>> um, I'm david takagagi.
I'm part

00:20:30.147 --> 00:20:32.515
owner of tagagi, a small
financial
services company in this
state.

00:20:34.451 --> 00:20:35.751
We employ 8 people, 8 full-time
people

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:39.880
and one part-time person.
All are

00:20:40.490 --> 00:20:42.490
paid a living wage.

00:20:43.627 --> 00:20:46.162
I fully support
the effort to raise the
minimum

00:20:46.997 --> 00:20:49.232
wage as the bill says.
But with

00:20:50.601 --> 00:20:52.810
comment as previous speakers
have
said.

00:20:53.837 --> 00:20:55.837
It should be higher.

00:20:56.273 --> 00:20:58.273
Maybe

00:21:00.178 --> 00:21:02.812
that's $17 as to a
two or
three

00:21:04.114 --> 00:21:05.615
speakers ago is where we
should
be at.

00:21:09.553 --> 00:21:10.794
It is more a just thing to
do but

00:21:11.555 --> 00:21:14.900
I believe it's good business.
You
pay a living wage because

00:21:14.910 --> 00:21:16.910
it promotes

00:21:17.261 --> 00:21:20.196
a spirit of cooperation
and enthusiasm

00:21:21.833 --> 00:21:23.633
in my office because everyone
knows

00:21:24.201 --> 00:21:26.102
their work is value
ed.

00:21:27.805 --> 00:21:29.805
It also provides

00:21:30.641 --> 00:21:32.775
stability in the office
workplace

00:21:33.777 --> 00:21:35.712
because everyone thoughs
that they

00:21:37.348 --> 00:21:39.349
individually and check relativel
y

00:21:40.751 --> 00:21:42.786
collectively areling vad.
It also

00:21:45.222 --> 00:21:46.656
gives everybody an awareness
that,

00:21:48.726 --> 00:21:49.975
with a decent living wage,
they

00:21:52.597 --> 00:21:54.597
will probably be able to

00:21:56.835 --> 00:21:58.802
support
their family
ies and dependents.

00:22:00.237 --> 00:22:02.987
And they in turn will better
take
care of their family
ies.

00:22:07.344 --> 00:22:09.379
We all want a healthy economic
community.

00:22:12.250 --> 00:22:14.618
I would encourage the state
to think

00:22:17.222 --> 00:22:18.655
about educational opportunity
ies

00:22:19.824 --> 00:22:22.225
for small businesses and
large businesses.

00:22:27.366 --> 00:22:29.367
They should not have the
attitude

00:22:30.802 --> 00:22:32.369
of how we can pay workers
the least.

00:22:34.272 --> 00:22:35.511
They should have the attitude
of

00:22:36.674 --> 00:22:38.842
how they can way workers
the most.

00:22:42.213 --> 00:22:43.914
We have paid a living wage
for years

00:22:44.716 --> 00:22:46.851
and our business continues
to grow.

00:22:50.188 --> 00:22:51.455
And we all know people that
work tomb

00:22:52.657 --> 00:22:55.260
or three jobs
two or three
jobs at

00:22:55.260 --> 00:22:57.428
minimum wage.
It is really time

00:22:58.730 --> 00:23:00.397
to stop this, having people
pay

00:23:02.901 --> 00:23:04.335
work two low paying jobs
to keep

00:23:05.337 --> 00:23:07.672
a roof over their head and
food
on the table.

00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:10.840
It's really a crime.

00:23:13.945 --> 00:23:15.746
Um, so I am in support of
this bill

00:23:16.481 --> 00:23:18.415
but ask you to raise it
to where

00:23:21.353 --> 00:23:24.221
people can truly live, perhaps
$17
is a good start.

00:23:26.258 --> 00:23:28.893
And unfortunately,
we're in the middle of a

00:23:29.194 --> 00:23:30.928
global financial
crisis.

00:23:32.330 --> 00:23:33.898
It's difficult.
people

00:23:34.366 --> 00:23:36.105
are going to lose their
jobs.
And

00:23:36.834 --> 00:23:38.369
in many of these situations,
the

00:23:39.838 --> 00:23:42.273
first one to lose their
job in a

00:23:43.375 --> 00:23:46.244
business setting is the lowest
paid
worker.

00:23:46.912 --> 00:23:48.912
And here you have a problem.

00:23:48.947 --> 00:23:51.383
These people sometimes don't
have
health

00:23:51.383 --> 00:23:53.917
health care.
They don't have

00:23:54.787 --> 00:23:56.721
adequate savings because
they just

00:23:57.790 --> 00:23:59.858
don't have a living wage,
you know
know.

00:24:00.826 --> 00:24:03.294
They don't is a cushion.
And think
about this.

00:24:06.898 --> 00:24:09.267
If they get sick, do
they have sick leave?

00:24:12.503 --> 00:24:15.340
Many of us
here in this room have sick
leave.
They probably don't have sick

00:24:15.408 --> 00:24:18.376
leave.
And even if they're sick,

00:24:18.544 --> 00:24:20.544
they May

00:24:21.847 --> 00:24:23.781
just come to work even though
they're

00:24:25.384 --> 00:24:27.985
sick and the virus or any
other disease

00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:30.200
spreads even further.

00:24:38.300 --> 00:24:39.997
Our hawaii economy needs to
be an

00:24:41.934 --> 00:24:44.469
economy that's strong for
everyone.
Thank you.

00:24:45.504 --> 00:24:47.504
>> is thank you.

00:24:47.774 --> 00:24:49.808
Catholic charity
ies

00:24:49.809 --> 00:24:51.809
hawaii.

00:24:57.817 --> 00:24:59.817
committee alliance on prisons.

00:25:02.388 --> 00:25:04.388
Bart dean.

00:25:10.863 --> 00:25:13.498
>> aloha chair and members.
My name
is bart.

00:25:14.267 --> 00:25:16.469
I'm testifying as an individua
l.
You have my written testimony.

00:25:16.469 --> 00:25:19.271
And
I will try to add extra comments

00:25:19.271 --> 00:25:21.271
to that.

00:25:22.442 --> 00:25:23.842
Um, first while I don't expect
everyone

00:25:24.444 --> 00:25:25.744
who runs as a democrat to
support

00:25:27.447 --> 00:25:29.448
the democratic party platform.
Our

00:25:30.583 --> 00:25:32.517
platform explicitly says
we believe

00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:35.420
minimum wage should be raised
to
$15 an hour.

00:25:35.488 --> 00:25:37.488
And that is a step

00:25:37.790 --> 00:25:40.426
towards but does not completely
satisfy and provide a living
wage.

00:25:41.361 --> 00:25:42.761
So I would urge you, if you
are going

00:25:44.831 --> 00:25:47.766
to run as democrats to take
that
under serious consideration.

00:25:49.402 --> 00:25:51.360
Second, I attended a meeting
the other

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:55.408
day for
sponsored by so

00:25:55.408 --> 00:25:57.876
the
er by
and one of your colleagues

00:25:58.450 --> 00:26:00.947
put forth
his understanding of economics
that

00:26:02.382 --> 00:26:04.951
if we raise the minimum wage
$2
an hour, that will force

00:26:04.951 --> 00:26:06.951
a stand

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.664
owner who is selling -- will
have

00:26:09.889 --> 00:26:11.623
to jack it up to $12.
Apparently

00:26:12.558 --> 00:26:14.826
the senator believes that
a simon

00:26:17.970 --> 00:26:18.965
shop who only produces only
one -- 

00:26:19.433 --> 00:26:22.000
of simon per year.
We have to have

00:26:25.710 --> 00:26:26.313
a thorough -- I know economic
is

00:26:29.409 --> 00:26:31.610
a class we slept through
in class -- 

00:26:32.146 --> 00:26:34.481
I know there's been testimony
in
the past by restaurant owners

00:26:34.481 --> 00:26:36.382
to
the same effect.

00:26:36.950 --> 00:26:38.950
We had last year

00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:41.687
or year before, the restaurant
owner
said if the minimum wage

00:26:42.890 --> 00:26:44.890
went from

00:26:44.991 --> 00:26:46.492
$10 to $15 an hour, they
have to

00:26:47.627 --> 00:26:50.530
increase the plate lunch
to $15.

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:53.900
Our study that gave rise
to this
history

00:26:54.134 --> 00:26:55.535
ic gathering suggests
that

00:26:57.538 --> 00:26:58.938
a family of four has to have
two

00:27:00.474 --> 00:27:02.441
earners making $19 an hour.
The

00:27:03.760 --> 00:27:05.760
state agency in charge of

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:07.579
such things -- 

00:27:09.483 --> 00:27:11.685
I believe it's -- so we're
out of
balance.
We all know this.

00:27:11.685 --> 00:27:14.220
Local
people are moving to the
mainland.

00:27:14.888 --> 00:27:16.656
The rich are getting richer
across
the country.

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.491
The political country
has move

00:27:19.590 --> 00:27:21.595
ed away from working
class,
professional class and the

00:27:21.595 --> 00:27:23.696
wealthy
businesses that can afford

00:27:23.997 --> 00:27:25.997
lobbyists.

00:27:27.101 --> 00:27:29.636
I urge that we start addressing
this,
we pass this bill.

00:27:29.636 --> 00:27:32.390
If we're going
to say that we're keeping

00:27:32.390 --> 00:27:34.390
the minimum

00:27:34.475 --> 00:27:36.184
wage low and subpoena
supplemen
ting

00:27:36.944 --> 00:27:39.790
it with tax credits, let's
look at

00:27:39.790 --> 00:27:41.614
the tax credits.
I don't think

00:27:42.784 --> 00:27:45.190
the earned income tax credit
is going
to make a difference that

00:27:45.190 --> 00:27:46.486
will be
provide

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.588
ed by a wage of $17.
You

00:27:49.156 --> 00:27:51.191
notice while some are calling
for

00:27:51.993 --> 00:27:53.236
$17, there are people saying
they

00:27:54.929 --> 00:27:57.130
will accept $15 an hour.
But $13

00:27:58.665 --> 00:28:00.534
an hour dragged out over
four years

00:28:01.669 --> 00:28:03.504
does not make sense.
We see the

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.307
imbalance in resources right
now

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.895
in people who are most vulnerab
le

00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:11.100
to the coronavirus.

00:28:11.450 --> 00:28:13.214
I have a roommate who works
in the
restaurant business as a

00:28:13.214 --> 00:28:15.516
server.
He cannot afford not to show

00:28:15.516 --> 00:28:17.117
up for
work.

00:28:18.253 --> 00:28:20.789
And when he's sick he has
to go into work and else

00:28:20.789 --> 00:28:22.955
in direct
contact with the public
include

00:28:22.955 --> 00:28:24.955
ing

00:28:25.260 --> 00:28:26.660
tourists from country
ies

00:28:27.195 --> 00:28:29.562
carrying
these disease because they
don't

00:28:30.631 --> 00:28:33.166
have the resources to call
in sick
because they don't have the
income

00:28:34.703 --> 00:28:36.360
and often times even their
health

00:28:37.505 --> 00:28:38.750
insurance gets canceled because
they

00:28:40.508 --> 00:28:42.900
fall below 20 hours a week.
We

00:28:42.544 --> 00:28:44.679
have a weak infrastructure,
it's
not bridges and roads that

00:28:44.679 --> 00:28:46.679
need

00:28:47.181 --> 00:28:49.183
to be replaced it's our
health care
system as well and it's the

00:28:49.183 --> 00:28:52.520
living
wage our workers need to
have.

00:28:53.655 --> 00:28:55.589
So I ask you to pass this
bill and

00:28:56.910 --> 00:28:58.910
raise the dollar amount.

00:28:58.260 --> 00:29:00.260
$13 is

00:29:02.264 --> 00:29:04.331
not enough and one job should
be
enough.

00:29:18.179 --> 00:29:20.648
>> thank you very much for
this opportunity.

00:29:23.184 --> 00:29:25.152
I am with faith action for
community
equity.

00:29:25.687 --> 00:29:27.254
I am its President.
I'm

00:29:29.124 --> 00:29:31.259
evelyn action on hao.
And I have

00:29:31.793 --> 00:29:33.929
a scenario for you.
Two parents

00:29:33.929 --> 00:29:36.130
working full-time.
one of them with

00:29:36.698 --> 00:29:38.232
an additional part-time
job, struggle

00:29:39.768 --> 00:29:42.203
to pay for food, gas, school
supplies,
and rent every month.

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:45.640
It's a family on the drink
brink.

00:29:46.775 --> 00:29:48.110
If the car which one parent
needs

00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:52.279
to get to a job eight miles
way should

00:29:53.248 --> 00:29:55.550
need even a minor repair
or one
parent gets sick and missions

00:29:55.550 --> 00:29:57.652
work,
they would not be able to

00:29:57.652 --> 00:29:59.530
pay the
rent.

00:30:01.189 --> 00:30:03.792
They fall off the brink
into
homelessness and double up

00:30:04.193 --> 00:30:06.360
with another
family on the same brink.

00:30:07.129 --> 00:30:09.697
This scenario is real.
I know because

00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.834
for 20 years I was the elementa
ry

00:30:15.637 --> 00:30:16.877
school principal for children
who

00:30:18.406 --> 00:30:19.981
came from such courageous
family
ies.

00:30:20.676 --> 00:30:22.678
Despite the challenges, the
children
came to school every day,

00:30:22.678 --> 00:30:24.678
equipped

00:30:24.914 --> 00:30:27.382
for the work of school.
And so

00:30:29.118 --> 00:30:30.585
very ready and eager to learn.
I

00:30:33.222 --> 00:30:35.590
can only admire the grit
and determine
ation

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.826
my children and parents
displayed

00:30:38.861 --> 00:30:40.861
in such difficult circumstances.

00:30:41.564 --> 00:30:44.650
Those family
ies tethering

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:46.660
just above

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:48.136
poverty level belong to
the 37%

00:30:48.737 --> 00:30:51.606
of individuals and family
ies
in hawaii
who are employ

00:30:51.674 --> 00:30:53.107
employed but
have

00:30:54.243 --> 00:30:55.677
incomes so low that they
struggle

00:30:57.213 --> 00:30:59.582
to afford the basicnessity
ies
a

00:30:59.582 --> 00:31:02.185
ity
ness
basic necessity
ies according

00:31:02.185 --> 00:31:03.451
to the
report.

00:31:05.688 --> 00:31:06.955
Our hard working residents,
they are

00:31:08.390 --> 00:31:10.910
neighbors friends, and family
members,

00:31:10.893 --> 00:31:12.728
deserve a living wage of
$17 an hour

00:31:13.229 --> 00:31:16.198
which is the amount which
someone-
needs to earn to support

00:31:19.432 --> 00:31:21.500
themselves
and their family.
The benefits of increasing
the minimum

00:31:21.838 --> 00:31:23.908
wage have already been proven
right
here in hawaii when the minimum

00:31:23.908 --> 00:31:25.908
wage

00:31:28.377 --> 00:31:31.240
was increased by steps from
$7.
25

00:31:33.282 --> 00:31:34.950
in 2014 to $10.
10 in 2018.
Despite

00:31:35.685 --> 00:31:37.890
the negative predictions
to raising
the minimum wage
wage, during

00:31:37.890 --> 00:31:39.890
those

00:31:40.857 --> 00:31:43.225
four years, hawaii saw a
6.
4 increase
in small businesses and

00:31:43.225 --> 00:31:45.227
the number
of restaurants

00:31:45.227 --> 00:31:46.661
restaurant
server

00:31:47.731 --> 00:31:49.731
positions increased by 20%.

00:31:51.935 --> 00:31:53.635
A recent study by the institute
only

00:31:54.437 --> 00:31:57.413
research of labor and employmen
t
at the university of california
in

00:31:58.207 --> 00:32:00.742
berkeley support the same
scenario
happening even nationwide

00:32:00.743 --> 00:32:03.150
if the
national minimum wage were
to be

00:32:04.982 --> 00:32:06.515
raised to $15 an hour today
today.

00:32:07.451 --> 00:32:08.784
The study concludes that the
number

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:12.255
of jobs would be increased
slightly,

00:32:12.255 --> 00:32:14.255
not reduced.

00:32:14.758 --> 00:32:16.759
The study also concludes
that although a higher minimum

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:18.759
wage

00:32:18.761 --> 00:32:20.200
will result in slight hi
higher

00:32:21.230 --> 00:32:22.799
prices, it will also reduce
worker

00:32:23.867 --> 00:32:25.735
turnover, increase worker
purchasing

00:32:27.337 --> 00:32:29.372
power, and increase consume
er
spending.

00:32:30.874 --> 00:32:32.874
All which drive the economy.

00:32:35.412 --> 00:32:36.945
Faith action for community
equity

00:32:37.747 --> 00:32:38.986
includes members that live
within

00:32:39.883 --> 00:32:41.718
the wide range of economic
level
include

00:32:42.719 --> 00:32:44.420
ing many in the 37%.
We

00:32:45.756 --> 00:32:46.999
support them and all workers
who

00:32:48.258 --> 00:32:50.920
struggle daily
daily.
With knowledge

00:32:50.760 --> 00:32:52.494
all workers at the bottom
of the

00:32:53.230 --> 00:32:54.469
pay scale who are the very
ones

00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:58.801
that uphold the rest of us
every
day through their labor.

00:33:00.737 --> 00:33:02.737
What they do makes our workplaces

00:33:02.806 --> 00:33:04.507
more pleasant and clean.
Makes

00:33:04.841 --> 00:33:07.900
our sports activity
ies possible.

00:33:09.413 --> 00:33:11.380
Makes dining out at fast
food outlets

00:33:12.916 --> 00:33:14.350
or a fine dining restaurant,
a time

00:33:15.353 --> 00:33:18.288
of respite for us.
In so many ways,

00:33:18.856 --> 00:33:21.391
their hard work support
the lives
we enjoy.

00:33:23.600 --> 00:33:24.427
Faith action for community
equity

00:33:25.862 --> 00:33:28.297
strongly recommends that
the minimum
wage be increase

00:33:29.320 --> 00:33:31.367
ed to $17
an hour.
Thank you.

00:33:31.969 --> 00:33:33.870
>> thank you.
Mr.

00:33:34.305 --> 00:33:36.374
Hemmed rick.
Helped

00:33:36.374 --> 00:33:38.374
rick.

00:33:38.409 --> 00:33:41.100
Hendrix.
Carl hendrix.

00:33:43.470 --> 00:33:45.481
>> hello, thank you for allowing
me
to testify today.

00:33:48.552 --> 00:33:50.552
My name is con

00:33:51.456 --> 00:33:53.456
connor hendrix.

00:33:53.758 --> 00:33:55.893
I'm a student in
the school of social work.

00:33:55.893 --> 00:33:57.893
I'm

00:33:57.895 --> 00:33:59.996
testifying to support this
bill and

00:34:01.310 --> 00:34:02.565
also amend, I recommend
amending

00:34:03.800 --> 00:34:06.636
this bill to $17 an hour
by 2025
2025.

00:34:10.410 --> 00:34:11.908
My job, in my job, I run a
food pantry

00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:14.110
for the homeless and the
working

00:34:16.130 --> 00:34:17.880
homeless as well as this
disburse

00:34:19.316 --> 00:34:21.323
one time emergency funding
for family
ies

00:34:22.286 --> 00:34:25.122
who are at imminent risk
of homeless
homelessness.

00:34:25.657 --> 00:34:27.240
And so I just wanted to tell
a little

00:34:28.359 --> 00:34:29.626
story about one of my clients
recently

00:34:30.395 --> 00:34:32.396
that represents a lot of
the clients
I work with often.

00:34:33.564 --> 00:34:35.899
So it's a single mother with
four
girls.

00:34:36.901 --> 00:34:38.901
And she had her rent increased

00:34:40.838 --> 00:34:42.138
unexpectedly and had to choose
either

00:34:43.740 --> 00:34:45.909
paying her rent or paying
her electricity
and water bills.

00:34:46.444 --> 00:34:49.146
Without the assistance
we were able to give her
she would

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:52.482
have been cut off of her
electricity
and water.

00:34:53.184 --> 00:34:56.520
And so she chose to pay
her rent so that she could
stay in

00:34:56.954 --> 00:34:58.255
a place where she's trying
to support

00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:02.993
her and her four girls, away
from
a physical abuser.

00:35:03.561 --> 00:35:04.799
And so the
she

00:35:05.897 --> 00:35:08.699
paid her rent but they were
at risk
of homelessness.

00:35:09.134 --> 00:35:11.134
And she also has

00:35:11.602 --> 00:35:14.105
a daughter who is a teenager
who
is working minimum wage to

00:35:14.105 --> 00:35:17.400
try to
help that.
And they're always at

00:35:17.576 --> 00:35:18.876
this financial insecurity
risk.

00:35:20.612 --> 00:35:21.912
And she only makes $11 an
hour.

00:35:23.810 --> 00:35:25.583
And she has chosen to live
in this
situation to believe away

00:35:25.583 --> 00:35:28.552
from an
abuser.
So it's really important

00:35:28.620 --> 00:35:30.687
that raising the minimum
wage to

00:35:31.589 --> 00:35:32.990
$17 an hour can help this
family

00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:36.694
and many of my clients in
a way that

00:35:37.562 --> 00:35:39.497
will help them not feel that
congress

00:35:39.764 --> 00:35:42.433
at that point fear of homelessn
ess.
Thank you so much for your
time.

00:35:42.968 --> 00:35:44.968
>> thank you.

00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:49.500
.

00:36:03.588 --> 00:36:05.723
Kathy -- 
>> good afternoon, senator

00:36:05.723 --> 00:36:07.992
taniguchi
and senators.
Thank you for the

00:36:08.995 --> 00:36:11.496
opportunity to testify in
support
of the bill.

00:36:11.630 --> 00:36:14.432
You have my written
testimony.
You see that we support

00:36:16.502 --> 00:36:18.502
the itc, the other tax credit.

00:36:18.570 --> 00:36:20.705
We ask that you raise the
minimum
wage to 17.

00:36:20.772 --> 00:36:23.208
We think that's going
to make a difference in

00:36:23.208 --> 00:36:25.242
it people's
lied.

00:36:26.780 --> 00:36:28.780
Lives.

00:36:28.647 --> 00:36:31.516
I offer amendments
in my testimony.

00:36:32.151 --> 00:36:34.151
The first is to

00:36:37.623 --> 00:36:40.191
include sb 24 -- the working
family's
bill.
If you remember at the start

00:36:40.592 --> 00:36:42.626
of session, this bill coming
out

00:36:45.631 --> 00:36:48.234
of the joint was asset limited
and
constrained unemployed.

00:36:48.234 --> 00:36:50.234
What we're

00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:53.471
seeing right now amidst
our covid-19

00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:56.975
pandemic is there is potential
for
people to have to leave
their job

00:36:58.110 --> 00:37:00.185
for caregiving or illness
of their
own.

00:37:00.245 --> 00:37:02.614
And rate now they don't
have
any protections.

00:37:02.949 --> 00:37:04.949
They will have

00:37:05.251 --> 00:37:07.986
to go without pay, without
a paycheck

00:37:08.588 --> 00:37:10.594
for an un
unexpected
un
unexpect
ed

00:37:10.594 --> 00:37:13.542
amount of time.
we know that our working family
ie
s

00:37:14.493 --> 00:37:16.694
don't have the savings necessar
y
to weather these storms.

00:37:16.996 --> 00:37:19.707
We think
by include
ing paid family
leave

00:37:20.667 --> 00:37:22.802
and paid sick days into the
working
family

00:37:22.802 --> 00:37:24.269
families bill we can
further

00:37:25.237 --> 00:37:26.604
strengthen the programs put
forward

00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:30.900
to ensure that our family
ies
that
are trying to make ends

00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:32.644
meet on
a month to month basis can

00:37:32.644 --> 00:37:34.644
do so.

00:37:34.846 --> 00:37:36.180
I think that while this does
kind

00:37:37.784 --> 00:37:40.860
of expand on the origin
tension
of this package, that the

00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:42.955
timing
is right especially given
the information

00:37:43.723 --> 00:37:45.290
from the briefing this morning
where

00:37:46.590 --> 00:37:47.296
many people questioned what
would

00:37:48.194 --> 00:37:49.694
happen, what's going to
happen to

00:37:51.297 --> 00:37:53.640
our workforce dependent on
hourly

00:37:54.234 --> 00:37:56.234
wages.

00:37:57.337 --> 00:37:59.337
Take care of our workers

00:38:00.140 --> 00:38:02.642
now and if this ever happens
again
in the future.
Thank you.

00:38:02.642 --> 00:38:04.642
>> thank you.

00:38:04.911 --> 00:38:06.911
Um, a amount

00:38:09.315 --> 00:38:11.315
iatac local

00:38:11.351 --> 00:38:13.351
665.

00:38:15.789 --> 00:38:18.757
>>
hsta.
 -- .

00:38:23.296 --> 00:38:25.764
Okay, retail merchants
of hawaii.

00:38:30.270 --> 00:38:32.338
>> aloha and good afternoon.
I'm

00:38:33.306 --> 00:38:34.707
with retail merchants of
hawaii.

00:38:35.776 --> 00:38:38.410
We applaud everyone's efforts
here
in putting this bill together.

00:38:39.790 --> 00:38:40.645
Although we are not oppose
to the

00:38:43.879 --> 00:38:46.420
whole package, we are opposed
to
the timeframe of it.
I think as
chamber of

00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.920
chamber of commerce
mentioned.

00:38:48.789 --> 00:38:51.124
It's not just $13 an
hour or just a way increase.

00:38:51.124 --> 00:38:53.293
There's
a lot more involve
ed in it

00:38:53.293 --> 00:38:55.475
as well.
In light of the coronavirus,

00:38:55.475 --> 00:38:57.475
I know

00:38:57.831 --> 00:38:59.431
everyone's going, well,
it's going

00:39:00.166 --> 00:39:01.662
on -- it's not going to last
that
long.

00:39:02.202 --> 00:39:04.236
But it is going to have
an
impact.

00:39:04.972 --> 00:39:07.207
We are looking at some employee
s
already getting their time

00:39:07.207 --> 00:39:09.242
cut because
we can't afford it.

00:39:09.276 --> 00:39:11.278
People are
not coming into the stores.

00:39:11.278 --> 00:39:13.280
And
we don't know how long this
is going

00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:15.280
to last.

00:39:15.282 --> 00:39:17.350
A lot of the retailers
are already prepare

00:39:17.350 --> 00:39:18.651
ing for
this

00:39:19.352 --> 00:39:21.352
to be a long-term for everybody.

00:39:21.789 --> 00:39:23.823
The other thing is there's
a misconception

00:39:23.891 --> 00:39:25.258
that when you raise the
minimum

00:39:26.627 --> 00:39:29.163
wage, employees do not layoff
employees.
I want to tell you, when

00:39:29.163 --> 00:39:31.163
the minimum

00:39:33.400 --> 00:39:34.900
wage was raised to $10.
10 an hour,

00:39:35.836 --> 00:39:37.836
one of my members had to

00:39:37.971 --> 00:39:40.740
layoff over
200 employees in order to
pay for

00:39:41.375 --> 00:39:43.443
the $10.
10 for everybody.
Because

00:39:43.443 --> 00:39:45.245
we have to pay for health
care that's

00:39:45.813 --> 00:39:47.848
going up and taxes and everythi
ng
else that is part of the

00:39:47.848 --> 00:39:49.515
paychecks
and things.

00:39:50.851 --> 00:39:52.851
So there is some consequences.

00:39:53.754 --> 00:39:55.788
We're just lucky right now
that unemployment

00:39:56.357 --> 00:39:58.759
was so low that they were
able to

00:39:59.326 --> 00:40:02.228
be absorbed back into the
workforce.
But with the coronavirus

00:40:02.363 --> 00:40:04.465
going on,
you're going to see more

00:40:04.465 --> 00:40:06.677
layoffs.
I think unemployment is already

00:40:06.677 --> 00:40:09.380
up
and we're going it see it
more.

00:40:10.304 --> 00:40:12.739
And those being laid off will
not
be able to be absorbed back

00:40:12.739 --> 00:40:14.976
into
the economy as fast as possible.

00:40:14.976 --> 00:40:17.440
thank you.
>> thank you.

00:40:17.979 --> 00:40:19.979
Brody lockhart.

00:40:35.630 --> 00:40:37.231
>> senator taniguchi and members
of
the committee, my name is

00:40:37.231 --> 00:40:38.565
brody
lockhart.

00:40:39.367 --> 00:40:41.368
Someone asked me recently
whether the effort to raise

00:40:41.368 --> 00:40:43.871
the
minimum wage will affect

00:40:43.871 --> 00:40:46.506
me adverse
will he.
I'm a quadly prejudgment

00:40:48.442 --> 00:40:50.442
interest I can, require

00:40:50.645 --> 00:40:52.880
quadripl
egic
require
ing 24 hour care.

00:40:53.348 --> 00:40:55.448
It would
affect me adversely.

00:40:55.917 --> 00:40:57.484
I pay out
of pocket.

00:40:58.720 --> 00:41:01.210
And a higher minimum
wage would make it hard for
me.

00:41:02.223 --> 00:41:03.557
I pay $15 an hour, and I
think that

00:41:04.992 --> 00:41:06.961
brings me more and better
applicants

00:41:07.996 --> 00:41:10.831
than $10.
10 does.
I expect what

00:41:11.833 --> 00:41:13.833
I pay will have to keep rising.

00:41:13.868 --> 00:41:16.470
Nonetheless, I wrote like
people

00:41:17.872 --> 00:41:20.240
would like people to be less
strapped

00:41:20.274 --> 00:41:22.274
strapped.

00:41:23.430 --> 00:41:24.745
Delete of my staff made a
trip to

00:41:26.247 --> 00:41:29.160
my house tuesday just to
get their
checks.

00:41:30.180 --> 00:41:32.180
I don't think they have

00:41:32.754 --> 00:41:34.989
savings at all which would
scare
me senseless.

00:41:34.989 --> 00:41:37.492
And these people are
not just out of high school.

00:41:37.492 --> 00:41:40.126
They're
30s, 40s, 50s.

00:41:40.929 --> 00:41:42.929
Most of them have

00:41:43.650 --> 00:41:45.990
two, three jobs, and they
need better
way.

00:41:46.101 --> 00:41:48.200
I support at least $15 an
hour and

00:41:50.539 --> 00:41:53.440
annual cost of living increases
on a schedule that gets us
there

00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:55.476
by 2022.
Thank you.

00:41:57.110 --> 00:41:59.110
>> thank you.

00:42:08.357 --> 00:42:10.591
Gary hoosier.
Hawaii
initiative.

00:42:11.593 --> 00:42:13.593
He was outside.

00:42:27.509 --> 00:42:30.110
>> good afternoon, senators
and chair.

00:42:30.145 --> 00:42:32.145
Gary hoosier.

00:42:32.881 --> 00:42:34.849
I'll keep my testimony
very short.

00:42:35.885 --> 00:42:37.352
A lot has already been
said.

00:42:42.457 --> 00:42:44.457
I encourage you to do what

00:42:44.526 --> 00:42:46.526
you did last year.

00:42:46.562 --> 00:42:48.562
And raise the

00:42:49.598 --> 00:42:52.434
amount, I believe last year
you -- 

00:42:52.568 --> 00:42:54.737
$15 an hour.
We're asking

00:42:54.737 --> 00:42:56.737
asking,

00:42:58.140 --> 00:42:59.474
I'm asking my $17 an hour,
we're

00:43:00.576 --> 00:43:03.478
asking for a cost of living
adjustment
annual.

00:43:07.516 --> 00:43:09.651
Come back next time, ask
for more.

00:43:10.119 --> 00:43:12.488
I believe working people
shouldn't have to do it

00:43:12.488 --> 00:43:14.488
every year,

00:43:14.490 --> 00:43:16.458
a couple of years, cost of
living
adjustment.

00:43:17.930 --> 00:43:19.930
I believe it's raising

00:43:20.362 --> 00:43:22.564
the amount above $13 an hour,
$13

00:43:28.538 --> 00:43:31.730
an hour -- with respect -- 
what

00:43:31.174 --> 00:43:33.409
mahalo -- 
last year also, I appreciate

00:43:33.409 --> 00:43:35.911
your
consideration increasing

00:43:36.946 --> 00:43:38.946
it above

00:43:39.548 --> 00:43:42.483
$13, and reaching towards
$17.
Thank you.
>> thank you.

00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:45.920
Kim -- 

00:43:48.458 --> 00:43:49.700
>> thank you, chair taniguchi,
I have

00:43:51.594 --> 00:43:54.230
he have, and
, ihara and committe
e.

00:43:54.230 --> 00:43:56.130
Thank you for the opportunity.
As

00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:59.241
I mentioned in my testimony,
$11

00:44:01.710 --> 00:44:03.205
an hour in 2021, and $1 an
hour in

00:44:03.606 --> 00:44:05.407
2024 is little too late.
Everyone

00:44:05.942 --> 00:44:07.676
mentioned the alice report.
I want

00:44:08.111 --> 00:44:09.678
to mention to everyone a
his report

00:44:11.800 --> 00:44:13.181
looked at 2015 data.
So it's already

00:44:16.413 --> 00:44:17.765
five years old.
So five years ago,

00:44:18.655 --> 00:44:20.523
they said $14 was needed
to sur
receive.

00:44:22.459 --> 00:44:24.459
Last year was $15 an hour.

00:44:27.970 --> 00:44:28.597
So $13 an hour, 2024, a little
too
late.

00:44:30.633 --> 00:44:32.817
I served in the board of educatio
n,
when I was there, I ask

00:44:32.817 --> 00:44:35.670
asked
the
superintendent at the time
do we

00:44:36.273 --> 00:44:37.606
have a state worker working
for

00:44:40.544 --> 00:44:43.245
the dough who's
doe who's
children

00:44:44.948 --> 00:44:46.715
work for -- I think that
is really

00:44:48.840 --> 00:44:49.918
not okay for the state to
be paying

00:44:50.860 --> 00:44:52.254
poverty wages
wages to
its own

00:44:53.657 --> 00:44:55.692
state workers and foreseeing
them
foresee

00:44:55.692 --> 00:44:57.767
foreforcing them
to receive
subsidy

00:44:57.767 --> 00:44:59.767
ies.

00:45:01.565 --> 00:45:03.700
Why are we not paying
everyone decent wages to

00:45:03.700 --> 00:45:05.167
feed their
own children?

00:45:07.504 --> 00:45:09.171
So I looked for the guidelines
for
the doe.

00:45:10.600 --> 00:45:12.600
Who would qualify for

00:45:12.543 --> 00:45:14.900
reduced and free lunch today?
So

00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:18.480
a single mom working full-time

00:45:18.648 --> 00:45:20.826
getting
$13 an hour today, her kids

00:45:20.826 --> 00:45:23.253
would
be eligible not just for

00:45:23.253 --> 00:45:26.155
reduced
lunch for
but free lunch.

00:45:26.756 --> 00:45:29.225
So he's
she's already considered

00:45:29.226 --> 00:45:31.562
in need
of federal subsidy

00:45:31.562 --> 00:45:33.663
ies to
feed her
kids, all three.

00:45:34.531 --> 00:45:36.866
I think they offer
several meals a day.

00:45:38.669 --> 00:45:40.202
I think when we look it in
that lens,

00:45:40.704 --> 00:45:43.672
we really need to question
what
is the role of the state

00:45:44.400 --> 00:45:46.710
to up lift
and take care and to allow
people

00:45:47.645 --> 00:45:49.145
to provide their own safety
nets?

00:45:50.810 --> 00:45:52.419
And also mm
many of the people
who

00:45:53.617 --> 00:45:55.840
low the lowest wage earners
are

00:45:57.154 --> 00:45:58.588
also responsible for taking
care

00:45:59.389 --> 00:46:01.592
of their elderly parents
or their

00:46:01.592 --> 00:46:03.592
sibling's children.

00:46:05.824 --> 00:46:08.990
They are other
people's safety nets as
well.
If
we look at the impact of
paying

00:46:08.990 --> 00:46:09.566
poverty wages, we need to
think of

00:46:10.301 --> 00:46:12.301
all of these elements.

00:46:12.703 --> 00:46:14.604
I remember when last year
when, and

00:46:16.273 --> 00:46:17.540
maybe this year, but I remember
 -- 

00:46:18.308 --> 00:46:19.989
fighting this increase the
minimum
wage.

00:46:21.212 --> 00:46:23.714
It broke my heart because
I love eating there.

00:46:23.748 --> 00:46:26.490
One of the
things that's amazing to

00:46:26.717 --> 00:46:28.717
me is that

00:46:29.860 --> 00:46:30.322
they're fighting uplifting
their

00:46:32.223 --> 00:46:34.624
waitresses, their salary
ies
to a
living wage.

00:46:34.691 --> 00:46:37.327
However, every time
I go into a zippy

00:46:37.327 --> 00:46:39.610
ies, it's
new.

00:46:40.665 --> 00:46:42.665
They're renovating the one

00:46:45.703 --> 00:46:47.137
inright
now.

00:46:48.372 --> 00:46:50.840
All the money they invest
in
building, the architecture,

00:46:50.875 --> 00:46:52.875
the designers,

00:46:54.845 --> 00:46:57.470
the electric transcriptions
electricians

00:46:58.149 --> 00:47:00.840
and -- they're finding resources
to

00:47:00.785 --> 00:47:02.119
invest in infrastructure
but not

00:47:03.254 --> 00:47:05.254
into operations for the workers.

00:47:06.791 --> 00:47:08.458
And I find that to be very
questionable.

00:47:09.393 --> 00:47:10.634
And also, you know, it's interest
ing,

00:47:12.229 --> 00:47:14.665
when you look from an investmen
t
perspective, when you look

00:47:14.666 --> 00:47:17.409
at businesses
and their operating spence
in the

00:47:18.703 --> 00:47:21.271
form of a pie chart, when
you compare
local company

00:47:21.339 --> 00:47:23.541
ies in hawaii
compare
ed
to their similar

00:47:23.541 --> 00:47:26.210
similarly
situated
mainland company
ies, let's

00:47:26.210 --> 00:47:28.312
say a
retail company or rest amount

00:47:28.312 --> 00:47:30.312
of

00:47:30.348 --> 00:47:32.416
a particular base point and
particular

00:47:33.952 --> 00:47:35.853
geographic region comparable
to hawaii,

00:47:36.721 --> 00:47:38.188
what's really strange is
on the

00:47:39.690 --> 00:47:41.726
mainland the prices of pie
that go

00:47:41.726 --> 00:47:44.228
towards real estate and
leases and
then utility

00:47:44.328 --> 00:47:46.129
ies are much
smaller.

00:47:47.799 --> 00:47:49.200
And their labor slice is much
bigger.

00:47:50.368 --> 00:47:52.303
When you look at the hawaii
operation

00:47:53.738 --> 00:47:55.500
pie chart, the pieces of
the pies

00:47:56.141 --> 00:47:57.983
for real estate and rents
and utility
ies

00:47:58.777 --> 00:48:00.811
are bigger and then relatively
smaller
is labor.

00:48:01.646 --> 00:48:03.647
So I just think that we need
to keep

00:48:04.282 --> 00:48:05.649
in mind that we're putting
the burden

00:48:07.319 --> 00:48:08.853
of profits onto labor and
then when

00:48:11.223 --> 00:48:13.324
they asked for fair wages,
they're
like, wait, wait.

00:48:13.358 --> 00:48:15.860
You're tapping
into our profits we can't

00:48:15.860 --> 00:48:17.860
survive.

00:48:17.862 --> 00:48:20.364
When in fact it's the land
owners
and utility

00:48:20.465 --> 00:48:22.699
ies that are putting
the
pressure.

00:48:22.934 --> 00:48:25.440
We need to look at them
and challenge them to do
a better

00:48:25.440 --> 00:48:27.440
josh.

00:48:27.473 --> 00:48:29.807
>> thank you
job.
>> did you

00:48:29.908 --> 00:48:31.908
thank you.

00:48:32.444 --> 00:48:33.944
Sheryl -- faith
action.

00:48:42.888 --> 00:48:44.255
>> thank you chair, taniguchi.
I

00:48:45.391 --> 00:48:47.895
am a member of faith action
for community
equity.

00:48:49.261 --> 00:48:51.261
But I'm speaking today briefly

00:48:52.831 --> 00:48:54.831
from a very personal viewpoint.

00:48:54.900 --> 00:48:56.901
I happen to be the grandmother,
maternal

00:48:57.803 --> 00:48:59.803
grandmother of the young

00:48:59.972 --> 00:49:01.972
lady from

00:49:02.241 --> 00:49:04.477
senator fha
fha
fevella's

00:49:04.477 --> 00:49:06.311
district,
I believe.

00:49:06.712 --> 00:49:08.712
Campbell high school.

00:49:10.248 --> 00:49:12.517
And she -- I have -- it's difficult
to be a grandmother and

00:49:12.517 --> 00:49:14.517
standby

00:49:16.456 --> 00:49:18.423
and watch your daughter,
her husband,

00:49:21.894 --> 00:49:23.328
and their four children making
do

00:49:25.497 --> 00:49:27.497
as best and as proudly as

00:49:27.499 --> 00:49:29.499
they can

00:49:30.869 --> 00:49:33.571
on one and a half jobs basically
of each parent.

00:49:38.277 --> 00:49:39.745
And from a family system's
perspective,

00:49:43.349 --> 00:49:44.783
if you would, it is difficult
to

00:49:48.854 --> 00:49:50.254
watch as they see the father's
two

00:49:51.758 --> 00:49:53.250
siblings move to the mainland
because

00:49:55.361 --> 00:49:57.262
they can't make it here.
And they

00:49:59.799 --> 00:50:01.800
are staying, staying here,
struggle
ing

00:50:05.538 --> 00:50:07.505
valiantly to put food on
the table

00:50:09.430 --> 00:50:11.510
and to send and literally
take their

00:50:11.811 --> 00:50:13.879
four children to school
and bring

00:50:15.448 --> 00:50:17.482
them back home, using the
gas.

00:50:18.618 --> 00:50:21.119
Because
public transportation does
not serve

00:50:22.855 --> 00:50:24.956
well in their, on their
routes.

00:50:28.494 --> 00:50:29.895
And to see them do that at
the cost

00:50:33.566 --> 00:50:35.534
of their physical health
health,

00:50:36.636 --> 00:50:38.360
I'm very concerned for my
daughter.

00:50:39.439 --> 00:50:40.673
She works herself and pushes
herself

00:50:42.441 --> 00:50:44.377
so that her kids can get
to where

00:50:45.178 --> 00:50:47.947
they need, get whatever
services

00:50:49.983 --> 00:50:52.584
they can possibly qualify
for

00:50:54.921 --> 00:50:57.623
and she goes without sleep
in order
to do that.

00:51:01.528 --> 00:51:03.529
And her husband leaves early
for work,

00:51:04.665 --> 00:51:06.131
comes home, helps with the
kids.

00:51:08.435 --> 00:51:10.502
They really trade off very,
very carefully

00:51:12.472 --> 00:51:14.472
on their child care.

00:51:14.974 --> 00:51:16.974
And they work

00:51:17.100 --> 00:51:18.544
on behalf of their family.
But

00:51:19.947 --> 00:51:21.914
I do know from having worked
with
family

00:51:22.916 --> 00:51:25.840
ies before, before
retirement

00:51:26.987 --> 00:51:29.880
that the continue
ous stress

00:51:29.890 --> 00:51:31.890
on the

00:51:32.250 --> 00:51:33.265
family's emotional and social
life

00:51:35.496 --> 00:51:36.896
takes its toll in the long
run.

00:51:40.167 --> 00:51:42.167
So that is my personal testimony.

00:51:43.937 --> 00:51:45.605
And I appeal to this committee
to

00:51:47.140 --> 00:51:49.141
consider raising the minimum
wage

00:51:52.145 --> 00:51:53.579
to, I won't state a figure,
but

00:51:57.500 --> 00:51:59.619
as high as you deem feasible.
Thank
you
you.

00:52:01.210 --> 00:52:03.223
>> written testimony that
you submitted -- 

00:52:03.223 --> 00:52:05.223
>> I'm sorry.

00:52:05.626 --> 00:52:06.993
I did not submit written
testimony.

00:52:07.961 --> 00:52:10.290
But my daughter has.
>> thank you.

00:52:11.532 --> 00:52:13.532
Clay commit.

00:52:15.102 --> 00:52:17.102
Smith.

00:52:24.978 --> 00:52:26.978
>> hi.

00:52:27.982 --> 00:52:29.982
My name is clay smith.

00:52:30.918 --> 00:52:32.918
Cley.

00:52:34.755 --> 00:52:36.356
My background -- I work with
major
company

00:52:37.692 --> 00:52:39.559
ies around the world,
27 country
ies

00:52:40.127 --> 00:52:42.127
to talk to their top management

00:52:43.630 --> 00:52:44.730
to approach their local
authorities.

00:52:46.668 --> 00:52:48.168
So I got to mediate both sides
of
the fence.

00:52:50.138 --> 00:52:52.239
So and the thing is how do
we do it?

00:52:53.674 --> 00:52:56.142
How do we do this?
I work with both

00:52:57.511 --> 00:52:59.790
sides to compromise how to
do it.

00:52:59.613 --> 00:53:01.214
My suggestion here is raise
the wage

00:53:06.521 --> 00:53:08.121
to $18 an hour by 2023, $6
every
year.

00:53:08.990 --> 00:53:11.158
And a dollar every year
after
that.

00:53:12.794 --> 00:53:14.794
And even more if we can.

00:53:15.290 --> 00:53:16.279
One of the things is the oppositi
on,

00:53:17.310 --> 00:53:19.499
what we need to do is increase
business
coming to hawaii.

00:53:19.667 --> 00:53:21.703
So I'm in touch
with all those company
ies.

00:53:21.703 --> 00:53:24.638
And the
best things, unions working
with

00:53:27.175 --> 00:53:29.175
the unions, they're the original

00:53:29.677 --> 00:53:31.677
,

00:53:31.746 --> 00:53:34.214
what do you call it, living
wage
workers for history.

00:53:34.782 --> 00:53:37.118
That's my favorite
people are the unions.

00:53:37.118 --> 00:53:39.253
I always
supported unions.

00:53:39.788 --> 00:53:41.322
To help grow
business here.

00:53:42.123 --> 00:53:44.691
So trade show exhibit
is one of my things.

00:53:45.560 --> 00:53:47.127
So the trade show here in
hawaii and

00:53:47.796 --> 00:53:49.730
maybe in the other islands,
they're

00:53:50.598 --> 00:53:52.320
anti-most of the time -- most
of the

00:53:52.667 --> 00:53:55.135
year they see their little
things
but not juror company
ies

00:53:55.135 --> 00:53:57.606
coming
company
major company
ies coming.

00:53:57.606 --> 00:53:59.741
I can
help the union increase business

00:53:59.741 --> 00:54:01.741
here.

00:54:02.777 --> 00:54:04.545
But by 2023, $1 is easy
if

00:54:06.848 --> 00:54:09.616
we put the coronavirus aside.
That's
a different issue.

00:54:11.652 --> 00:54:13.520
So as a generic quick statement
to

00:54:14.550 --> 00:54:15.323
help both sides win and
increase

00:54:16.325 --> 00:54:17.658
businesses, so that the little
businesses

00:54:18.727 --> 00:54:20.228
don't go away while we're
doing
that.

00:54:22.831 --> 00:54:25.599
So that's -- and so I'm willing
to work with the unions
to increase

00:54:29.604 --> 00:54:31.772
business here and lead quorums
and
things.
Thank you.

00:54:33.375 --> 00:54:34.775
>> smith, you don't have written
testimony

00:54:37.646 --> 00:54:40.260
either, right?
Do you have written
testimony?
>> yeah.

00:54:43.118 --> 00:54:45.118
>> okay, thank you.

00:54:48.224 --> 00:54:50.291
>> thank you, chair, committee.
United

00:54:51.293 --> 00:54:53.293
local five represent

00:54:53.462 --> 00:54:56.130
represents
12,000
hotel and airport workers.

00:54:57.132 --> 00:54:59.132
We unionize

00:54:59.234 --> 00:55:01.335
and fight to improve the
life of
workers.

00:55:01.803 --> 00:55:03.945
I don't think that we've
killed any business that
I'm aware

00:55:03.945 --> 00:55:06.876
of.
And we get really good

00:55:06.876 --> 00:55:08.876
wages,

00:55:09.211 --> 00:55:11.647
almost -- way more than double
what
it is now for most of our

00:55:11.647 --> 00:55:13.647
workers.

00:55:16.418 --> 00:55:18.119
We recently taken on the airport
workers

00:55:18.921 --> 00:55:20.721
but they are the lowest
paid workers.

00:55:21.423 --> 00:55:23.959
I think we visited some of
you in
your offices.

00:55:24.427 --> 00:55:26.427
I think one girl

00:55:27.230 --> 00:55:28.470
told you she can't work eight
days

00:55:29.932 --> 00:55:31.666
a week or 25 hours in a day.
It's

00:55:32.301 --> 00:55:33.543
impossible to make a living
here

00:55:34.636 --> 00:55:36.636
in that kind of poverty wages.

00:55:37.339 --> 00:55:38.806
So I just want to remind you,
that

00:55:39.942 --> 00:55:41.376
you too, like the union
are suppose

00:55:43.616 --> 00:55:45.815
ed
to represent the people not
just
the businesses
businesses.
I want
to bring that up for two

00:55:45.815 --> 00:55:47.815
reasons.

00:55:48.284 --> 00:55:50.352
Earlier today they had the
covid-19

00:55:50.352 --> 00:55:52.352
meeting.

00:55:52.421 --> 00:55:54.421
And our union wasn't even

00:55:54.456 --> 00:55:56.924
invited to sit at the table.
We

00:55:58.728 --> 00:56:01.363
negotiate for the benefit
of workers

00:56:02.398 --> 00:56:05.233
so they can keep all of their
jobs
as much as possible.

00:56:05.234 --> 00:56:07.936
They can keep
their health care as much
as possible.

00:56:09.472 --> 00:56:11.706
We have been doing a lot for
the workers

00:56:12.374 --> 00:56:14.742
right now even amidst this
kind
of crisis.

00:56:15.746 --> 00:56:18.680
And we've done it through
9/11 and the recession.
And we're

00:56:19.215 --> 00:56:21.215
not even violated to the

00:56:23.454 --> 00:56:25.283
table.
That was kind of like, wow.
I was
pretty shocked about that.

00:56:25.455 --> 00:56:27.222
secondly I want to remind
you you

00:56:27.557 --> 00:56:30.225
represent the people because
you
need to know what the workers
are

00:56:30.660 --> 00:56:33.261
going through.
$13 an hour, $13

00:56:33.930 --> 00:56:35.364
an hour, the people who have
been

00:56:38.334 --> 00:56:39.668
opposing the decent living
wage

00:56:40.436 --> 00:56:41.837
all of a sudden they're worried
about

00:56:42.438 --> 00:56:44.439
who is going to appellate
row
appellate

00:56:45.441 --> 00:56:47.443
row might their business
appellate

00:56:47.443 --> 00:56:49.377
row nice
might their business
because

00:56:50.247 --> 00:56:52.247
the tourists are not coming.

00:56:52.549 --> 00:56:54.850
We're the ones that spent
spend the

00:56:55.352 --> 00:56:57.252
money here in the city.
$1 an hour,

00:56:58.822 --> 00:57:00.990
people who make that signed
kind
of money

00:57:00.990 --> 00:57:02.891
are not going
to restaurants,

00:57:04.327 --> 00:57:06.327
not even at mcdonald's.

00:57:07.330 --> 00:57:09.966
They don't go to -- they don't
go to
the mall.

00:57:10.801 --> 00:57:13.700
They don't go
go -- some
of them don't even go to

00:57:13.700 --> 00:57:15.905
the dentist
for goodness sakes.

00:57:18.410 --> 00:57:19.508
And to say that maybe they
should

00:57:20.944 --> 00:57:22.277
do stay indications, oh,
my God.

00:57:24.314 --> 00:57:26.449
How can people making $13
an hour,

00:57:28.180 --> 00:57:30.519
go on stay indication
kase?

00:57:32.322 --> 00:57:34.558
Irrelevant want to point
note I

00:57:34.558 --> 00:57:36.250
want to point out note thought
that

00:57:36.860 --> 00:57:38.761
these people are not -- if
you folks

00:57:39.462 --> 00:57:41.462
want to do right by our people

00:57:41.564 --> 00:57:43.310
the people who live in this
state.

00:57:44.534 --> 00:57:47.309
Not just look at what the
company
ies

00:57:47.537 --> 00:57:49.940
or the corporations or businesse
s
are wore
worried about,

00:57:49.940 --> 00:57:51.940
look at

00:57:52.750 --> 00:57:53.375
how you can actually do somethin
g

00:57:55.312 --> 00:57:57.947
good for the people, $13
is -- oh,
my gosh.

00:57:59.150 --> 00:58:01.417
It's just not enough.
I just want to point out

00:58:01.920 --> 00:58:03.920
that arizona

00:58:05.890 --> 00:58:07.824
has higher, has a higher
minimum
wage than hawaii.
And they have

00:58:09.326 --> 00:58:11.561
a 40% lower cost of living.
Arizona.

00:58:12.290 --> 00:58:14.960
We can do better than that.
You guys,

00:58:15.980 --> 00:58:17.980
please.

00:58:17.534 --> 00:58:19.135
Consider raising that minimum
wage.
Thank you.

00:58:19.570 --> 00:58:21.570
>> thank you.

00:58:22.573 --> 00:58:24.573
Macpherson, faith action.

00:58:45.462 --> 00:58:47.462
>> June chin -- lee -- 

00:58:51.201 --> 00:58:53.704
>> um, hello, chair, vice
chair, members.
Committee.

00:58:54.472 --> 00:58:56.173
I am testifying today
as an individual.

00:58:57.575 --> 00:59:00.770
i'm a sophomore
of the university of hawaii
and

00:59:00.770 --> 00:59:02.445
I work at the university
of hawaii

00:59:02.513 --> 00:59:04.881
office of admissions.
And I get

00:59:06.160 --> 00:59:08.284
paid $10.
60.
And for me, I live
at home.

00:59:08.519 --> 00:59:10.860
I get financial aid.
I

00:59:10.822 --> 00:59:13.570
have the privilege of being
able
to you know save my money

00:59:13.570 --> 00:59:15.570
a little

00:59:15.159 --> 00:59:16.927
and be occasionally go to
the movie

00:59:17.628 --> 00:59:20.430
and eat out, stuff like that.
But that privilege doesn't

00:59:21.432 --> 00:59:23.432
exist for

00:59:23.467 --> 00:59:25.101
some of my colleagues who
are taking

00:59:26.300 --> 00:59:28.137
on additional jobs just to,
you know,

00:59:29.174 --> 00:59:30.641
afloat here in hawaii.
That's not

00:59:32.444 --> 00:59:34.545
the story for a lot of minimum
wages
here.
Some the stowrpy

00:59:34.545 --> 00:59:36.413
ies you
heard
today.
?

00:59:37.810 --> 00:59:39.549
Are not able to participate
because they are working
as this

00:59:39.684 --> 00:59:41.484
hearing is take
taking place.

00:59:43.521 --> 00:59:45.689
So I just want to emphasis
that $13

00:59:46.491 --> 00:59:49.415
is not enough as previous
speakers
have emphasize
ed.

00:59:50.610 --> 00:59:52.864
He want to emphasize
that, you know, like there

00:59:52.864 --> 00:59:55.599
are myths
out there that someone like

00:59:58.837 --> 01:00:01.506
me,
a 20 beyond a reasonable
doubt, working
part-time, that is what
a minimum

01:00:01.506 --> 01:00:03.173
wage looks like.
.

01:00:05.444 --> 01:00:07.211
A minimum wage worker fewer
than one

01:00:09.140 --> 01:00:10.581
in ten minimum wagers are
teens.

01:00:11.116 --> 01:00:13.184
Let's break that myth
myth.
One job

01:00:13.184 --> 01:00:15.219
should be enough
enough.
$13 an

01:00:15.219 --> 01:00:17.621
hour is not enough.
Thank you very

01:00:18.156 --> 01:00:20.524
much for an opportunity
to testify.
>> thank you.

01:00:21.126 --> 01:00:23.126
Lee -- 

01:00:27.733 --> 01:00:30.601
>> I did sub met my testimony
to

01:00:30.635 --> 01:00:32.635
submit

01:00:32.637 --> 01:00:34.706
my testimony to you and to
the -- 

01:00:34.706 --> 01:00:37.207
[Off mic].
I'm also advocate
ing

01:00:38.510 --> 01:00:40.278
for the low income people
in hawaii.

01:00:41.179 --> 01:00:42.647
My husband, when I became
a teacher

01:00:44.650 --> 01:00:47.520
said, why don't you teach -- 
get
a free tuition.

01:00:47.520 --> 01:00:49.153
I said, that is
not what I want to do.

01:00:49.154 --> 01:00:51.154
I really

01:00:51.690 --> 01:00:53.157
want -- I am a social work
trained.

01:00:55.940 --> 01:00:56.628
I wanted to go to central
middle
school.

01:00:58.130 --> 01:00:59.530
That's where I was for 20
years.

01:01:00.132 --> 01:01:02.166
And being first handiworking
with

01:01:05.504 --> 01:01:07.710
children who they hardly
see their
parents.

01:01:08.240 --> 01:01:10.240
The kids are at home taking

01:01:10.609 --> 01:01:12.676
care of the younger ones,
starting

01:01:13.279 --> 01:01:16.114
dinner, doing the chores.
It affected

01:01:17.583 --> 01:01:19.651
kids so much as far as being
in school
every day.

01:01:21.530 --> 01:01:23.255
If there was a child
sick, they were home doing

01:01:23.255 --> 01:01:24.755
the child
care.

01:01:27.626 --> 01:01:29.626
And if they were, if they

01:01:30.162 --> 01:01:33.310
just didn't have any resources
to
pay for anybody to come and

01:01:33.699 --> 01:01:36.101
to help
the children were the ones

01:01:36.101 --> 01:01:37.635
doing
the work.

01:01:43.609 --> 01:01:45.609
So it affects schoolwork,

01:01:45.677 --> 01:01:47.778
it affects their attitude
about school,
period.

01:01:51.517 --> 01:01:52.784
I went -- one afternoon, was
looking

01:01:54.620 --> 01:01:56.654
for a child who I thought
was looking
for the parents.

01:01:56.755 --> 01:01:58.755
These older kids

01:01:59.570 --> 01:02:00.358
told me and said, how are
you doing?

01:02:02.561 --> 01:02:04.107
Are you -- what grade are
you in high
school?

01:02:05.298 --> 01:02:07.799
I would be ninth grade but
I dropped out.
What?

01:02:09.235 --> 01:02:11.374
I dropped
out.
and I thought, what are
we

01:02:11.374 --> 01:02:13.271
do
doing.

01:02:14.740 --> 01:02:17.176
No child left behind.
They're all struggle
ing.

01:02:17.176 --> 01:02:19.176
No one

01:02:19.177 --> 01:02:20.892
is there to attend to their
children's
needs.

01:02:21.813 --> 01:02:24.217
All the values, all the
story
ies, all the culture

01:02:24.217 --> 01:02:27.119
that the
parents are supposed to
do as parents,

01:02:27.754 --> 01:02:30.722
there's no way it can be
done the
way that they're having to
live.

01:02:32.125 --> 01:02:34.292
So I just urge you to make
it a decent

01:02:35.161 --> 01:02:36.405
wage where people could thrive
more

01:02:38.297 --> 01:02:39.597
and at have more time with
their

01:02:40.634 --> 01:02:42.668
children with one good paying
job.
Thank you.

01:02:43.103 --> 01:02:45.103
>> thank you.

01:02:45.205 --> 01:02:47.205
Jason bradshaw.

01:03:00.654 --> 01:03:02.721
>>
josh frost.

01:03:03.756 --> 01:03:05.257
Democratic party
party.

01:03:12.799 --> 01:03:15.200
>> hello, chair, senators.
I'm here

01:03:15.702 --> 01:03:17.702
representing the democratic

01:03:19.932 --> 01:03:21.523
party
of hawaii.
I serve as cochair.

01:03:24.758 --> 01:03:27.646
We submitted testimony providing
comments while we support
the tax
credits that are include
ed
in this
bill.

01:03:28.581 --> 01:03:30.581
We have very serious concerns

01:03:31.184 --> 01:03:32.428
about the minimum wage provision
s.

01:03:33.253 --> 01:03:34.687
Rather than go through the
testimony,

01:03:35.389 --> 01:03:37.230
I want to point out a couple
of
things.

01:03:39.659 --> 01:03:42.129
There's been comments made
about the increase cost

01:03:42.129 --> 01:03:44.129
to businesses

01:03:44.364 --> 01:03:46.331
and you know price of goods
and services

01:03:47.233 --> 01:03:49.234
that will be passed onto
consume
ers
include

01:03:50.170 --> 01:03:51.838
ing our testimony
a number

01:03:52.639 --> 01:03:54.307
ever reports are going back
all the

01:03:55.843 --> 01:03:57.710
way back to 1998 that suggests
at

01:03:59.346 --> 01:04:00.880
most, cost increases are
2%.

01:04:04.317 --> 01:04:05.951
So this idea that a gelato
will cost

01:04:07.755 --> 01:04:09.389
a dollar more or -- cost
two dollars

01:04:11.925 --> 01:04:13.393
more is wildly inaccurate
and not

01:04:14.194 --> 01:04:16.194
based on reality.

01:04:16.696 --> 01:04:19.465
The other thing
that I wanted to highlight

01:04:19.866 --> 01:04:21.467
was, this
bill include

01:04:22.769 --> 01:04:25.404
ed in a joint
package
between the house and the
senate,

01:04:28.209 --> 01:04:29.776
the governor's office which
proposes

01:04:30.244 --> 01:04:32.312
to up
up lift working people

01:04:32.312 --> 01:04:34.312
is

01:04:34.915 --> 01:04:36.916
built on the back of the
house support

01:04:37.351 --> 01:04:39.351
published in 2016.

01:04:40.820 --> 01:04:42.722
in that report, a living wage
is hilsed

01:04:43.491 --> 01:04:45.491
at over $19.

01:04:45.726 --> 01:04:47.894
To suggest that $13
an hour four years from now

01:04:49.696 --> 01:04:51.965
is sufficient
is disappointing to say

01:04:53.233 --> 01:04:55.233
the least.

01:04:55.235 --> 01:04:56.476
The last thing I wanted to
mention

01:04:59.273 --> 01:05:01.308
given all the talk about
coronavirus

01:05:02.910 --> 01:05:05.312
in the last few days and
rep.
Luke's

01:05:05.846 --> 01:05:07.890
commented in the paper about
this

01:05:09.784 --> 01:05:11.384
bill being a way to stave
off or

01:05:12.386 --> 01:05:14.487
to help working people in
light.

01:05:18.826 --> 01:05:20.571
Of the health crisis, $13
isn't enough
now.

01:05:20.828 --> 01:05:22.763
It's not going to be enough
in four years.

01:05:24.298 --> 01:05:26.399
And even the eitc
that's include
ed in this

01:05:26.734 --> 01:05:29.270
bill, family
ies
wouldn't be able to receive

01:05:29.270 --> 01:05:31.270
a refund

01:05:33.700 --> 01:05:34.474
on their taxes until 2024.
The

01:05:35.343 --> 01:05:37.746
taxable year begins 3.
So the
first year that they would

01:05:37.746 --> 01:05:39.746
be able

01:05:40.748 --> 01:05:42.482
to receive a refund is the
following,

01:05:42.817 --> 01:05:44.417
right when they file their
taxes

01:05:44.919 --> 01:05:46.919
for 2023, right?

01:05:48.356 --> 01:05:50.356
>> I think so -- 

01:05:50.758 --> 01:05:52.926
>> well, I'm not a tax expert.
As
I red

01:05:53.361 --> 01:05:55.862
read the bill, that's
what
it looked like to me.

01:05:57.832 --> 01:05:59.832
I understand

01:05:59.868 --> 01:06:02.812
the, you know, the political
struggles
and the dynamics in the building
.

01:06:04.720 --> 01:06:06.973
And I understand that sometimes
it's
hard to do the right thing.

01:06:08.542 --> 01:06:10.542
But

01:06:10.879 --> 01:06:13.414
we urge you and implore you
to be

01:06:15.450 --> 01:06:18.180
brave, to be bold and to
lean towards

01:06:19.854 --> 01:06:22.190
workers in these indictment
economic
times.
Thanks.

01:06:22.190 --> 01:06:24.190
>> thank you.

01:06:25.827 --> 01:06:27.827
Um, neil abercrombie.

01:06:35.503 --> 01:06:37.571
>> thank you, mrp
ha
r

01:06:40.800 --> 01:06:42.800
anp (Memb

01:06:42.477 --> 01:06:44.880
rsp thank yo
very much fopt
e opportun
typ
o join w

01:06:44.880 --> 01:06:47.548
th
you ones
again.P

01:06:49.351 --> 01:06:51.419
mrp! Mrp chairmanpuh,
this
September,

01:06:51.419 --> 01:06:53.789
woul
phave beenp
ember of the d

01:06:53.789 --> 01:06:55.795
mocr
tippartyp
f

01:06:56.240 --> 01:06:57.261
awaii for
1 ye

01:07:00.610 --> 01:07:02.610
s.P pi

01:07:02.932 --> 01:07:04.566
fleck!
Eflect o
thepminim

01:07:05.340 --> 01:07:07.501
p wage about t
e
me I

01:07:07.536 --> 01:07:09.536
becamepa

01:07:09.537 --> 01:07:12.307
democrap
n 1959p
it w
s less
than

01:07:12.307 --> 01:07:14.814
a dollarp an
our.P pthe
de

01:07:14.910 --> 01:07:16.910
ocratic

01:07:20.820 --> 01:07:21.917
arty
maybpfor

01:07:22.418 --> 01:07:24.986
p lot of p
ople, these

01:07:25.420 --> 01:07:28.122
ysp in t
isp
ynical
ge

01:07:29.558 --> 01:07:32.226
n this age ipw
icp publ
c se
vice is
dism

01:07:33.895 --> 01:07:35.997
ssed
pi
p

01:07:35.997 --> 01:07:37.997
hich

01:07:38.834 --> 01:07:40.402
e
tate of the

01:07:40.970 --> 01:07:43.138
residencpyp at the
oment
n terms
pc

01:07:43.138 --> 01:07:45.730
edibilitp an
ackn
wl
dgment of

01:07:45.574 --> 01:07:47.975
acp othep as broth
s
nd sisters

01:07:48.911 --> 01:07:51.790
pt
is natiop

01:07:51.790 --> 01:07:53.153
s th
!
T

01:07:53.153 --> 01:07:55.149
ow
p but

01:07:57.386 --> 01:07:59.386
o me! Mep I think the legacy o

01:08:01.624 --> 01:08:03.626
thepdemocrati
p
arty
t means
everyt
ng

01:08:03.626 --> 01:08:06.950
p pyou don't have
o lo
k verypfar ip

01:08:06.950 --> 01:08:07.700
his lethal
to
r

01:08:09.980 --> 01:08:11.980
! Legislatorptp see

01:08:12.535 --> 01:08:14.469
the broad swath of racpandp ethnicity and ge
der anpe

01:08:16.405 --> 01:08:18.441
ery kinp of category and sub
ategorpyoup can
in
has bee

01:08:18.441 --> 01:08:20.910
I
th
pdemocratip party of hawaii

01:08:20.910 --> 01:08:23.770
rom th
pterri
ryp
ays
o

01:08:25.470 --> 01:08:27.470
stayed hood.P! State h

01:08:27.916 --> 01:08:29.152
od!In
962, I

01:08:31.121 --> 01:08:33.622
February,
thpminimump wage
n

01:08:34.924 --> 01:08:37.300
is s
ate
as
pa
do

01:08:37.300 --> 01:08:39.161
la
p an hour.P
it

01:08:39.161 --> 01:08:41.161
went t

01:08:42.331 --> 01:08:44.331
1.P50 in 196

01:08:44.499 --> 01:08:46.711
pin
969, this
legislaturpopenep

01:08:46.711 --> 01:08:48.188
n
is bui
di

01:08:49.973 --> 01:08:51.973
g.P and

01:08:52.575 --> 01:08:54.575
in

01:08:54.644 --> 01:08:57.120
1971, p sat in
that
hamber

01:08:57.146 --> 01:09:00.115
down
tairs,p house of

01:09:01.617 --> 01:09:03.953
representativepw
th b
bep
thompson from

01:09:03.953 --> 01:09:06.122
he
lw

01:09:06.222 --> 01:09:08.658
uppi
the
stance

01:09:08.658 --> 01:09:10.658
p listen

01:09:11.528 --> 01:09:13.963
ng to an argumentpon thp floor
f the house
f representaptivesp about
the memorand
m wa

01:09:13.963 --> 01:09:15.963
e.P

01:09:18.340 --> 01:09:19.739
! Memorandum wagep
I
ch
evemenp see who'

01:09:20.502 --> 01:09:22.671
ehind me (
Bupi
suspec
p

01:09:25.942 --> 01:09:28.745
will the in! A lot
n thisproop wa
n't
ve

01:09:28.745 --> 01:09:31.140
born.P pi
wi
!I will
ell you
ompof thp
omment

01:09:31.140 --> 01:09:33.683
heard
toda
abouph
p businesses

01:09:33.683 --> 01:09:36.850
re going t
pbe advers
lyp af
ected
y raisin

01:09:36.850 --> 01:09:38.850
t

01:09:38.554 --> 01:09:40.554
e pminimump wage

01:09:44.828 --> 01:09:46.195
rom $1p30 to! $1p30, the sam
p comm

01:09:47.230 --> 01:09:49.699
nts were heard t
dap just
gi

01:09:49.699 --> 01:09:52.168
p different names
n
rontpof
he
pthe exact

01:09:52.168 --> 01:09:55.700
same comments
p phawaii is g

01:09:55.321 --> 01:09:57.282
ing
o be d
stroyepip
he
orking men

01:09:57.508 --> 01:09:59.543
and womep in t
isp ca
e were
given
min

01:09:59.543 --> 01:10:01.244
mupwage.Pw
're
ot e

01:10:01.645 --> 01:10:03.645
en talking aboupa

01:10:05.582 --> 01:10:07.667
minimup wage! Living wage in thapdayp f
p your
informat
on, you
nopwhap
he

01:10:07.667 --> 01:10:10.385
average
onth
y rentpw

01:10:11.621 --> 01:10:13.621
s in

01:10:14.257 --> 01:10:16.192
1960p
355.P whe

01:10:18.595 --> 01:10:21.231
-welcomed m
I
thep
ittl
c

01:10:21.231 --> 01:10:24.200
ttag! Cott
ge t
atp theyp had in armstrong

01:10:24.568 --> 01:10:26.669
street -- 
p>> it

01:10:27.171 --> 01:10:28.410
s my driveway.P p>
f

01:10:31.642 --> 01:10:33.964
r thos
who didn't h
arpit,
t'p
ext
o

01:10:37.248 --> 01:10:39.480
is driveway.P orbiterap un
versity of hawai
, wepsai

01:10:40.317 --> 01:10:42.317
wep heard that

01:10:42.686 --> 01:10:45.655
his co! Cottagp
asp for
ent.P a
e yo
inter
sted

01:10:46.156 --> 01:10:48.691
p
ye
ph

01:10:48.758 --> 01:10:51.161
said
both of youp

01:10:52.763 --> 01:10:55.166
id, yes,p we'll
plit the ren
p
ok
y,

01:10:55.166 --> 01:10:57.268
you'
s at t
e

01:10:57.268 --> 01:10:58.735
h
ou canpw

01:11:00.337 --> 01:11:03.105
lkp down to schoolp $50p00,
25 eachpi
was happy
o have

01:11:03.774 --> 01:11:05.774
the $2peac

01:11:07.712 --> 01:11:09.713
p medicare! Mrp Chairman
Because p was

01:11:11.549 --> 01:11:13.818
aking $1,8
0 a
ear.P
pe

01:11:13.818 --> 01:11:15.818
plp

01:11:18.510 --> 01:11:19.822
orking
part-timep I
was workinp part-time.P

01:11:21.859 --> 01:11:24.227
pt
ere's
othing l
ke liste

01:11:24.362 --> 01:11:27.197
ngptp
en tal
ing
olitics

01:11:27.331 --> 01:11:29.800
n p room tp figure
out what's
goin
o
p I

01:11:32.370 --> 01:11:34.370
adp that privilege -- 

01:11:34.839 --> 01:11:36.673
[Speakerspoverlapping].!>> I thin
we
ed a

01:11:40.711 --> 01:11:42.920
ecptour.P [Laughter].! Picture.P [Laughter
p>
m
p
int,
hose a

01:11:45.116 --> 01:11:47.118
ticlemenpargumentsp do not r
flect
hat the pdemoc
aticp
arti

01:11:47.118 --> 01:11:48.593
e
as b
en

01:11:49.654 --> 01:11:51.621
about.P not evep one
n the l

01:11:52.356 --> 01:11:55.225
gislature aspas a
emocrat-
p bu
t
e overwhel

01:11:57.628 --> 01:11:59.664
ing peoplepi
2020p join the l

01:11:59.664 --> 01:12:01.664
g at thi! Legacy

01:12:01.666 --> 01:12:03.735
pthep history
f the democrat
pparty
frop territ

01:12:03.735 --> 01:12:06.670
ry!I
l days o

01:12:07.138 --> 01:12:09.273
minimumpwage,
p you're
just in

01:12:09.273 --> 01:12:11.273
ime,

01:12:12.743 --> 01:12:15.800
senator.P I'lp
ry to fini
h up on th
s.P

01:12:19.317 --> 01:12:21.819
pthe minimum
wage means
it

01:12:25.223 --> 01:12:26.924
pactuallp by coinitial! Coincidencpborn
oup today.P

01:12:28.225 --> 01:12:30.827
he democratic part
tod
p wi
h respect

01:12:30.828 --> 01:12:33.264
o the vir
s,pwitp

01:12:33.264 --> 01:12:35.800
espect to th
economic situatiopnp

01:12:36.401 --> 01:12:39.336
e're facing,
mrp Chairman -- I'mp in total
y

01:12:41.390 --> 01:12:43.842
upport of thpbill.Pas a forme
c
lleague,
I'pproudp to be he

01:12:43.842 --> 01:12:46.211
e today.P
prou
to be

01:12:46.211 --> 01:12:48.713
withp you today
s a coll
aguepin
ermsp
f th
b

01:12:48.713 --> 01:12:51.448
ll, th
t
x credi
pa
p all of this.P

01:12:51.482 --> 01:12:53.482
pthe one

01:12:53.485 --> 01:12:55.787
lement that we havpto mo
p on is th
minimum w

01:12:55.787 --> 01:12:57.822
ge part
p
inp orde

01:12:57.822 --> 01:12:59.924
to honor the
egacpof thp

01:13:03.795 --> 01:13:05.797
emocratic party.P today the democraticp party stands for
paid
ckpl
avp
or

01:13:05.797 --> 01:13:07.899
orkers
ecause
f thpquarterlyp compounding te

01:13:07.899 --> 01:13:09.899
n

01:13:10.360 --> 01:13:12.244
rders pthat arp coming outp (
E recogniz
thap there
ould
be

01:13:12.244 --> 01:13:14.440
cono
icpimpac
erp in the s
ate
f ha

01:13:14.440 --> 01:13:17.740
aii.P s
we havep to ha
e the
ick leave.P

01:13:17.342 --> 01:13:20.212
we havp
o have a

01:13:20.212 --> 01:13:22.480
for those
hopa
e goingp to
ar
for the chi

01:13:22.480 --> 01:13:24.849
drenp I
thep school
loses th

01:13:24.849 --> 01:13:26.383
peoplepthat ar
p working

01:13:27.820 --> 01:13:29.387
the parking garagesprightp now
he people I

01:13:30.389 --> 01:13:32.458
chinatownpthap
re working now,

01:13:32.458 --> 01:13:34.892
hat's
herepmp
office is

01:13:34.993 --> 01:13:36.861
n chinatown.P
I'
par

01:13:38.530 --> 01:13:40.530
ner.!We have d

01:13:42.764 --> 01:13:44.592
zens of
ma
l business
psp there that w

01:13:50.776 --> 01:13:53.110
're supporting-pt
at's some
uildin
that'spg

01:13:53.450 --> 01:13:55.780
inp to be flipped and
old fo
p

01:13:56.781 --> 01:13:59.417
profip to somebody from
sh
nghapor somethinp like t
atp

01:13:59.984 --> 01:14:02.194
hese are permanentp rental a
artments w
rkinpwith thp

01:14:02.194 --> 01:14:04.323
private
nd
ommunity s
rvicespandp those

01:14:04.323 --> 01:14:06.167
reat peopl
ov
r pi

01:14:06.325 --> 01:14:07.959
the citp of county,
working ov
r ther

01:14:08.928 --> 01:14:10.928
ppeoplp who are

01:14:11.300 --> 01:14:13.300
losing

01:14:13.799 --> 01:14:15.800
affordablephousingp fund to try to do th
ngs.P we ha
p

01:14:15.867 --> 01:14:17.867
to -- 

01:14:20.730 --> 01:14:22.475
we have-
he minimumpw
gep
e're payin

01:14:22.475 --> 01:14:24.442
n
w,

01:14:24.644 --> 01:14:27.446
folks willp
ar
lyp
e ab
e to pay the rent th

01:14:29.415 --> 01:14:31.783
pi'mp going to have to be
chargingpwitp
partments th

01:14:32.118 --> 01:14:34.453
t we're buildingpw
th
p

01:14:34.453 --> 01:14:36.521
s a result of
melesspappro

01:14:37.423 --> 01:14:39.459
imatp la! Proclamation wit
thepgovernor-

01:14:39.459 --> 01:14:42.327
p
orki
g o
, please mr.P chairm

01:14:43.290 --> 01:14:44.273
n,p please mr.P go
erno

01:14:45.531 --> 01:14:48.433
o th
s p
oclamationp
o we c
n
aive
the

01:14:50.136 --> 01:14:52.171
ee! Thpf
esp
nd build beautiful
apart

01:14:52.171 --> 01:14:54.126
entspforp
eople
ha
they
n

01:14:55.408 --> 01:14:56.900
proudptp live in.P! At a
rent
hat

01:14:58.444 --> 01:15:00.446
hey cap affordp pi
the minimum wag
r

01:15:00.446 --> 01:15:02.250
ghpnow,
p probable c
ypt

01:15:03.483 --> 01:15:05.483
ave to chargep60%p or

01:15:05.985 --> 01:15:07.986
65% of their n
t inco
pjust
orp rent

01:15:07.986 --> 01:15:10.621
p a
d this is
t the lowe
p leve

01:15:13.854 --> 01:15:15.895
p
al
I
m sa
ing is I
wapraisep I
the democratic part
pwith

01:15:15.895 --> 01:15:17.930
very,p ve
y simple
proposit

01:15:18.364 --> 01:15:21.333
onpfrom peoplep like dav
thomp
on
nd

01:15:21.601 --> 01:15:23.746
frompo
r predecessorsp lik

01:15:23.746 --> 01:15:25.937
 -- 
others

01:15:26.138 --> 01:15:28.541
p
ople
who
at I

01:15:28.541 --> 01:15:31.378
p this sen
te a
d
id honorp to

01:15:31.378 --> 01:15:33.612
thp democratic
party.P
pe

01:15:36.160 --> 01:15:38.160
ry person is

01:15:39.886 --> 01:15:41.886
-that's howpi wasp raised

01:15:42.955 --> 01:15:45.423
in the democratip party.Pevery person
rea
ly
atptheir lab

01:15:45.624 --> 01:15:47.994
r.Ptake
his bill,
pass
itp do

01:15:49.629 --> 01:15:52.531
hep credits.P l
t's
ak! Meet
this

01:15:52.599 --> 01:15:55.100
crisisp challenges
e have todayps
w
enp we come back f

01:15:55.100 --> 01:15:57.636
om it,
usp

01:15:57.904 --> 01:16:00.400
n th
 -- p al
t
e senato
s
now

01:16:00.400 --> 01:16:01.283
ere.P whe
p I

01:16:02.175 --> 01:16:03.942
ame in as gover
or, wepwer

01:16:05.312 --> 01:16:08.480
250 milliop in d
ficit.P w
we
e in d
bt
p
enp

01:16:08.480 --> 01:16:10.516
left I'm
appy
o
ay t
atptherep was

01:16:10.617 --> 01:16:13.486
surplu
there thatpyou'vp been abl

01:16:13.487 --> 01:16:15.865
t
build o
andpw
rk o

01:16:17.557 --> 01:16:20.600
p and work positively
withptodaypu

01:16:20.600 --> 01:16:22.127
e th
t
ainy d
y fund

01:16:22.563 --> 01:16:24.965
paddressp the cri
is that's co
inpfrom th

01:16:24.965 --> 01:16:26.965
p coronavi

01:16:28.668 --> 01:16:30.668
usp pand whatever im

01:16:32.439 --> 01:16:34.507
ac! I am jobpjob impacp
s going
o have
p the
're
oingp to

01:16:34.507 --> 01:16:36.717
lay
ople o
f.P when I parkedp my c

01:16:36.717 --> 01:16:38.544
r
oday,

01:16:39.546 --> 01:16:41.728
hey beggedp pleasep plea
e,
know
ou're goinpt
tal

01:16:41.728 --> 01:16:43.951
p about
e minim
m
ge todayp b

01:16:43.951 --> 01:16:45.952
p
ur v
ice.P

01:16:46.553 --> 01:16:48.553
mother is

01:16:49.723 --> 01:16:52.559
singlp mother now.P you
can see
his
p ar

01:16:53.260 --> 01:16:55.162
und.P in ch
natown where I
p down e
ery day,

01:16:55.162 --> 01:16:57.162
I'm

01:16:58.599 --> 01:17:00.740
orkingpwith-p as
the
homele

01:17:01.502 --> 01:17:04.400
sness
oord
natipnp 10%
f

01:17:04.400 --> 01:17:06.506
e apartments
e'rep
uildinp are going
g

01:17:06.506 --> 01:17:08.542
t
h
melesspfam
ly!Iesp who work
p

01:17:08.542 --> 01:17:11.100
hey're w
rking.P
they'r
p not-
they're

01:17:11.478 --> 01:17:13.602
ot puttingptheir
andoutpt
ey're
utting t
eir

01:17:13.602 --> 01:17:16.583
or
pforthpbut t
ey c
n't fin
a

01:17:16.984 --> 01:17:18.985
apartmenp they can
ff
rd t
r

01:17:19.186 --> 01:17:21.187
nt andpstillp feed
hemselve
and
heirpk

01:17:21.255 --> 01:17:23.490
dspso I'm addressing
hat.P

01:17:23.557 --> 01:17:25.491
pdo
he estimate
ss program

01:17:27.561 --> 01:17:29.663
p! Stimulusp
rogr
m.P use the
rainy day
unp

01:17:29.663 --> 01:17:32.133
nd p
ay
hat come novembepwe

01:17:32.133 --> 01:17:34.670
etp
senate
nd

01:17:34.969 --> 01:17:36.969
a house ofprepresentativesp and

01:17:37.638 --> 01:17:39.774
President That willphave p heart like
he democ
aticppartyp of h
waii

01:17:39.774 --> 01:17:42.609
p tha
k you
r.P chai
man.!>> aa

01:17:52.153 --> 01:17:54.254
p p>>
t's
h
rd act t

01:17:54.255 --> 01:17:56.556
f
llowp
[Laughte

01:17:56.858 --> 01:17:58.103
].P>> thank
ou

01:17:59.694 --> 01:18:02.960
governorp aloha
p I'mp kelly
op

01:18:02.960 --> 01:18:04.264
z,
state dir

01:18:04.264 --> 01:18:06.299
ctorpforp aarp
aw

01:18:06.501 --> 01:18:08.501
iip aarp

01:18:08.536 --> 01:18:11.710
upports
b

01:18:11.573 --> 01:18:13.975
541,p we do
ave
a few
mments
p
pwe

01:18:13.975 --> 01:18:16.144
ecognize a
d
ome en
pt
e
eg
slaturp as t

01:18:16.144 --> 01:18:18.145
e go
ernor
said ipi
s
fforp

01:18:18.145 --> 01:18:20.715
o su
port working famil!Iespwhop
re struggle!I

01:18:20.715 --> 01:18:23.288
g to s
rvivph
waii'sp hi
h

01:18:23.584 --> 01:18:25.754
ost of liv
ng
y boospboost

01:18:25.754 --> 01:18:28.188
ngp the
ate's earned

01:18:28.356 --> 01:18:31.910
incomeptax, foodp
redit and increasing mi
imumpw

01:18:31.292 --> 01:18:32.726
gep to provide the
xtra

01:18:36.640 --> 01:18:38.565
assistancep thesp family!Ies need.P pt
e co
cern we have is
pecifipt

01:18:38.566 --> 01:18:41.134
p
provision

01:18:41.302 --> 01:18:43.671
that a
ends
pacces

01:18:46.904 --> 01:18:48.983
tp food
ta
c
editp the
egislaturep includes
air ne
requiremen
pthap

01:18:48.983 --> 01:18:51.279
he f
od
redit
nly be availabpep
o individ
als an

01:18:51.279 --> 01:18:52.646
amil
!Iespw

01:18:53.281 --> 01:18:55.281
p have e

01:18:55.583 --> 01:18:58.518
rned income.P pthe eff
ct
of this changepi
t
kep th

01:19:01.890 --> 01:19:02.331
credit away from lowpincomp hawaii residen
s

01:19:03.325 --> 01:19:04.625
ho currentlypreceivep the
redi

01:19:06.261 --> 01:19:08.629
but who d
notphave

01:19:08.830 --> 01:19:11.299
arnep incomep
his
nclude

01:19:11.299 --> 01:19:13.439
the
tatepstate'sp
ow and
modera

01:19:13.439 --> 01:19:15.703
e
ncome retireesp who
nly

01:19:15.703 --> 01:19:18.606
ave th
ir
sociapsecur

01:19:18.607 --> 01:19:20.676
typ or m
dest pension
to c
vepall

01:19:20.676 --> 01:19:22.243
th
irp living
spences

01:19:23.212 --> 01:19:24.745
nclude!Ingpfood,p utilit!Ies,
ousing

01:19:25.247 --> 01:19:27.782
pres
riptiopnp medications t
ame

01:19:29.284 --> 01:19:31.620
few.P pagain,
hese would b
t
ospwho

01:19:31.620 --> 01:19:33.789
arp
ithin the threshol
o

01:19:33.789 --> 01:19:36.624
pthe o
p

01:19:37.693 --> 01:19:39.127
o 30,000 income in a year.P
so

01:19:40.950 --> 01:19:42.950
'rp not talking abo

01:19:42.264 --> 01:19:44.632
t peoplepwho arep earning
ignificant a
ountpo
notp

01:19:44.633 --> 01:19:46.367
ar! Earning but
ave gr
sspr

01:19:47.636 --> 01:19:49.436
venuesp that a
! Exceed

01:19:49.805 --> 01:19:51.905
e
,000p we
rep talking

01:19:53.242 --> 01:19:55.344
bout again, (Peoplepw
p rely solely on

01:19:55.344 --> 01:19:57.145
social securitypop
odest
ension that

01:19:58.214 --> 01:20:00.749
s belopt
p $30,000.P so again,

01:20:00.749 --> 01:20:02.822
hy the cha
gep is being m
de, it's

01:20:02.822 --> 01:20:04.822
unclea

01:20:05.287 --> 01:20:06.754
pto aarp! Aarppaarp
elieves

01:20:07.489 --> 01:20:10.192
at food securitypi
p cr
tica
o
e
health o

01:20:10.326 --> 01:20:12.326
pall resid

01:20:13.896 --> 01:20:16.698
nts.!The attention o
the f
odpcre
it ip to

01:20:16.832 --> 01:20:19.335
help tho
e
ith low andpm

01:20:19.335 --> 01:20:21.235
deratep incomes
fset the high

01:20:21.704 --> 01:20:24.306
ospof foodpagain it's
unclear
y hawaii'spf

01:20:24.306 --> 01:20:26.306
odp credit

01:20:26.442 --> 01:20:28.444
would become continge
pop earning

01:20:28.444 --> 01:20:30.745
ncome as particu
arlypd
fine!E

01:20:31.647 --> 01:20:32.895
p in h
2

01:20:39.722 --> 01:20:41.722
41 hd 1.P thank youp p>> thank you.P p>>! Jeffre! Jeffrey kim.P

01:20:43.459 --> 01:20:45.459
p>

01:20:51.367 --> 01:20:53.868
is
here a
ybody el
e
hopwouldp

01:20:53.936 --> 01:20:55.704
ike to testify in th
s pb

01:20:58.307 --> 01:21:00.375
llp a
bodyp

01:21:08.418 --> 01:21:10.418
lse?P p>> aloha

01:21:11.254 --> 01:21:13.455
air and memberpmy
amp
s jeff
ey
kim.P I

01:21:14.223 --> 01:21:16.625
h
re
o, a
p
any other
eople

01:21:16.625 --> 01:21:18.625
ave alreadptesti

01:21:18.728 --> 01:21:20.728
edp to a

01:21:20.797 --> 01:21:22.966
k that this bill bepcha
ge!E
p
o have I

01:21:22.966 --> 01:21:24.966
be

01:21:26.803 --> 01:21:28.984
7 an houpby
024,p
17 an h
ur
p and I

01:21:28.984 --> 01:21:31.340
ec
o all
hep points o
mos
o

01:21:31.340 --> 01:21:33.521
the
samep
ointp of p
ople who a
e in agree

01:21:33.521 --> 01:21:35.845
ntpwit
p
em
nt s
I
wo

01:21:35.845 --> 01:21:37.947
't
wastpany t
mep
oing that.P I

01:21:37.947 --> 01:21:40.124
come f
om a
li
tlp bit
ore

01:21:40.884 --> 01:21:42.884
f an

01:21:43.486 --> 01:21:45.486
rtistipand knowled

01:21:47.490 --> 01:21:49.825
p philosophical-
someon
whoph

01:21:49.825 --> 01:21:52.395
s experience!Ep
a near
death experiencepi h
vep
lot o

01:21:52.395 --> 01:21:54.262
onviction
hepi
say every

01:21:54.898 --> 01:21:57.104
dyp deserves the b
st o
whaplife ha
p to offerp

01:21:57.104 --> 01:21:59.369
pn
t al
of us are born

01:21:59.369 --> 01:22:01.438
pthe s
mep incarnation
s
e

01:22:01.438 --> 01:22:03.906
another.P s
mep
f us
ha
e to

01:22:03.906 --> 01:22:06.560
work more
hapotherp regar
less o

01:22:06.560 --> 01:22:08.344
w
at n
t.P
and fop
e
he
point of
ife

01:22:08.344 --> 01:22:10.546
s
p thri
e,p not

01:22:10.546 --> 01:22:13.283
ust survive.P a
lot
f th
argum
nt
p that h

01:22:13.283 --> 01:22:16.148
ve been made
avpbeen
boutp you
no
,
nee

01:22:16.353 --> 01:22:18.525
this juspt
urvi
p and so f
rth.P I
ompletely

01:22:18.525 --> 01:22:20.823
greep
ith thatp t
at's not ev

01:22:20.924 --> 01:22:22.162
n enoughp to me especi
ll

01:22:23.293 --> 01:22:25.137
here,
alkingpa
oup ariz
na

01:22:25.328 --> 01:22:28.300
nd all of thatp ps
I
uess I don't h

01:22:28.640 --> 01:22:30.640
ve aplot

01:22:30.334 --> 01:22:32.402
to s
p
ut b
ttom l

01:22:32.936 --> 01:22:34.936
ne to sum ipup,

01:22:35.272 --> 01:22:37.441
nop everybody is born
nto
heps
me setp
f sh

01:22:37.441 --> 01:22:39.653
es a
one another,pwe're n
p
ble to g
t
he j

01:22:39.653 --> 01:22:42.652
bs t
atpwe wantp for me,
ve
t
ough -- 

01:22:43.413 --> 01:22:45.815
aspa jazz musici
p that
would be
my

01:22:45.815 --> 01:22:48.630
ideal jobpa
d
'mp still
ot able to g
t al
po

01:22:49.420 --> 01:22:51.889
hat,p an opportunity
o ge
thepg
gs
p wa
t.P
I

01:22:51.889 --> 01:22:54.324
rked
inimum
age bef
rep even though

01:22:54.324 --> 01:22:56.393
as q
alifiepto dop other thingsp
botto

01:22:56.393 --> 01:22:58.327
line,
wan
p to

01:22:58.795 --> 01:23:01.564
dg! Urge you sau
! Al
pto
onside
p the fact we

01:23:01.565 --> 01:23:04.660
re h
re to

01:23:27.558 --> 01:23:29.559
rive
 -- 

01:23:31.950 --> 01:23:33.896
>> um, there was, I think
aarp mentioned

01:23:35.499 --> 01:23:37.499
about, I didn't exactly -- 

01:23:39.736 --> 01:23:41.605
the proposal,
you said take away -- takes,

01:23:41.906 --> 01:23:44.741
removes
financial assistance from
some file

01:23:44.942 --> 01:23:46.942
ers.

01:23:47.440 --> 01:23:48.611
I'm not sure that was intentiona
l

01:23:49.680 --> 01:23:52.415
or that was inadvertent.
Can you
address that?

01:23:52.582 --> 01:23:54.500
>> as far as the proposal
goes, I

01:23:55.119 --> 01:23:56.586
think it was a package that
was

01:23:57.522 --> 01:23:59.940
proposed to help the working
family
ies.

01:24:01.459 --> 01:24:04.127
Um, the statement that some
of the
people receive

01:24:04.896 --> 01:24:06.530
ing pensions,
and social

01:24:09.761 --> 01:24:12.503
security would lose out on
this with
the new language

01:24:12.503 --> 01:24:14.538
language,
I should
say.

01:24:18.760 --> 01:24:20.110
It -- I have to go look back
and see
see.

01:24:20.411 --> 01:24:22.411
I mean, we're assuming

01:24:23.247 --> 01:24:24.948
that the -- this is 30,000
and under.

01:24:25.549 --> 01:24:27.918
We're assuming that they're
all working.

01:24:29.120 --> 01:24:30.487
I don't know of any pensioner
that's

01:24:31.156 --> 01:24:33.900
earning this much that's
not working.

01:24:33.959 --> 01:24:35.559
I think it leaves the dollar
to -- 

01:24:37.595 --> 01:24:39.697
well, at least a dollar in
working
welcome

01:24:39.697 --> 01:24:41.965
income to be capture
ed.

01:24:43.467 --> 01:24:45.350
I have to go look back and
see what

01:24:47.772 --> 01:24:49.540
the intent of this particular
provision
is.

01:24:51.943 --> 01:24:54.620
Making it and instead of
or
essentially.
>> okay.

01:24:56.581 --> 01:24:59.160
Can I ask other aarp?
So

01:24:59.517 --> 01:25:01.218
do you have information
about -- 

01:25:01.653 --> 01:25:03.653
can you come up?

01:25:03.755 --> 01:25:05.755
Do you have information

01:25:06.625 --> 01:25:07.898
about, so you're asserting
that

01:25:09.728 --> 01:25:12.497
the current language would
reduce
financial assistance for

01:25:12.497 --> 01:25:14.497
a certain

01:25:14.533 --> 01:25:17.000
population, elderly population,
retiree population.

01:25:17.936 --> 01:25:19.236
>> we don't think that's the
intention.

01:25:20.438 --> 01:25:22.105
>> I would like to nail that
down.

01:25:22.673 --> 01:25:24.410
I'm not sure if that's true
or not.

01:25:24.676 --> 01:25:27.780
Do you have specific -- do
you have
details of that?

01:25:29.248 --> 01:25:31.548
>> so right here in section
2, it
related

01:25:32.150 --> 01:25:34.719
relates to who is
eligible

01:25:34.719 --> 01:25:37.521
eligible,
what income can be considered
for

01:25:38.256 --> 01:25:40.256
those who get the food credit.

01:25:41.560 --> 01:25:43.996
And it says specifically with
what
you awe earned income of

01:25:43.996 --> 01:25:45.996
at least

01:25:47.232 --> 01:25:48.533
a dollar but less than $30,000
and

01:25:50.350 --> 01:25:52.636
a federal gross income of
less than
$30,000.

01:25:53.605 --> 01:25:55.605
so what it's saying is,

01:25:55.640 --> 01:25:56.892
if you have a federal gross
income

01:25:59.511 --> 01:26:01.713
which you May be as a pension
they
are or someone on social

01:26:01.713 --> 01:26:04.160
security,
you would be eligible.

01:26:04.160 --> 01:26:06.818
The point
there is it says and.

01:26:07.520 --> 01:26:09.520
>> what page?

01:26:11.724 --> 01:26:14.910
>> it's section 2, section
235-5 about

01:26:15.660 --> 01:26:17.660
the 85.

01:26:19.532 --> 01:26:22.100
5.
85.
It says each individual

01:26:23.168 --> 01:26:24.569
taxpayer with the hawaii
earned income

01:26:26.572 --> 01:26:29.173
of at least $1 but less
than $30,000

01:26:30.108 --> 01:26:31.342
and a federal adjusted gross
income

01:26:33.211 --> 01:26:34.813
of less than $30,000.
So the problem

01:26:36.182 --> 01:26:38.683
is you have to have both
to qualify
for the tax credit.

01:26:41.821 --> 01:26:43.554
And if you are, we -- he is
correct.

01:26:43.823 --> 01:26:45.256
Possibly the challenge of
anybody

01:26:46.580 --> 01:26:47.859
being able to survive on
social security

01:26:48.827 --> 01:26:50.561
or pension of $30,000 or
less, you

01:26:51.264 --> 01:26:52.798
know, maybe they do have
to work.

01:26:53.866 --> 01:26:55.267
The point is, if they do fall
within

01:26:56.350 --> 01:26:58.770
this category, they can
can no longer
bet

01:27:00.106 --> 01:27:01.639
get the credit they did
before.

01:27:04.143 --> 01:27:05.381
But I don't think it's inessenti
alal

01:27:07.712 --> 01:27:09.147
but the and versus or makes
a difference.

01:27:10.250 --> 01:27:12.485
Later on it makes it clear
that no
amount receive

01:27:12.485 --> 01:27:14.253
ed as a pension
or

01:27:16.756 --> 01:27:18.657
annuity should be taken into
account

01:27:19.826 --> 01:27:21.693
nor shall under part a,
title iv

01:27:22.695 --> 01:27:25.130
of the social security shall
be taken

01:27:25.297 --> 01:27:27.299
into account.
We're not sure -- 

01:27:28.134 --> 01:27:29.702
from our perspective it
identify
ies

01:27:31.404 --> 01:27:33.705
that those people aren't
eligible.

01:27:35.808 --> 01:27:37.808
We want to work with damien -- 

01:27:39.212 --> 01:27:41.613
>> I want to avoid unintended
consequences.

01:27:43.383 --> 01:27:46.318
Do you guys have a projection
of
how much the revenue loss

01:27:46.319 --> 01:27:48.319
would be?

01:27:48.655 --> 01:27:50.389
And if you did, did you factor
in,

01:27:50.890 --> 01:27:52.257
do you have an assumption
where

01:27:53.359 --> 01:27:55.193
a certain amount of this
people will

01:27:57.196 --> 01:27:58.439
be -- it will be a savings?
How

01:27:59.932 --> 01:28:02.168
did you -- if you do have
projections.

01:28:02.936 --> 01:28:04.269
>> we did not have any projection
s.

01:28:05.772 --> 01:28:07.543
I can tell you before the
loss
law

01:28:08.842 --> 01:28:10.242
as it stands now, actually
there's

01:28:11.745 --> 01:28:13.645
a sliding scale of how much
money
you would earn.

01:28:14.280 --> 01:28:16.915
A pensioner that
earns -- an

01:28:17.183 --> 01:28:18.817
individuals
that make

01:28:20.721 --> 01:28:22.121
more than $30,000 a year
make zero.

01:28:24.357 --> 01:28:26.125
Between $20,000 to $30,000
you only

01:28:26.426 --> 01:28:28.426
get $55.

01:28:28.862 --> 01:28:31.764
From $15,000 to $30,000 -- 
you get $70.

01:28:33.232 --> 01:28:35.334
From -- so I think it
kind of shifted.

01:28:37.338 --> 01:28:38.580
And I think it was a decision
made

01:28:39.406 --> 01:28:41.775
to say, oh, yeah, if you're
working,
you're going to get this.

01:28:41.775 --> 01:28:44.310
That's
that's how they capture
ed

01:28:44.310 --> 01:28:46.310
it.

01:28:52.919 --> 01:28:55.400
>> hi, I'm nichole from hawaii
apple
seed.

01:28:55.289 --> 01:28:56.689
The way the law is now,
it's

01:28:57.658 --> 01:28:59.258
based on federal adjusted
gross income.

01:28:59.793 --> 01:29:01.360
There's a report, I'm not
sure it

01:29:01.795 --> 01:29:03.496
was published, there was
a small

01:29:04.231 --> 01:29:06.465
number of people who get
the current

01:29:09.200 --> 01:29:11.200
food exice tax credit who

01:29:11.339 --> 01:29:13.415
have higher
incomes.
They change
ed it.

01:29:13.415 --> 01:29:15.909
And
the prior version of this
bill it

01:29:17.278 --> 01:29:18.520
said you just have to make
less

01:29:19.280 --> 01:29:20.517
than $30,000 in earned income.
When

01:29:23.217 --> 01:29:24.459
we looked at it, we thought
there

01:29:26.520 --> 01:29:29.389
could be people living off
of trust
funds who get it.

01:29:30.358 --> 01:29:32.358
So they put this -- 

01:29:32.493 --> 01:29:34.193
aarp picked up on that.
Honestly

01:29:35.329 --> 01:29:37.230
he did not make pick up in
making

01:29:38.966 --> 01:29:41.101
one dollars to $0,000.
We just
need to figure out the right

01:29:41.101 --> 01:29:42.835
language.
>> thank you.

01:29:47.809 --> 01:29:49.809
>> further questions?

01:29:50.978 --> 01:29:53.280
If not, I will
recess the public hearing,

01:29:53.280 --> 01:29:55.916
and we
will go to decision making
in about

01:29:55.916 --> 01:29:57.916
a minute or so.

01:30:14.935 --> 01:30:16.935
>>

01:30:54.275 --> 01:30:56.275
welcome back.

01:30:57.512 --> 01:31:00.140
Let's see.
Having

01:31:00.315 --> 01:31:01.882
discussed this among our
members,

01:31:03.618 --> 01:31:06.487
the chair is going to respect
we
pass

01:31:06.921 --> 01:31:08.855
recommend we pass this
as is.

01:31:09.570 --> 01:31:10.490
>> thank you, Mr.
Chairman.

01:31:11.426 --> 01:31:13.428
We heard
passionate and emotion

01:31:13.428 --> 01:31:15.396
emotional
testimony today about the
faith of

01:31:16.398 --> 01:31:17.965
thousands of workers in
hawaii who

01:31:19.501 --> 01:31:21.340
have working full-time who
live in

01:31:21.570 --> 01:31:22.970
poverty, who might not make
rent

01:31:23.972 --> 01:31:26.407
and can't put food on the
table.
I'm afraid, I don't know.

01:31:26.407 --> 01:31:28.407
I'm not

01:31:28.610 --> 01:31:30.677
confident that this level
of minimum

01:31:31.480 --> 01:31:33.181
wage increase will address
those
concerns.

01:31:34.483 --> 01:31:36.483
So I'll be voting with

01:31:36.551 --> 01:31:38.759
reservations because I support
a
wawa
wawawawawage than
one define

01:31:38.759 --> 01:31:40.989
ed
in this bill.
Thank you, Mr.

01:31:40.989 --> 01:31:43.230
Chair.
>> thank you.

01:31:43.425 --> 01:31:45.425
Further discussion?

01:31:45.560 --> 01:31:46.994
>> last year I voted with
reservations

01:31:48.997 --> 01:31:50.997
on a $15 an hour minimum

01:31:53.236 --> 01:31:55.436
wage because
I thought that was not quite
adequate
to address the needs of

01:31:55.604 --> 01:31:57.604
those who

01:31:58.607 --> 01:32:00.874
have our minimum wage.
I'm continue

01:32:02.144 --> 01:32:04.144
to -- I'll have a wr with

01:32:04.980 --> 01:32:06.581
a star.
This year.

01:32:07.820 --> 01:32:09.500
Anyway, that's my comment.
>> okay.

01:32:09.385 --> 01:32:11.385
What's the star for?

01:32:11.620 --> 01:32:13.620
>> it's an asterisk.

01:32:14.123 --> 01:32:16.957
Two aft rick
asterisks.
>> okay, thank you.

01:32:16.992 --> 01:32:18.992
Further discussion?

01:32:19.161 --> 01:32:21.161
>> I just want to mention,

01:32:21.563 --> 01:32:23.563
the comments -- 

01:32:24.660 --> 01:32:26.668
colleagues [Off mic].
I think it
should be higher.

01:32:27.470 --> 01:32:29.470
>> thank you.

01:32:30.500 --> 01:32:32.500
With that, then, I

01:32:34.643 --> 01:32:36.760
will ask senator to call
the vote.

01:32:38.914 --> 01:32:40.548
We're voting on chair's recommend
ation

01:32:43.850 --> 01:32:45.153
recommendation to pass 2541
hd 1

01:32:46.989 --> 01:32:48.989
unamended -- [Voting].

01:32:49.491 --> 01:32:51.125
Senator taniguchi,
>> aye.

01:32:52.194 --> 01:32:54.929
>> vice chair votes wr with
reservations.
Senator chang.

01:32:54.996 --> 01:32:56.996
>> reservations.

01:32:58.634 --> 01:33:01.700
>> [Voting].
And normal fevella is
excuse

01:33:01.700 --> 01:33:03.400
ed.
Excuse
ed

01:33:03.539 --> 01:33:06.441
excuse
senator
fevella is excuse
ed.

01:33:06.675 --> 01:33:08.743
It's adopted
with reservations.

01:33:08.911 --> 01:33:10.911
>> thank you.

01:33:11.480 --> 01:33:13.480
We'll recess.