Won’t Gov. David Ige’s proposal to raise the gas tax again more than defeat the purpose of his minimum-wage increase (“Gov. David Ige wants higher gas tax and vehicle fees to fund road repairs,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 24)? Isn’t this akin to Mayor Kirk Caldwell promising not to raise property tax rates, and then raising property assessments?

Ige’s focus and “vision” should be to eliminate the state’s wasteful operations, like uncollected rents and taxes on illegal vacation rentals, and botched state project cost overruns. Make state operations more efficient and reduce taxes. Don’t put money in one of our pockets only to take out more from the other.

Raising the gas tax will drive the cost of living higher for both residents and tourists. Hasn’t Ige figured out why there has been a sharp increase of vacation rentals and B&Bs? Hawaii is getting too expensive even for tourists.

And kupuna will once again be hurt the most.

Alan Yagi

Aiea

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