Vaccine passport should eventually be policy
While I agree with Gov. David Ige and the mayor’s position, keeping Hawaii safe from COVID-19, and it may be a little early to consider the idea of a vaccination passport, but once the Hawaii and mainland populations exceed 50% vaccinated, which should be about June 1, the vaccine passport, should definitely be the policy.
Have the vaccinated folks simply up load their vaccine cards to safe travels web site, the non-vaccinated can still do the pre-travel COVID-19 testing in the interim, but by Sept. 1, only those that have been vaccinated are allowed to come.
I believe that too many folks are buying the misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and don’t want to get the vaccine. But if this state and others, along with other destinations, Disneyland, cruise ships, etc., all adopt this stance, “get vaccinated or you are not welcome,” it will go a long way to getting this nightmare behind us.
Michael Lavering
Kailua-Kona
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Support for carbon pricing is growing
Support for carbon pricing is growing – it’s now backed by the Electric Power Supply Association, American Petroleum Institute, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. They follow Federal Reserve Chairs, Nobel Laureate economists, and prominent organizations and individuals across the nation.
The top 10 economies, except India and U.S., now price carbon. Importantly, the European Union has discussed installing a border tax on goods from countries without a carbon price.
In Hawaii, there were four carbon pricing bills this session (vs. one last year), and while they failed to proceed this year, support is increasing. Notably, a recent UHERO study found a carbon fee and dividend policy to be progressive and beneficial to the lower 60% of households.
Carbon pricing will dramatically reduce emissions, save lives, and enable a sustainable economy. It’s an essential tool in our climate action quiver. When coupled with a dividend, it allows households to accommodate the expected rise in fossil fuel costs.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby supports carbon pricing and dividend legislation like the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This policy can be implemented quickly and represents a cost-efficient, effective, and fair solution. Every household will get a check to cover increased costs; they can also increase their energy efficiency and save extra money. Under this policy, lower-income families will benefit the most since they use less energy.
We expect this bill to be reintroduced soon by Ted Deutch of Florida and urge our representatives, Kai Kahele and Ed Case, to co-sponsor it. There were 86 co-sponsors in the last Congress, and we hope for even more support in the current one. To learn more and to urge members of Congress to act, visit www.cclusa.org.
Noel Morin
Hilo
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