Lawmakers Want To Subsidize Big Rate Increases By Hawaii's Only Interisland Shipper

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing through a bill to provide cash subsidies to the state’s only interisland cargo shipper in an attempt to soften the impact of the shipper’s proposal to increase its rates.

But the state Department of Transportation opposes House Bill 2475, saying it unfairly benefits just one company.

Higher shipping prices could mean a spike in prices for everything from milk to automobiles and building materials on some neighbor islands, and lawmakers have swiftly and quietly pushed the bill along as a way to solve the problem.

Molokai Rep. Lynn DeCoite’s measure comes as Young Brothers, which is the only cargo shipping company serving all of the Main Hawaiian Islands, is trying to convince regulators to let the company increase its shipping rates by 34% to offset escalating operating costs.

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/03/lawmakers-want-to-subsidize-big-rate-increases-by-hawaiis-only-inter-island-shipper/