The Star-Advertiser reports: "On Monday a group of nonprofit organizations called the Working Families Coalition released a plan to distribute $362 million including CARES Act funds 'to help families with rent and mortgages, food, health care, child care, domestic violence response, kupuna wellness checks, and more.'"

The coalition’s proposal also calls for $11 million to be committed to support immigrants in Hawaii who are ineligible for the federal stimulus checks and unemployment insurance.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legislature was focused on a historic joint package for Hawaii’s working families,” said Gavin Thornton, executive director of the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, in a statement. “Today, we’re asking legislators to support those same families, who are now struggling to pay rent and feed their children.”

The group also proposed a package of “alternative revenue options” to help balance the state budget, including proposals to borrow up to $2.1 billion from the federal government for up to three years; eliminate a tax deduction for real estate investment trusts; impose new taxes on sugary drinks; and tax wealthy pensioners.

Read the full piece here.