Honolulu Charter Commission denies proposals for public vote on rail, gmo, wages

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Next year's November ballot will not include questions about dismantling the rail authority, labeling GMO products or raising the minimum wage.

The Honolulu Charter Commission denied all those proposals at a hearing on Wednesday afternoon.

The rail question was another chance for critics to stop the project.

Opponents of the rail questioned the fairness of the meeting because the commission chair is a former pro-rail lobbyist.

The commission says it denied the proposal because the project already went through a public vote, and shortening the route would violate the federal contract.