A lower tax on beer? Some would drink to that

With the growing popularity of local craft beer, a proposal to lower taxes on the sudsy brew sounds like nothing short of a miracle.

Hawaii has one of the highest taxes on beer in the country — anywhere from 2nd to 5th highest among the states, depending on who’s doing the calculation. Now state Rep. Kaniela Ing wants to lower the tax, from 93 cents a gallon to 42 cents.

That would give Hawaii beer drinkers a reason to cheer, assuming the price at the stores drops accordingly.

Former Equifax CEO can’t retire quietly

Richard Smith can run — into retirement, as CEO of the embattled credit-rating agency Equifax — but he can’t hide.

So says Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who in a written statement called the move “an abdication of his responsibility.”

So say many critics of the firm, from which the personal digital records on 143 million people was looted. These are people who now have to worry about identity theft.

Schatz, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, said Smith has to testify at its congressional hearing next week. Better not put your feet up just yet: Mr. Smith is going to Washington.