EDITORIAL
Military tax relief bill should become law

Watching Hawai'i soldiers gear up for deployment to the war zones of the Middle East reminds us of a piece of unfinished business that Congress may leave behind when it adjourns for its summer break.

At a time when huge numbers of troops are being sent abroad to defend their nation's interest, Congress has shamefully let the ball drop on a simple benefit for these men and women.

This is a tax-relief package for the armed forces. It would make death payments for military survivors tax-free, extend tax deadlines for service members deployed for military action and make it easier for service members to avoid capital gains taxes when they are suddenly transferred and must sell their home.

There is nothing particularly radical about the bill, and it has passed, in slightly different forms, in both the House and Senate. But since then it has been stalled in a House-Senate squabble over relatively minor differences.

The differences should be resolved and the measure should be quickly enacted.