Highlights of Lingle's ideas
Advertiser Staff
During her campaign, in discussions about her economic plan, Linda Lingle said she would:
• Create a cabinet-level position to focus on tourism. Lingle has said she believes tourism should continue receiving dedicated money for marketing — but be held accountable for results. Until the Hawai'i Tourism Authority establishes sufficient financial controls and measures of performance, Lingle has said it should not get additional money.
• Eliminate the 4 percent general excise tax on medical care and reinstitute the food tax credit. Lingle has argued the tax on medical care and food hurts those who are on fixed incomes the most.
• Privatize services. But Lingle has pledged that no state employees will lose jobs. "I want to harness their knowledge and experience to make government work better for the people," she said. "I cannot do that if we are going through the trauma of layoffs."
• Cut unnecessary regulations and consolidate the state/county permit system into a "one-stop shop."
• Provide tax incentives and other government support to attract investment in industries such as entertainment, biotechnology, high technology and healthcare.
Lingle has not been specific about how the state will make up the lost revenue. She expects to attract new businesses and create jobs that will bring in more money to the state, but can't estimate how much.
• Support University of Hawai'i research by helping to get federal grants. She wants appropriate financing levels for the university's basic and applied research, technical assistance programs and technology transfer efforts to strengthen partnerships with local and global businesses.
Lingle believes UH should retain the money it generates internally and not be penalized by reduced state money. She also wants to appoint up to three non-Hawai'i residents with qualifications that broaden the board's perspective.
• Support a $75 million tax credit for an aquarium project at the Ko Olina resort on O'ahu.
• Oppose the gas cap law.
