Hirono, Lingle offer their views on Hawai'i's economy
| • | For economy, Hirono and Lingle have similar plans |
Advertiser Staff
Linda Lingle
Republican gubernatorial candidate
Q. With tourism generating more than $10 billion for the state of Hawai'i, what would be your administration's major initiatives to support tourism? In particular, what would be your position regarding the current level of funding for the Hawai'i Tourism Authority and improving tourism infrastructure?
A. State government must end its decades-long, love-hate relationship with the visitor industry and embrace what is clearly the foundation of our modern economy, while at the same time developing new industries.
Tourism should continue receiving dedicated funding for marketing — but be held accountable for results. To focus our efforts, I will create a Cabinet-level position, directly accountable to me that will be responsible for ensuring the sustained health, growth and diversification of the visitor industry. However, until the Hawai'i Tourism Authority establishes sufficient financial controls and measures of performance, they should not get any additional funding.
My commitment to working with the visitor industry on Maui was recently recognized by the Maui Hotel Association endorsing my candidacy for governor. County funding for tourism promotion increased eleven fold during my term, and Maui was voted the "Best Island in the World" in the annual Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards Poll for five consecutive years.
Our state parks desperately need more funding for maintenance, operation, and capital improvement. I view this as essential to both residents and visitors, and will make it happen as we free up funds by eliminating waste, fraud, and inefficiency throughout state government.
Q. What type of efforts would you propose that would support a continued, strong military presence in Hawai'i?
A. Military forces must be able to train when stationed here in Hawai'i. We should immediately work to ensure the military has sufficient land, water and air space for training. This can be done without degrading the environment if we work together.
We need to ensure that the children of military personnel receive a good education in our schools. In addition, we should make a decision on whether pet quarantine is really necessary to prevent the introduction of rabies.
Q. A quality educational system is a critical element in Hawai'i's economy. What near-term and long-term actions do you believe must take place in order for Hawai'i's public schools and the University of Hawai'i system to be considered top notch?
A. I strongly believe the educational system must be decentralized by establishing seven locally elected school boards so that parents, teachers and communities can control their own schools. The seven boards would be: Kaua'i County, Maui County, Hawai'i County, Leeward O'ahu, Windward O'ahu, East Honolulu, and Central O'ahu.
The existing centralized, one-size-fits-all school system has repeatedly proven incapable of responding effectively to the needs of individual islands, communities, parents, teachers and students
Of equal importance will be a complete, independent audit of the Department of Education, and establishment of performance-based budgeting.
I will urge the redirecting of 50 percent of the money currently spent on the DOE's centralized bureaucracy so it is actually spent in the classroom or the local school level.
I will replace the shockingly wasteful DOE supply storeroom, as recommended by the state auditor, with a modern, district-based purchasing system that gets supplies to the classroom in a timely fashion at the best possible price.
A well-educated population is essential if Hawai'i and its people are to compete successfully in the global economy.
The goal of the University of Hawai'i should be to become one of the best public universities in the nation.
Unfortunately, it has functioned like an agency of state government. As a result, UH is not appreciated, respected or supported to the degree it should be. Its future must be built on collaboration and cooperation with government, the community and business.
UH should always be a world research leader in areas of inherent advantage i marine biology, aquaculture, tropical agriculture, astronomy, oceanography, volcanology and alternative energy.
UH is a critical player in our economic future. There is no better investment than UH.
Accordingly, I will appoint to the Board of Regents those who share the view of a world class university vs. the traditional "political appointee." And, I will appoint up to three non-Hawai'i residents with qualifications that broaden the board's perspective.
Effective funding levels must be provided for the university's basic and applied research, technical assistance programs, and technology transfer efforts to strengthen and increase the economic benefits derived from partnerships with local and global businesses.
The university should retain the funds it generates internally and not be penalized by reduced state funding.
Q. Given significant tax revenue shortfalls, which are likely to extend into next year, how would you propose to balance the budget? In this regard, do you believe there are any state government programs or services that should be privatized or eliminated? Please be specific.
A. Hawai'i's state budget is a mess. The true financial condition of state government, its programs and results are not known.
That's why my first step as governor will be an independent audit in cooperation with state auditor Marion Higa. This is essential to sound decision-making. All spending and policy choices must be based on reliable information and clear objectives instead of short-term political considerations.
Those in power today claim we cannot eliminate taxes, provide tax credits, fund programs, etc. — because there is no money.
Our taxes are among the highest in the nation. The problem is those funds raised from these taxes are squandered and wasted. We do not need to raise taxes or fees.
Over the years Legislative Auditor Marion Higa has identified hundreds of millions of dollars annually in wasteful spending. That is were I will focus my efforts to find funding for the schools, parks, tax credits, etc.
I strongly believe that privatization is a tool government should use in appropriate cases. Many health and human service programs are already privatized and run by non-profit and for-profit organizations. This trend will continue for new programs or activities. However, I am personally committed to each and every state employee that they will not lose their job because I am governor. I want to harness their knowledge and experience to make government work better for the people. I cannot do that if we are going through the trauma of layoffs.
A major objective of mine as governor is to institute performance-based budgeting as I did in Maui County. We must start measuring the results of government spending, not how much we spent, or how many positions were funded. Performance-based budgeting will allow us to compare programs by identifying which ones bring the greatest value in return for each tax dollar invested. Once we can measure results and compare programs, then we can identify which activities should get more funds and which should get less.
Finally, we must replace the 'good ole boy' way of awarding government contracts with the current best practices used by the federal government and most other states. This would include having a selection committee of experts rank contracts i not the politically appointed department head. As governor, I will personally approve all contracts that bypass the normal competitive procurement process, and put all contract awards on the Internet so everyone can see what we are doing with their money.
Q. Do you believe our present legal system encourages frivolous lawsuits that undermine economic growth? If so, how would you propose to reform our legal system to discourage wasteful lawsuits while ensuring fairness to litigants?
A. Judges already have the power to impose sanctions when a lawsuit is frivolous. They should use it. For Hawai'i's economy to prosper, investors and business people must have confidence in the system of justice. Litigants who expect the judge to apply the law logically and even-handedly, will usually settle quickly and efficiently. This is good for both parties, and for the economy. I will appoint judges strictly on the basis of merit and expect them to uphold laws, as written.
Mazie Hirono
Democratic gubernatorial candidate
Q. With tourism generating more than $10 billion for the state of Hawai'i, what would be your administration's major initiatives to support tourism? In particular, what would be your position regarding the current level of funding for the Hawai'i Tourism Authority and improving tourism infrastructure?
A. Our people, our cultural heritage, and our natural environment are our greatest assets. I will use these strengths to aggressively market Hawai'i as a place to visit, to revisit and to move us toward diversifying this $11 billion industry.
• I will capitalize on niche markets (cultural tourism, eco-tourism, health and wellness tourism, and edu-tourism). We must target and market those areas in which Hawai'i has a competitive advantage. Beyond simply sun and surf, Hawai'i must be a place to learn and appreciate our host culture and the culture of our various communities. Our Islands' natural beauty and the unique aspects of our wild areas should be shared. Our colleges and universities should educate the world and be centers for research in the areas of ocean science, astronomy and agriculture.
• I will appoint diverse members to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority.
• I envision a "Wireless Waikiki." More of our visitors want to be online while they are in the Islands, both for work and play.
• I will actively seek out and attract meetings and conventions to Hawai'i. For example, I support the construction of a UH-Hilo Student Life and Events Center, which will be critical in attracting scientific meetings and conferences to the Big Island.
• I will support continuing dedicated funding for tourism promotion and to implement HTA's strategic plan, Ke Kumu, to diversify our tourism base.
• Given the impact tourism has on our environment and the important role our natural resources play in attracting visitors to Hawai'i, I will support HTA continuing to fund maintenance of parks and trails.
Q. What type of efforts would you propose that would support a continued, strong military presence in Hawai'i?
A. I will continue to work closely with our congressional delegation to maintain a strong military presence in Hawai'i. And I will continue my support of the chamber's efforts, as when I led the 2000 Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Military Affairs Committee delegation to Washington D.C. to meet with Pentagon officials and military leaders. I will also support efforts to make sure the men and women of our armed forces and their families can participate fully in the life of our communities.
As governor, I will capitalize on the potential for defense activity to fuel significant growth in our economy. The federal government is committed to seeing that technologies it develops for national defense purposes are applied as appropriate to the civilian economy. The large military presence in the state, coupled with Hawai'i's research and development strengths will permit both the state and military to benefit substantially from partnerships to develop these dual-use technologies. I will work with our congressional delegation to stay at the forefront of new opportunities for federal financing related to dual-use technological development.
Q. A quality educational system is a critical element in Hawai'i's economy. What near-term and long-term actions do you believe must take place in order for Hawai'i's public schools and the University of Hawai'i system to be considered top notch?
A. As a product of our public schools, supporting our public education system has always been a top priority for me.
My Action Agenda for Hawai'i's Public Schools focuses on:
• Supporting teachers by retaining, rewarding and recruiting well-trained, motivated teachers. For example, I will get tuition and loan reimbursements for teachers who commit to teaching in our public schools.
• Making sure repair and maintenance of our schools is done efficiently and quickly. Our students, teachers and communities deserve safe and nurturing learning environments.
• Working with education stakeholders to demand that every dollar spent on education positively impacts student learning. Our teachers should have the tools; our children should have full opportunities to achieve.
• Implementing affordable preschool opportunities for all of Hawai'i's children. Our children need to be prepared for learning.
For the university:
• Building upon the University of Hawai'i's role in creating jobs by working with faculty and administration to develop a competitive incentives and rewards system for our researchers to encourage the development of new technologies.
• Fully supporting and advocating for the creation of a Biomedical Research Park in Kaka'ako, which will bring in millions in research dollars and provide private sector partnership opportunities, as well as allow us to continue to educate future doctors, and provide young researchers with valuable learning experiences here in Hawai'i.
• Building upon the role of UH-Hilo and our community colleges to provide our young people with the tools they need to compete in the global economy.
• Pushing for the creation of a West O'ahu campus for the University of Hawai'i. Besides being a convenient new venue for higher learning, the campus will stimulate the growth of Kapolei, creating establishments such as concert halls, training centers, research facilities and hundreds of new jobs.
• Establishing a strong and respected film degree program available on all islands so that Hawai'i not only provides the scenery, but the professional skills and credentials needed to write, produce, and direct documentaries, television series, and movies.
Q. Given significant tax revenue shortfalls, which are likely to extend into next year, how would you propose to balance the budget? In this regard, do you believe there are any state government programs or services that should be privatized or eliminated? Please be specific.
A. Balancing the budget is a constitutional requirement and I will work closely with the Legislature to do that. Given that over half of our general fund budget goes towards helping and educating our children, we must keep everything on the table in balancing the budget. As someone who cares about social services and our natural environment, I will look carefully at how we spend.
For that reason, we also must work to strengthen and diversify our economy and promote and support the growth of targeted industries such as high technology, diversified agriculture, and our film industry.
Like households, I would look at paying off our credit cards. We need to look at refinancing more of our debt service. That's more realistic and prudent than blindly hoping that attrition will result in huge savings.
We need the vision and the courage to put money and resources where we should i in the core functions of our government Where the federal government mandates services, we should pursue more federal resources.
Regarding privatization, I support the requirements of the law that calls for an assessment of whether or not privatizing will result in services of equivalent or better quality at a lower cost than that provided by government workers. We must also consider the following factors: 1) how the specified services will be jeopardized should the private contract agency fail; 2) the impact on the public employee; 3) the nature of the service that the agency or public needs; 4) determine any cost savings; 5) the magnitude of need for these services and to review criteria for selection of the service provider. I also believe that consideration of privatization must include discussions with parties affected to allow for a smooth transition and to prevent costly, time consuming litigation.
Q. Do you believe our present legal system encourages frivolous lawsuits that undermine economic growth? If so, how would you propose to reform our legal system to discourage wasteful lawsuits while ensuring fairness to litigants?
A. Our American court system is one of the backbones of our democratic system of government. We would need thoughtful reform to cut back on truly frivolous lawsuits, such as providing penalties for attorneys filing suits without merit. There also needs to be meaningful alternatives to resolving disputes between people, so that the lawsuit is truly a last resort.
