Barbara Marumoto

Party: Republican

Age: 70

Job: Full-time Legislator.

Born in San Francisco. In Hawaii since 1960, arrived from San Francisco

Lives: Wai'alae Iki

Contact: 228-1438, barbmarumoto@hawaiiantel.net

Web site: www.timeforbarbaramarumoto.com

Job history past 10 years:
Full-time Legislator.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
1978 - Elected to the Constitutional Convention; 1978- present - Elected to the Hawaii House; 2003 - ran unsuccessfully for the 2nd Congressional District.

Other civic experience or community service:
Served on federal commissions in Defense, Agriculture, Education and Human Services (Asian Pacific American affairs), and on boards of several local non-profit organizations.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
My work in the Legislature is an extension of my previous life as a community volunteer. I like to help others.

1) Why are you running for office?
It is important to provide a minority voice to the massive majority in the Legislature. Very few speak up to oppose majority bills, to ask provocative questions, to work for changes in committee, to offer amendments on the floor, to challenge leadership, and to vote no.

2) With state revenue growth slowing, what are your top three priorities for government spending?
The social services are critical, but we must also remember that the University of Hawaii brings in research dollars and serves as an economic engine in Hawaii. We must adequately fund UH as well as lower education, because we don't want to skimp on our children. It is important not to hamper our #1 industry, tourism, during an economic downturn.

3) What steps should the state take to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel?
Promote renewable wind, wave, solar, biofuel and geothermal energy. Install photovoltaic roof tops and solar fans in schools. Phase in CFL/LED lighting in state facilities. Encourage the use of sugar cane for ethanol. Start purchasing hybrid vehicles. LIve restoring, reusing and recycling.

4) What’s the No. 1 thing needed to improve Hawai’i public schools?
Think small. Retain small schools. Strive for small classrooms. Break large schools into smaller "schools within-schools" where faculty members work together to develop curricula around an educational philosophy. Beef up science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses, and encourage students to enroll in advanced placement classes. Promote a robotics program; it's fun!

5) How should the state respond to financial difficulties at public and private hospitals?
The State should increase its share of the Medicaid budget to provide adequate reimbursement to medical providers. Then hospitals would not have to "cost shift" onto patients and health insurers. It is equally important for insurers to reimburse providers adequately. Because of the fear of law suits drive up medical costs, the Legislature should enact tort reform.

6) What is the No. 1 quality-of-life issue facing Hawai'i, and what would you do about it?
The paving over of Paradise, urban sprawl, the traffic congestion and arduous commutes, the loss of open space and agricultural land, the unaffordable cost of housing and homelessness, all threaten Aloha. Although everyone wants home with yard, a condo in town may be more realistic. We should allow increased density in the urban core to stop rampant sprawl. It would alleviate some problems.

7) What’s the No. 1 piece of legislation you’d work to pass in 2009?
Katie's Law would require DNA collection from felony arrestees. Prosecutor Carlisle and Congressman Abercrombie told the House Judiciary Committee that an expanded federal data base (as called for in my bill) would catch more criminals, prevent more crimes and exonerate more innocent people. Katie, an Arizona girl, was raped and murdered by a serial killer who might have been caught earlier.