2012 Hawaii Senate Debates: on Environment


Ed Case: Diversify tourism to include educational & eco-tourism

Mazie Hirono focused on her Visit the USA bill which would ease visa requirements making it easier for the Chinese to spend their money here in Hawaii. Democrat opponent Ed Case agreed it's a good idea but claims he's better suited to get it passed. He criticized Hirono for taking so long to introduce it and getting relatively few in congress to support it. "She didn't do anything for almost five years so from my perspective this is something she did because she is running for the Senate not because she was focusing on tourism," said Case. "People need a senator that works all six years not just in an election year and that's what I will do."

Case said he would diversify tourism because Hawaii is not just about Waikiki and beaches." People want constant change, they want some things about Hawaii but they want agricultural tourism, they want eco tourism, they want scientific tourism, educational tourism and these can all occur throughout this state," said Case.

Source: Hawaii News Now coverage of 2012 Hawaii Senate debate May 30, 2012

Mazie Hirono: Visit the USA Bill: attract 300,000 Chinese by easier visas

Mazie Hirono focused the majority of her comments on her Visit the USA bill which would ease visa requirements making it easier for the Chinese to spend their money here in Hawaii. "China, now that is a huge market: 54 million Chinese are traveling all across the world, fewer than a million of them come to our country. Why? Because our visa process is so difficult," said Hirono. "We can attract some 300,000 Chinese visitors, $600 million spent in our economy, creating 6,000 jobs."

Opponent Ed Case agreed it's a good idea but claims he's better suited to get it passed. He criticized Hirono for taking so long to introduce it and getting relatively few in congress to support it. Hirono responded saying there is a lot going on. "Right now there is an election that we need to get through but it's going to have bipartisan support," said Hirono.

Source: Hawaii News Now coverage of 2012 Hawaii Senate debate May 30, 2012

  • The above quotations are from 2012 Hawaii Senate Debate.
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  • Click here for more quotes by Ed Case on Environment.
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Candidates and political leaders on Environment:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018