State of Hawaii Archives: on Government Reform
Andria Tupola:
Video testimony to legislature; no constitutional convention
Q: Do you support or oppose holding a state constitutional convention?A: I strongly advocate for allowing the people's voices to be heard through the legislative process and to work on improving the current process. However, we should be concerned
about the costs of a constitutional convention and the specifics of the process.
In 1978, the constitutional convention cost $2.6 million dollars. The cost for a constitutional convention in 2018 would be much higher and comes at a time when our state
is in financial chaos.
I would suggest as an alternative to a constitutional convention that we increase the transparency and access to the legislative session by allowing remote video testimony for our neighbor island and rural residents, giving the
public increased insight to laws and bills through video recap and commentary after sessions, and taking significant steps to make it easier for all residents to participate and be heard in the lawmaking process.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2018 Hawaii gubernatorial race
Aug 9, 2018
Andria Tupola:
Ease permitting processes for developers
Community members and local developers face many complications surrounding permits. According to a Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) survey, only 13% of respondents described themselves as "Satisfied" with DPP's
building permit process. The main complaint from the survey was the amount of time it takes to get a permit reviewed. Besides that were the complications involved in the permitting process and the lack of staff members and capacity.
Source: 2022 Hawaii governor campaign website TupolaForCouncil.com
Nov 3, 2020
Brian Schatz:
Partial state funding for state level political campaigns
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?
A: Undecided on Individual limits; PAC limits; and Corporate limits.
Source: Hawaii Legislative 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
Brian Schatz:
Abolish the Electoral College
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is backing an amendment to "abolish the Electoral College" introduced by Senator Brian Schatz, while Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Bernie Sanders have signaled their willingness to address the
Electoral College's anti-democratic impact, as have former representative Beto O'Rourke, former housing secretary Julian Castro, and mayor of South Bend Pete Buttigieg.
Source: The Nation magazine on 2018 Hawaii Senate race
Apr 8, 2019
Brian Schatz:
I support ending or reforming the filibuster
I support ending or reforming the filibuster. The filibuster is not part of our Constitution, originated mostly by accident, and has historically been used to block civil rights.
Democrats and Republicans working together to reach a compromise is important, but that isn't possible when the filibuster is abused as it's been by Republicans.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Senate race
Jun 22, 2022
Cam Cavasso:
Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns
Q: Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns?A: Yes.
Q: Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
A: No.
Q: Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?
A: Yes.
Source: Hawaii State Legislative 2011 PVS Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2010
Cam Cavasso:
Photo ID for voting
Question topic: People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Cavasso: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
David Ige:
Run government with open & public two-way communication
Our democratic form of government requires active citizen participation. My administration will work hard to earn your trust by creating a process of two-way communication. Action Plan:- Hold weekly press conferences to make myself accessible to
the media.
- Require my department directors to be accessible and hold at least four community meetings a year.
- Work with the Board of Education to ensure that meetings are held in all counties.
-
Increase community involvement in government affairs by directing all agencies and commissions to consider input from the public as essential to their decision-making. To make participation more convenient for the public and cost-effective,
I will increase interactive video teleconferencing.
- Ensure that appointments to State boards and commissions are broadly representative of community interests and that appointees are committed to conducting government affairs in an open manner.
Source: 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial campaign website DavidIge.org
Aug 9, 2014
David Ige:
Limit campaign donations and campaign spending
Q: Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates: Individual?A: Yes.
Q: Political Action Committee?
A: Yes.
Q: Corporate?
A: Yes.
Q: Political Party?
A: Yes.
Q: Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
A: Yes.
Source: Hawaii Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
David Ige:
Require photo identification in order to vote
Q: Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
A: Yes.
Source: Hawaii Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
David Ige:
Support independent redistricting but also voter ID
Q: Do you support limits on individual contributions for state candidates?A: Yes.
Q: Limits on PACs?
A: Yes.
Q: Should candidates meet voluntary spending limits?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign
finance information?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
A: Yes.
Source: Hawaii 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Duke Aiona:
Limit all political contributions: corporate & party
Q: Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government: Individual?A: Yes.
Q: Political Action Committee?
A: Yes.
Q: Corporate?
A: Yes.
Q: Political Party?
A: Yes.
Q: Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
A: Yes.
Source: Hawaii Gubernatorial Election 2010 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2010
Duke Aiona:
Has no evidence the 2020 election was stolen
When asked about the 2020 election results at a Hawaii News Now debate, Aiona said that he had no evidence the election was stolen. Numerous investigations in multiple states have shown no evidence of widespread voter fraud.
State and federal courts have rejected numerous baseless claims, including here in Hawaii, that the election was somehow stolen.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial race
Aug 13, 2022
Duke Aiona:
Reducing amount of regulations sends message to businesses
Unfortunately, Hawaii's high taxes and fees, and the copious amount of regulations and bureaucracy have made it difficult for new industries to flourish in our islands.
Getting government out of the way by reducing the amount of regulations, permits, bureaucracy, fees and taxes sends a message to the businesses outside of Hawaii that we are open for business.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial race
Jun 21, 2022
Duke Aiona:
Stem abuses with term limits for state legislature
As I have said before, political balance provides an immediate check that can ensure accountability at the Legislature.
To eliminate feelings of entitlement and abuse of power by those representatives who have been in the legislature for over a decade, we should create term limits for those positions.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial race
Jun 21, 2022
Duke Aiona:
Wants to make more public records accessible online
Aiona said he would want to make more public records accessible online. Aiona pointed to things like business filings or land leases, which are available online but only if people pay a fee.
He also wants to make available documents that are public records but not easily accessible on the internet, like records of legislative allowances.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial race
Aug 11, 2022
Ed Case:
Only 8% of my campaign money comes from PACs
Democrat Ed Case sent out an email encouraging supporters to "follow the money" when it comes to Hirono donor's. Excerpt from Case's email: "Special interest PACs and other political committees.
These mostly DC status quo defenders have contributed about $700,000 to Mazie and $10,000 to me in this race. Over our congressional careers fully 31% of Mazie's contrbutions (almost $1.9 million) have come from
PACs compared with only 8% of mine. Mainland money. Fully 64% of all of Mazie's PAC and 'itemized' (over $200) contributions in this race have come from mainland donors, while 75% of mine have come from
Hawai'i. (Candidates don't report the names and addresses of donors of $200 or less, but if we count those my Hawai'i contribution portion is higher.)"
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2012 Hawaii Senate debate
May 10, 2012
Eddie Pirkowski:
No photo ID for voting
Question topic: People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Pirkowski: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
John Carroll:
Don't regulate campaign contributions; they're free speech
Q: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
A: No. I believe in Freedom of Speech and I don't believe we should impair freedom of expression with governmental regulations. I have the least amount of money of any of my opponents. I don't begrudge them their money.
Source: VoteSmart 2012 Hawaii Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
John Carroll:
Supports citizen's initiative process & multiparty democracy
Q: Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizen's initiative process. Do you support such a process?A: Yes, I do support this process. When I was a state House member, every two years while in office I introduced bills that called for
initiative, referendum and recall.
Q: Hawaii has long been dominated by the Democratic Party establishment. Should this change?
A: Yes, it absolutely it should change. The current condition of Hawaii's economy, infrastructure, [etc.] need to be
examined and/or changed by electing leaders with more fiscally conservative ideals. Furthermore, true democracy cannot be realized when there will always be a single party in a bipartisan system that has the overwhelming majority. Every constituent
regardless of party affiliation deserves to be heard, but that opportunity is often ignored in our state as a result of the overwhelming influence asserted by the Democratic establishment.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2016 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 29, 2016
John Carroll:
I pledge to fight for bold reforms and solutions
You deserve better leaders, a better government, and policies that actually work to make Hawaii affordable.
I pledge to fight for you and your family every single day with bold reforms and solutions which will put our state back on track.
Source: 2018 Hawaii Gubernatorial website JohnCarroll4Hawaii.com
Jul 4, 2018
Josh Green:
Supports health department over Navy water contamination
Green released a statement supporting the health department's order. He noted that an assessment by a Navy contractor estimated an approximately 80% chance of another fuel release between 1,000 and 30,000 gallons within the next five years. "While
I recognize the importance of the facility to the U.S. Navy, the risk of further leaks and spills is simply too great. We must prioritize the health and well-being of our residents and our environment," he said.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial race
Dec 28, 2021
Josh Green:
State legislature term limits would make a lot of sense
Green, who served two terms in the state House and two and a half terms in the state Senate, said term limits of four consecutive two-year terms for each state House member and two four-year terms for each member of the state Senate "would make a lot of
sense.""You would get more diversity and you would get more turnover in the Legislature, and if people do well, they tend to advance" to other offices, he said. He contends term limits would also reduce the influence of money in politics.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial race
Jul 28, 2022
Kai Kahele:
Automatic back-end voter registration beyond just DMV
Hawai'i has front-end automatic voter registration. This means that when a resident applies for a license at the DMV, they are asked if they would like to be registered to vote. We need back-end voter registration where residents
are automatically registered to vote through applicable state agency transactions beyond just the DMV. This means more people will receive mail-in ballots, thereby increasing voter participation.
Source: 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial campaign website KaiKahele.com
May 12, 2022
Kirk Caldwell:
We have to reduce taxes, bureaucracy, and over-regulation
Government is not an entrepreneur. It can't start and grow new businesses. But we can do a dramatically better job to foster and attract them. Hawai'i has some of the highest income tax brackets in the US and difficult regulatory burdens. We're at
an all-time low in business rankings. We must make our state a better place for innovators and entrepreneurs to do business. If we want to attract more industries and jobs beyond tourism, we have to reduce taxes, bureaucracy, and over-regulation.
Source: 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial campaign website KirkCaldwell.com
Apr 11, 2022
Marissa Kerns:
Every bill must be exposed to Hawaiian taxpayers
I support the online legislative process. Hawaii must change its ways hiding dirty politics from the taxpayers, especially when introducing those new taxes and stupid regulations for high roller lobbyists.
Every bill must be exposed to the public Hawaiian taxpayers or else we will expose them and put them on the spot!
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Senate race
Oct 1, 2018
Ron Curtis:
Regulate campaign contributions from corporations and unions
Q: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?A: Yes. As much as we can, we need to take money out of government politics. We need to take back control of our elections from lobbyists,
special interests, and foreign entities. Our government is supposed to be "of the people, by the people, for the people"--not of the few, by the few, for the few, for the special interests, for the lobbyists.
We also we need to repeal the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). There is "no" reason for foreign entities to have "any" influence over our elections.
We have ambassadors and embassies for interfacing with foreign entities.
Source: Vote Smart 2018 Hawaii Political Courage Test
Jan 1, 2018
Ron Curtis:
Take back our elections from lobbyists & special interests
We need to take back control of our elections from lobbyists, special interests, and foreign entities. Our government is meant to be "of the people, by the people, for the people"--not of the few, by the few, for the few, for the special interests, for
the lobbyists. Our election process has become more about fund raising than about the issues. The lobbyist and special interest impacts in our elections have grown beyond the point where they can't be properly vetted.
Source: 2018 Hawaii Senate campaign website RonCurtis808.com
Aug 8, 2018
Josh Green:
We must be open, transparent, and accountable to the people
I agree with the recommendations of the House Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct--it's time to "rebuild integrity and trust in government." When it comes to governance, sunlight,
open windows, and plenty of fresh air are the best disinfectants. We need to build trust--and to do that we must be open, transparent, and accountable to the people.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Hawaii legislature
Jan 23, 2023
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023