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Editor’s note:��For Hawaii’s Nov. 5 General Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following came from Amy Perruso, Democratic candidate for State House District 46, which covers a portion of Waipio Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, Waialua and Mokuleia. Her opponent is Republican Daniel Gabriel.

Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot.

1. What is the biggest issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?

The biggest issue facing our district is widespread cynicism, alienation and despair due to the Legislature’s failure to grapple with our most profound issues, especially climate catastrophe, growing economic inequality and political corruption.

These problems, even when considered together, would not necessarily be a source of pessimism if community members felt that those in elected office cared for them and were doing everything in their power to make changes necessary to protect community, and if they felt that they could trust their elected officials to act with integrity to protect the public trust. 

Many residents feel that their voices are not heard, and that meaningful change is out of reach. To restore faith in government, we need to tackle these challenges head-on with bold, decisive action that prioritizes social and economic justice, protection of public trust resources with an eye to building resiliency around climate change and genuine democratization that begins but does not end with public engagement.

2. How do you feel about the massive income tax cut just approved by the Legislature and the governor? Do you have any concerns that it will force reductions in state services in the years to come?

While the recent income tax cut may provide immediate relief to some families, I am deeply concerned about its long-term impacts on state services, and the ways in which it will further widen the growing chasm between the wealthiest in our islands and the working poor. Reduced revenue could lead to cuts in essential services such as education, health care and public safety. 

We need to address economic inequality directly by implementing progressive tax measures that support working families. For example, Massachusetts recently implemented a tax on billionaires, generating significant revenue that can be invested in public services and infrastructure. Similarly, the Washington State Wealth Tax is a 1% capital gains tax on the financial assets of multi-millionaires and billionaires over a significant threshold.

And if we truly want to check property speculation and the commodification of aina, then we should radically increase the conveyance tax on non-owner-occupied properties as the vast majority of these properties are owned by non-residents, while offering a significant conveyance tax exemption for multi-generational kupuna, similar to that offered by Maui County (in the Aina Kupuna measure) to any families who have owned their properties for at least three generations or over 80 years.

3. Hawaii continues to struggle with pay-to-play politics and corruption in government. What meaningful reforms do you think would change state government for the better?

We need to close the existing loophole in campaign finance law to prohibit any executives, family members and employees of companies receiving state contracts from donating to political campaigns. We also need to confront the issue of inappropriate activity on the part of politically active high-level state employees and legislators with outside jobs tied to government contracts. 

We should make the Legislature full-time, prohibiting outside employment and reducing the chances for potential conflicts of interest, with a constitutional amendment that would send the question to voters. We should also prohibit department heads from contributing to campaigns of any committee chairs with decision-making power over measures related to their department. We should also use existing technology to increase transparency around procurement and lobbying, subject all those communicating with government officials regarding contracts to lobbyist disclosure laws. 

Furthermore, we should institute a ban against all corporate contributions to campaigns and check the dark money that fuels pay-to play and corruption in the Legislature by establishing a significant state tax or fee on super-PACs, adjusted according to their spending, with proceeds used to finance publicly funded elections, so as to weaken super-PACs’ corrupting influence over the outcomes of the legislative process.

4. Candidates often say they will support reform proposals in the Legislature. And yet major reform proposals don’t pass. Will you back good-government proposals even if it means going against leadership? If you are an incumbent, can you point to an example of a reform that you supported?

I will continue to support good-government proposals even if it means going against leadership. As an incumbent, I have a strong record of publicly supporting and advocating for meaningful reforms to increase transparency and accountability in our state government.

I have consistently championed campaign finance reform, advocating for passage of  “clean elections” measures; supported legislation to ban all fundraising during the legislative session, reducing the potential for conflicts of interest and ensuring that lawmakers focus on their legislative duties rather than fundraising activities; pushed for the implementation of a “cooling-off” period that prevents former legislators from lobbying for at least two years after leaving office, to prevent the revolving door between legislators and lobbyists. 

I am also already “walking the talk” in that I am the only candidate in my race who has taken and is fulfilling a shared “Our Hawaii” pledge that affirms that I will turn down political bribes in any form and “reject all campaign contributions from corporate PACs and lobbyists, and the executives of luxury and out-of-state developers, major landowners, hotel conglomerates, energy monopolies and military contractors.”

My record shows that I am dedicated to reforming our government to better serve the people of Hawaii.

5. Do you support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate? Why or why not?

I support comprehensive public financing of elections. We should learn from the funding strategies used in New York’s small donor public financing program. Doing similar work in Hawaii would reduce the influence of money in politics, allowing candidates to focus on engaging with constituents rather than fundraising, and level the playing field, giving a voice to those who may not have access to wealthy donors. I also support other strategies to democratize the process, including a ban on corporate campaign contributions as effectuated in Massachusetts. 

To counter the influence of super-PACs, which have increasingly distorted our electoral processes in the aftermath of the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision, we should establish a significant state tax or fee on super-PACs, adjusted according to their spending, with proceeds used to finance publicly funded elections, leveling the playing field.

Additionally, super-PACs should be required to provide their proposed electioneering materials for public review in advance, allowing for accuracy checks and appropriate responses. Finally, ensuring super-PACs comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act in their advertising disclosures will make sponsor information clear and accessible, enhancing transparency and accountability.

6. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process. Do you support such a process? Why or why not?

Over the course of this past session, I have changed my position to one of support for the introduction of a statewide citizens initiative in Hawaii. This pathway would empower residents to propose and vote on legislation directly, increasing civic engagement and ensuring that the government reflects the will of the people. It could also serve as a check on the Legislature, encouraging more responsive and accountable governance.

We can generate multiple strategies to create more bottom-up, community-driven policy making processes, including citizen assemblies and more effective use of existing technology to tap into the expertise of our communities. Their lived experiences, which are now so clearly marginalized in our current processes, should be acknowledged and centered. 

There is a troubling elitism around the language I have heard elected officials use to describe the advocacy efforts of community members, and I think that attitude is far more dangerous than increased democratization. We need to engage and connect our communities and grow the capacity and willingness of our most marginalized community members to engage. We must also support more substantive civic education work, including accurate education about the history of Hawaii and pedagogical approaches that foster critical thinking and creative problem-solving.

7. Thanks to their campaign war chests and name familiarity, incumbents are almost always reelected in Hawaii legislative races. Should there be term limits for state legislators, as there are for the governor’s office and county councils? Why or why not?

The issue of term limits for state legislators is complex and requires a nuanced approach. On one hand, term limits can prevent the entrenchment of political power and encourage fresh perspectives and new ideas in the Legislature. They can help ensure that our government remains dynamic and responsive to the changing needs of our communities.

However, overly short term limits can also have significant drawbacks. Legislative work is complex, and developing the expertise needed to craft effective policies takes time. For example, states like Colorado and Florida have experienced challenges with their short term limits, where legislators often struggle to build the experience necessary to navigate complex policy issues effectively. Rapid turnover has sometimes led to increased influence for lobbyists and unelected bureaucrats who possess the institutional knowledge that term-limited legislators lack.

Therefore, while I support the idea of term limits to promote turnover and prevent the concentration of power, I believe they should be carefully balanced to ensure that legislators have enough time to gain the necessary experience and knowledge to be effective. A reasonable term limit policy would provide a middle ground that encourages new leadership while retaining the benefits of experienced legislators.

8. What will you do to ensure accountability at the Legislature? Do you support ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature or banning campaign contributions during session?

We need to identify best practices from other states that have successfully implemented robust accountability measures and modify them to suit our context. Adopting special election processes used in 25 other states to fill vacancies would give our communities more control over their representation.

Furthermore, applying the Sunshine Law to legislative proceedings, as occurs in Florida, would require all meetings where decisions are made to be open to the public, increasing transparency and allowing constituents to be better informed about legislative activities so that they can hold their elected representatives accountable for their decision-making. 

Many states, including Texas and Kentucky, have enacted bans on all campaign contributions during the legislative session, reducing the potential for conflicts of interest and ensuring that lawmakers are focused on their legislative duties rather than fundraising activities.

Implementing real-time, online disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures, as seen in Washington state, would further enhance transparency and allow the public to track the flow of money in politics more effectively.

Finally, adopting stricter lobbying regulations, such as those in Massachusetts, which require detailed reporting of lobbying activities and expenditures, can help ensure that lobbying, when it occurs, is conducted transparently and ethically.

9. How would you make the Legislature more transparent and accessible to the public? Opening conference committees to the public? Stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists? How could the Legislature change its own internal rules to be more open?

We need to strengthen the Hawaii State Ethics Commission so that they have the resources and autonomy necessary to act as an effective watchdog. We should require lobbyists to report the specific bill, budget item or resolution they worked on and to disclose personal and financial connections between legislators and corporate lobbyists. We should also require legislators to report all income received (directly or indirectly) from lobbyists or lobbying organizations.

We must close the glaring loophole in campaign finance law, so that all officers, family members and employees of companies competing for contracts are banned from contributing to any political campaigns, while also implementing a robust contract tracking system and enacting significant penalties for violators.

Moreover, we should ban all fundraising (not just official fundraisers) during the legislative session, require legislators to disclose potential conflicts of interest and proactively recuse themselves from related votes, and implement a “cooling-off” period that prevents former legislators from lobbying for at least two years after leaving office.

We should also enforce stricter campaign finance regulations, including lowering contribution limits and enhancing disclosure requirements for all donations, while also using existing technology to require real-time, online disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures to increase transparency.

10. Many people have talked about diversifying the local economy for many years now, and yet Hawaii is still heavily reliant on tourism. What, if anything, should be done differently about tourism and the economy?

To create a sustainable and resilient future for Hawaii, we must move away from our reliance on tourism and embrace a steady state economy that prioritizes long-term ecological balance and well-being over endless growth. This means shifting toward a de-growth model, where we focus on reducing consumption and production to sustainable levels, promoting a circular economy that minimizes waste and makes the most of our resources through reuse and recycling.

Regenerative agriculture and restorative aquaculture are key components of this transformation. By adopting agricultural practices that restore soil health, increase biodiversity and sequester carbon, we can create a more sustainable food system that supports local farmers and reduces our dependence on imported goods. Similarly, restorative aquaculture can help revive our marine ecosystems, support local fisheries and provide sustainable seafood options.

Additionally, we need to build a care-centered economy that values and invests in the well-being of our residents. This involves increasing support for health care, education, childcare and kupuna care, ensuring that those who provide care are fairly compensated and that everyone has access to quality care. By prioritizing the well-being of our people and our environment, we can create a more equitable and sustainable economy that benefits all residents of Hawaii. 

11. An estimated 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by, a problem that reaches far beyond low-income and into the middle class, which is disappearing. What ideas do you have to help the middle class and working families who are finding it hard to continue to live here?

To truly support the middle class and working families in Hawaii, we need to build a care-centered economy that prioritizes the well-being of our residents. This involves expanding access to affordable childcare, early childhood education and after-school enrichment, ensuring that families have the support they need to thrive. These measures, along with strong state support for universal basic income and a 32-hour work week, are crucial for working parents to thrive, allowing them to pursue their careers while knowing their children are in safe, nurturing environments.

Improving public health requires a holistic approach that addresses the interconnectedness of water, food and educational opportunities. By ensuring clean and safe water for all, promoting nutritious and locally sourced food and investing in quality public education, we can create healthier working families and communities. 

Creating truly affordable housing is essential. We must implement strong rent control provisions to protect tenants from skyrocketing rents and displacement, increase funding for perpetually affordable housing projects and support community land trusts that keep housing permanently affordable. Such policies will ensure that all residents have access to safe, stable and affordable homes. These investments, to be effective, will require a progressive approach to state budgeting.