(Ken Hupp - KPUA) Former Governor Linda Lingle was in Hilo Tuesday to officially open up her East Hawai`i campaign headquarters and host a birthday bash fundraiser. In remarks to supporters and during a subsequent interview with KPUA News, the Republican U.S. Senate hopeful said jobs and the economy will be the number one issue in her campaign to replace retiring Senator Daniel Akaka. And she cited four reforms that need to occur for businesses to hire people. 

“These four reforms, lawsuit, immigration, cutting ret tape and tax reform are the kinds of things that don’t cost money, but they will create a sense of certainty in the economy,”Lingle said. “And when business people are more certain of the future, and they can count on things, then they are willing to create more jobs and not before.” 

She also pitched her plan to establish a U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Tourism to address visa delays, which prevent greater numbers of visitors from China and elsewhere from coming here. 

“We need to make certain that people who want to come visit us from China have an easier time to get a visa to come here as a visitor, enjoy Hawai`i and America, and then go back,” said Lingle. “But its just too difficult today to do that.” 

Lingle said her decisions won’t be guided by what’s good for President Obama or Governor Mitt Romney, but what’s good for Hawai`i. 

KPUA