Bill may put Hawaii voters would decide in 2004 whether the state needs the revenue from gambling and, if so, what type of gambling should be allowed, under a bill in the state Senate.
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By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com"This is just a way to get public reaction because it's an issue where, depending on whose poll you read or whose survey you take, there are many people against gaming, but there are many people in support of gambling," said state Sen. Willie Espero (D, Ewa-Kapolei-Ewa Beach), who joined state Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu) in introducing the bill that calls for a nonbinding ballot question in the next general election.
"This would just really provide the Legislature with input directly from the voter," Espero said yesterday.
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Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes
Senate Bill 83 was among the nearly 200 new bills that surfaced yesterday, the second day of the state Legislature.
It asks voters in yes-or-no ballot questions if Hawaii needs legalized gambling and, if so, whether it should be parimutuel racing, a state lottery, shipboard gambling or casino gambling.
Bills to legalize gambling in Hawaii routinely surface each session as a way to generate additional state revenues. Usually, these measures are killed after one or two lengthy committee hearings.
Former Gov. Ben Cayetano said in May 2001 that the issue should be put to the people in a form of a constitutional amendment on the 2002 general election ballot. But lawmakers did not support that idea last session.
Gov. Linda Lingle is steadfast against legalized gambling in Hawaii.
State Senate President Robert Bunda (D, Wahiawa), who has supported some gambling proposals in the past, said yesterday the referendum simply gauges the public's desire on the issue, especially since newspaper polls last year showed residents more or less split on the issue.
"I have some personal opinions about gaming," Bunda said.
"Obviously, I've kind of turned around on a lottery; I'm not a big proponent of the lottery system. But I think there could be some things that could happen in gaming that perhaps maybe could be done, but that's just my personal opinion," he said.
Espero said he believes the reason why a referendum has not passed the Legislature is because opponents fear a massive public relations blitz by gambling proponents to influence voters' opinions at the polls.
While it is a legitimate concern, he feels Hawaii residents will not be swayed by these ads and have already made up their minds. In recent sessions there have been two strong efforts to legalize gambling here. Holomua Hawaii, a coalition of local and mainland interests led by Detroit businesswoman and casino operator Marian Ilitch, had pushed for casino gambling at Ko Olina and Waikiki.
The group collected more than 25,000 signatures from Oahu residents who support gambling here.
Also, Sun International Resorts has proposed a megaresort-casino at Ko Olina.
Both groups had offered to pay the state $100 million for a state gambling license.
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