Posted on: Saturday, April 14, 2001

Senate committee shelves study on gambling's effects

Advertiser Staff

The state Senate has called off plans to study the social and economic impacts of legalizing gambling in Hawai'i.

Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman David Matsuura said he decided Wednesday to hold the resolutions calling for the study because there are already enough studies on the effects of gambling. He also said one of the resolutions would have created a Senate interim committee to conduct the study, which would have been too large a burden.

"Gambling is 10 times worse than fluoridation, to subject the Senate to this type of controversy at this time ... I said we're absolutely not going to do that," said Matsuura, D-2nd (S. Hilo, Puna).

Lawmakers have not held hearings this session on any bills to legalize gambling in Hawai'i.

Supporters and opponents of legalized gambling testified in support of two Senate resolutions for a study before three Senate committees — including Matsuura's — last week. Both sides have said such a study would validate their arguments.

The Senate Economic Development and Technology Committee and the Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations Committee deferred decision-making on the resolutions when Matsuura's committee decided to hold the measures.