Gambling hits new snag
| • | Gambling advocates, foes converging on Hawai'i |
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief
Gov. Ben Cayetano today tossed up a potentially insurmountable barrier to gambling proposals for this year, saying he wants to legalize gaming only if it is approved by the voters in the form of a constitutional amendment.
That could kill plans for gambling at the Legislature for this year because it takes a two-thirds vote by lawmakers to propose a constitutional amendment.
It is unclear whether gaming advocates could muster even a simple majority of the House and Senate in favor of gambling.
"I don't want to see the Legislature approve it in the form of a general law" that could be passed by a simple majority vote by lawmakers, Cayetano said. He said he wants the proposed constitutional amendment to spell out how many casinos would be allowed to operate and what forms of gambling would be legalized.
"General laws, once you pass them, you can change. You can start with a single casino now, and five years later you can open it up to multiple casinos," he said. "One of the big reasons that a place like Las Vegas has all kinds of problems is because they've got slot machines and gambling in everything, from grocery stores to service stations to McCarran airport."
With the legislative session starting next week, representatives of both sides of the issue are trying to firm up support in the Capitol.
