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House floor sees strong opposition to expanding legal gambling, members cite addiction and social harms
Summary
Several representatives spoke against legalizing expanded gambling, saying it preys on vulnerable people and is opposed by the attorney general, prosecutors and public-safety agencies; proponents were not prominent in the provided transcript segments.
Representative Pierrick and others stood in opposition to a measure to expand or legalize gambling, arguing it ‘‘preys on the vulnerable’’ and disproportionately harms low-income families.
Pierrick said the state should protect people rather than profit from their losses, and cited testimony and moral concerns. Representative Shimizu urged colleagues to note formal opposition from several officials and agencies recorded in testimony, including the attorney general, prosecuting attorneys, and the Honolulu Police Department, and emphasized scientific evidence about gambling addiction cited by the Department of Health.
Multiple representatives registered 'no vote' or reservations on related committee reports. The transcript captures impassioned floor remarks opposing the measure and requests to enter testimony into the record; the provided segments do not show a final floor vote on a standalone gambling measure.
