House Republicans said that Democrats have refused to hear a proposed Constitutional Amendment that gives the people of Hawaii a permanent and definitive vote on the issue of gambling. The Republican bill proposes Constitutional question asking, "Shall all gambling, except social gambling, be prohibited in this State?"

"The public deserves an honest and fair review of gambling and they are simply not getting it," said Rep.

GOP members want this referendum on the November ballot; however, the bill needs to go through the Judiciary Committee before it can be considered for a ballot vote. "We have fooled around with this issue for too long," said Rep. Galen Fox. It's unfortunate the Judiciary Committee Chair decided not to hear this bill, because we need to make the decision and move onto the pressing issues the public wants us to address."