Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona today issued the following statement regarding the State House's decision to pass HB444: "The State House's last-minute political maneuvering is unfortunate for the people of Hawai`i who have voiced their support for traditional marriage.

"If the Legislature wanted to establish the equivalent of same-sex marriage, they should have put it on the ballot for the people to decide.

"This bill should not be allowed to become law."