SALEM – The Oregon House on Wednesday was supposed to debate the merits of a bill that would allow brewpubs to offer Oregon Lottery video games without buying a second liquor license.

But several lawmakers used the opportunity to decry Oregon’s increasing reliance on gambling – and also the social ills caused by gambling addiction.

”We need to vote against every expansion of gambling,” said state Rep. Mitch Greelick, D-Cedar Mill.

”If brewpubs are struggling, should we give them a license to sell cocaine, or heroin or marijuana?” he said. ”These machines are cocaine to the potentially addicted gambler.”

Rep. John Lim, R-Gresham, said the lottery is a ”hidden tax” on the poor. ”We need to reverse the direction we are going.”

In a rebuttal, Rep. Vicki Berger, R-Salem, said critics were losing sight of what House Bill 2446 actually does.

The legislation, filed on behalf of small brewers and the state’s restaurant industry association, will reduce paperwork, she said. That’s it.

”This is about removing an unnecessary regulation on a small segment of our microbeer industry,” she said. ”It is not about gambling, it’s about regulatory streamlining.”

Under Oregon law today, brewpubs are not allowed to offer video lottery games. In order to install the games, owners of those establishments must buy a second license from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

The legislation passed by a 41-11 vote, and now moves to the Senate.