The debate over Sunday liquorsales burned on Wednesday, where backers and detractors of a repeal of the states 80-year-old ban stated their cases to lawmakers, with rationale ranging from profit margins to libertarianism. <\/p>\n
The House Commerce Committee held an informational hearing on the bill by Rep. Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie, though no vote was taken. Regardless, dozens of witnesses testified on the bill in a packed hearing room. <\/p>\n
Dave Erickson, owner of DEricks Tower Liquors near Lake Vermilion said its frustrating to turn down customers year-round who stop in his adjoining bar and cant take a bottle of wine or six-pack home with them on a Sunday. <\/p>\n
As a bar owner, I hate seeing all the visitors, the tourists if you will, come to Minnesota and not be able to enjoy what they probably enjoy at home, Erickson said. <\/p>\n
In the midst of a struggling Iron Range economy, where hundreds of miners were just laid off, This would be just one little thing for a little economic growth, he said. <\/p>\n
Other liquor store owners, like Terry Furlong, owner of Furlongs liquor in Oakdale, say staying open seven days a week will only create more costs without the profits. <\/p>\n
Our current regulations are a fine balance between the desires of consumers, public health and public safety, he said. <\/p>\n
Loons Sunday sales bill, like many of its House and Senate companions, failed to receive a hearing before committee deadlines passed, and there is no full Sunday sales repeal in the House liquor reform billthough its possible that it may come up as a floor amendment when the bill is debated on the House floor. <\/p>\n
Loon thanked Committee Chair Rep. Joe Hoppe, R-Chaska, for giving the bill a hearing, although absent a vote. She said she respects the opinions of liquor store owners that do not want a repeal in the interests of having a day off, but added that her measure would not force stores to be open. (Liquor store owners insist they would have to remain open to keep up with competition.) <\/p>\n
This is not such an easy cut-and-dried issue, she said. Its not my goal to say that every small business who sells liquor has to be open on Sunday. I would never say that. This is just to give other businesses that opportunity. <\/p>\n
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Sunday liquor sales debate burns on in House, absent a committee vote<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The debate over Sunday liquorsales burned on Wednesday, where backers and detractors of a repeal of the states 80-year-old ban stated their cases to lawmakers, with rationale ranging from profit margins to libertarianism. The House Commerce Committee held an informational hearing on the bill by Rep. Continue reading