University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, February 18, 1987
5
State Senate bill requires few changes in liquor laws
Lawmakers say revisions still forthcoming
By JOHN BUZBEE
Staff writer
TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate preliminarily approved a liquor-by-the-drink bill yesterday that would leave many of the state's liquor regulations unchanged.
But legislators say more bills will follow that will bring Kansas liquor legislation.
The liquor-by-the-drink bill, which was passed on a voice vote after nearly two hours of debate, will head to the House today if the Senate gives its expected final approval.
"It may be argued that we will have more carnage and more alcholism because we will allow liquor by the drink in public places." Reilly said. "That is simply not true."
Kansas voters approved in November a constitutional amendment allowing liquor by the drink, and legislators say they want to enact the wishes of the voters as soon as possible.
"Neither the Kansas Legislature nor Kansans are going to let drinking get out of hand," said State Sen. Edwain Reilly, R-Leewardworth
Reilly is chairman of the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, which submitted the bill and is serving other liquor law changes.
But changing the state's complex and sometimes confusing liquor laws may be more controversial.
Reilly said his committee still would consider eliminating the state's minimum price markup for liquor dealers. The liquor-by-the-drink bill had a provision to eliminate the minimum markup, but that provision was killed in committee.
The current law sets a minimum price for liquor. Kansas Attorney General Bob Stephan said last week that he had not violated the Sherman Antitrust Act, violated the Sherman Antitrust Act,
State Alcoholic Beverage Control officials then said they would stop enforcing the law. But Gov. Mike Brown gave the ABC to continue enforcing it.
But Rilly said the minimum-markup amendment could jeopardize
An amendment to eliminate the minimum markup was defeated on November 29, 2013.
"I think it's time that this body be responsible and meet its legislative duty in clearing the air."
State Sen. Joe Warren, D-Maple City, said, "We have the governor saying one thing. We have the attorney general saying another.
"It could be devastating," he said. "We attempted to stay away from anything devastating because we don't want it happen to it when it leaves this body."
State Sen. Bill Morris, R-Wichita and vice chairman of the Federal and State Board of Finance.
don't want to saddle up liquor by the drink because I think the people want to get liuor by the drink soon."
State Sen. Jack Steinerg, D-Kansas City, said the amendment could hurt the state's economy because it would force small liquor stores out of
Really said his committee might submit minutes this week to the committee for other changes.
"We're talking about 1,600 to 2,000 jobs," he said. "I personally am not prepared to vote to wipe out those jobs."
Those could include eliminating the distinction between beer containing 3.2 percent alcohol and stronger beer, eliminating the reciprocal club system and eliminating the minimum markup.
Supporters of the amendment said it would be a courtesy to churches and to people who go to church on Sunday morning.
The bill now prohibits liquor from being sold from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. every day.
The Senate defeated another amendment that would have prohibited serving liquor before noon on Sundays.
But Reilly said the amendment would have hurt efforts to make the legislation more effective.
"Kansas has a future," he said.
"We don't need to cloud it any more than it has already been clouded."
Student Senate to open hearings for organizations wanting funds
Clarissa Birch, co-chairman of the committee, also circulated a paper
The Student Senate treasurer passed out budget proposals from eight revenue code groups at a finance Committee last night.
Board, $320,000; Associated Students of Kansas, $29,232.20; Douglas County Rape Victim Support Services, $3,245; Student Senate, $76,996.10; Jayhawk Course Source, $10,115; Daily Kansan, $109,890; KIKFM- FM, $32,057; and Lawrence Women's Transitional Care Services, $5,348
about the committee's financing philosophy.
Tom Woods, Senate treasurer, said that revenue code hearings would begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union and continue until 3:30 p.m. Each revenue code group will be given about 30 minutes to speak.
By a Kansan reporter
Groups that submitted budget proposals were: Transportation
The committee will not finance budget requests for pens, pencils, paper and staples unless the group needs the supplies for advertising purposes, the committee said.
Recreational Services. Robinson Operations and Graduate Student Executive Committee budget requests will also be heard, but their budgets were not distributed at the meeting.
Long-distance phone calls will not be financed, nor will expenses listed for a local phone and office rent, unless the group can show that it received such financing last year and keeps at least 20 office hours a week for student access.
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