Sunday Sales Bill Dies
by Christine Stuart | Mar 11, 2010 3:25pm
(6) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: State Capitol
At the moment a bill that would allow package stores to open and sell alcohol on Sundays is dead.
Sen. John Kissel, a Republican from Enfield, said it died in the Program Review and Investigations Committee Thursday, “for lack of a vote.”
“I know how to count,” Kissel said Thursday in a phone interview.
He said even though he supports Sunday sales, he didn’t want to put his colleagues on the spot by making them vote one way or another.
“I don’t want to lock people into positions they may find themselves comfortable moving from in the future,” Kissel said.
He said there’s always a chance that the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee could include Sunday sales in a budget implementer bill. At the moment he’s comfortable with the $7.5 to $8 million in sales tax revenue Sunday sales could raise.
The current budget crisis could make the concept of Sunday sales more appealing to some, but others are still against it for safety reasons.
West Hartford Police Chief James Strillacci has said the additional sales may increase tax revenue, but selling more alcohol means “we are going to have more alcohol-related crimes.”
(6) Comments
posted by: streever | March 12, 2010 9:47am
totally lame. Both the officials and the police chief’s response.
If you allow Sunday sales, a more likely option is that the people who are out at bars drinking will be at home drinking on a Sunday.
The police chief makes it sound as if people are animals, unable to help themselves: the reality is that according to 50 years of research, people are “likely to behave as expected”: If we have police chiefs making blanket statements about alcohol leading to criminal behavior, than yes, that is what we will have. If we have a culture that embraces alcohol as a safe activity in MODERATION than that is what we will have.
posted by: DrHunterSThompson | March 12, 2010 10:12am
I laughed out loud when i read Strillacci’s comment. just too funny.
anyway, this is just so ridiculous. it has Donovan written all over it. check into the relationship between Donnovan and Caroll Hughes and i bet you find something to write about.
HST
posted by: res ipsa | March 12, 2010 10:27am
Kissel sold out-he’s an enabler who keeps guys like Carroll Hughes in power. A huge public disservice by Kissel by not making all members of this committee go on record with their vote. Talk about preserving Hartford’s corrupt polkitical culture. Career politicians, political class-we have it all.
posted by: City Hall Watch | March 12, 2010 11:01am
oh yes, please don’t make people actually vote so the public would actually know who stands in the way of repealing this non-competitive, public desired bill. Cries of more alcohol related crimes? Really? Does MA have an inordinate number of alcohol related crime on Sundays? The logic is as silly as it is specious.
posted by: mosley | March 12, 2010 4:48pm
What a terrible disservice by Kissel in not having an up or down vote on this. Kissel, no doubt is protecting his fellow legislators, whose constituents will be kept in the dark. all by design by the enabler, Sen. Kissel, who by these tactics continues the lack of accountibility to the voters. Shame on Kissel!!
posted by: thebpp | March 11, 2010 5:04pm
Simply Awful: “didn’t want to put his colleagues on the spot”... If you don’t want to take positions on controvercial issues, then don’t run for public office.
Even an idea as popular as allowing package and grocery stores to sell on a Sunday can’t see the light of day. What a bunch of cowards.