The issue of Sunday liquor sales is still alive at the state Capitol.
With time running out on the way toward the state-mandated adjournment at midnight May 5, supporters have been publishing full-page advertisements this week in favor of Sunday sales.
The Connecticut Food Association and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, known as DISCUS, have paid for the advertisements that say the legalization would lead to more jobs and more revenue for the state. But the Connecticut Package Stores Association, led by longtime lobbyist Carroll J. Hughes, has been winning the battle for years under the Gold Dome by saying that allowing the sales on Sunday will simply spread out the same volume over seven days instead of six.
With the idea placed as an amendment on various bills, Senate Republican leader John McKinney of Southport said he does not see the issue coming up in the final week.
The Sunday sales are “probably not going to be part of an overall budget solution” as the legislature tackles a projected deficit of $700 million in the next fiscal year, he said.
“It’s an extremely controversial issue,” McKinney said when asked by Capitol Watch in the Capitol press room.
“There are Republicans that support and oppose Sunday sales. There are Democrats that support and oppose Sunday sales,” McKinney said. “My caucus will split. [The Senate Democratic] caucus will split. You don’t end up with a bipartisan budget. That type of a controversial issue is better off for another year, where it can stand on its own merits and not as part of a budget.”
Those favoring Sunday sales have created a web site at www.ENDCTBLUELAWS.org
But Hughes has argued repeatedly that the Sunday liquor prohibition is a liquor law, not a blue law. The blue laws were outlawed years ago.
The legislature’s program review committee staff analyzed the issue late last year, saying that the sales should be allowed.
http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2009/12/program-review-staff-recommend.html