Second Day of March on State Capitol Begins With Message to State Legislators: 'Vote Yes on SB54'
Demonstrating growing support for legislation to update laws on sale of beer, wine and spirits, retailers and industry leaders from across Kansas come to Topeka
TOPEKA, Kan., March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To start the second day of a march on the Kansas State Capitol, employees, managers and store owners from grocery and convenience stores both large and small from across the state held a press conference today to ask their Senators to vote in favor of Senate Bill No. 54. The group, in tandem with the Coalition for Jobs and Choice (CJCC), will meet again today with members of the state legislature to voice their support for the legislation to update state regulations on the sale of beer, wine and spirits.
"There's no reason the government should protect one set of small business owners, while holding back the success of others," said Chris Darrah, owner of nine Dara's Fast Lane stores in Manhattan. "I know my business will be able to grow if we reform the law to allow convenience stores to sell full-strength beer, wine, and spirits. I'm just asking for the chance to compete on a level playing field."
An economic study by Dr. Art Hall finds that passage of SB 54 will throw a much needed lifeline to convenience and grocery stores in rural areas struggling to survive by creating thousands of jobs and millions in state and local revenue.
Troy Bailey, owner of Bailey's Food Bin in Claflin stated, "Some say that this will put liquor store owners out of business. This is not the case in many rural areas. The closest liquor store to Claflin is in Great Bend – about 20 miles away. Allowing my store to provide these products just gives me much needed revenue in a difficult economy and gives my customers increased convenience. No one is getting shut down. Customers simply won't have to drive an hour out of their way anymore."
Click here to read "An Economic Case for Increased Competition in the Sale of Beer, Wine, and Spirits in the State of Kansas" by Dr. Art Hall, Director of the Center for Applied Economics at the University of Kansas.
The Coalition for Jobs and Consumer Choice (CJCC) represents hundreds of companies and thousands of Kansans who recognize the immediate and positive impact that updated laws on the sale of beer, wine and spirits will have on the Kansas economy. To learn more, please visit CJCC's website at www.jobsforkansas.com.
SOURCE Coalition for Jobs and Consumer Choice
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