The chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee called me to say that the Grocery Store Liquor License bill – HB 2697 – will not be worked by the Committee. I know that many of you have heard from your legislators, who have also called to give you the good news.
This means that the bill will sit in committee and die when the Legislature ends business in May. There is still a chance that someone might attempt to amend this issue or the strong beer issue into a different bill on the floor of the House when they are working bills next week. However, I am hopeful that even the legislators who would like to support the grocery stores and the convenience stores understand that these bills would need significant amendments.
This was the last week for regular committee meetings. Next week, the House and Senate will be working on the floor most of each day to try to work through all of the bills that have been passed by committees. Then, conference committees will meet to hash out the differences between Senate and House bills and they will again be voted on by each chamber. The Legislature will break around April 2 or 3 and come back at the end of April for the veto session.
PLEASE THANK THESE LEGISLATORS!!!
It is very important to thank the legislators on the House Commerce and Labor Committee for not passing HB 2697. Those committee members are: Steve Brunk, John Grange, Elaine Bowers, Phil Hermanson, Aaron Jack, Dan Kerschen, Joann Pottorff, Willie Prescott, Jill Quigley, Scott Schwab, Gene Suellentrop, Bill Wolf, Ron Worley, Louis Ruiz, Delia Garcia, Sean Gatewood, Bob Grant, Broderick, Henderson, Pat Maloney, Dale Swenson, Annie Tietze. Although Scott Schwab has said that he does support the grocery stores – even he was cooperative in not bringing the bill to a vote. He has said to me personally that he does not want to pass anything that will put his local stores – particularly Brian Flanery and Judy Ensminger – out of business.
This is also a good time to contact your own legislators to say that these bills have not come out of the House committees and that you would appreciate if they will keep their ears open for any rumors that these or other liquor issues will pop up on the floor.
Please take a moment to send these messages right now. If you have been corresponding with your legislators by e-mail – send them an e-mail. Or send them a personal note to: Representative ______________________, Kansas Statehouse, 300 SW 10th Street, Topeka, KS 66612.
It is so important for your legislators to know that you appreciate the good things that happen, and that you won’t only be calling them when things are looking bad.
Thank you all for your very hard work on these issues.
