Menu
Log in

kansas association of beverage retailers

Log in

News

News of interest to Kansas retailers.  You must log in to submit comments.   
  • Wednesday, November 09, 2016 3:08 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Unofficial Election Results for Kansas statewide races:          

    (At this time, there are still precincts that are not recorded, so these are unofficial results.)

    The changes that began in the primary elections have carried over to the general election, although Democrats did not experience as many wins in the Senate as some had predicted. As of the results around 2:30 a.m., Democrats picked up one seat in the Senate – Lynn Rogers has won the district held by retiring Senator Michael O’Donnell (R-Wichita).  Two others appear very close with some precincts not final – Denning and Pilcher-Cook.

    Democrats appear to have gained 14 seats in the House of Representatives – better than predicted. If the numbers hold, there will be additional Democrats on each House committee.

    KANSAS SENATE

    Senator Dennis Pyle (R) retains his seat, winning over Rep.Jerry Henry

    Senator Marci Francisco (D) retains her seat, winning over Meredith Richey

    Senator Tom Holland (D) retains his seat, winning over Echo Van Meteren by only 2%

    Senator Steve Fitzgerald (D) retains his seat, winning overBill Hutton by only 2%

    Senator Pat Pettey (D) retains her seat, winning over Libertarian Jason Conley

    Senator Barbara Bollier (R) wins over Megan England.  Bollier is currently a Representative

    Senator Jim Denning (R) leading vs. Don McGuire to keep his seat in a close challenge

    Senator Julia Lynn (R) retains her seat, winning over Chris Morrow

    Senator Mary Pilcher Cook (R) leading to retain her seat vs. Vicki Hiatt in a close race

    John Skubal (R) defeats Skip Fannen

    Senator Caryn Tyson (R) retains her seat, defeating Christopher Johnston

    Senator Jake LaTurner (R) retains his seat, defeating Lynn Grant

    Bruce Givens (R) defeats Mark Pringle

    Dan Goddard (R) defeats Chuck Schmidt

    Senator Ty Masterson (R) retains his seat, defeating Gabriel Costilla

    Senator Jeff Longbine (R) retains his seat, defeating Susan Fowler

    Senator Laura Kelly (D) retains her seat, defeating a close challenge by former senator Dave Jackson (4%)

    Senator Anthony Hensley (D) retains his seat, defeating Zach Haney

    Senator Vicki Schmidt (R) retains her seat, winning over Candace Ayars

    Dinah Sykes (R) hangs on to win over Heley and Kerner.  She defeated Senator Smith in the primary.

    Senator Rob Olson (R) retains his seat, winning over Spencer Kerfoot

    Randall R. Hardy (R) defeats Donald R. Merriman

    Lynn W. Rogers (D) defeats Jim Price

    Senator Dan Kerschen (R) retains his seat, winning over Benjamin Poteete

    Rep. Gene Suellentrop (R) wins his race over Tony Hunter and will move from the House to the Senate.

    Senator Mike Petersen (R) retains his seat in a race that looked very close early in the evening, defeating Keith Humphrey by 4%

    Senator Susan Wagle (R) retains her seat, winning over Anabel Larumbe

    Senator Carolyn McGinn (R) retains her seat, defeating J.Michelle Vann

    Larry W. Alley (R) retains her seat, defeating Don Shimkus

    Mary Jo Taylor (R) defeats Matt Bristow

    Edward E. Berger (R) defeats Homer L. Gilson

    Senator Richard Wilborn (R) retains his seat, defeating Levi Morris

    Senator Elaine Bowers (R) retains his seat, defeating Brian Angevine

    Senator Molly Baumgardner (R) retains her seat, defeating Kevin King

    Rep. Bud Estes (R) defeats Miguel Angel Rodriguez.  Estes is currently in the House of Representatives.

    Rep. John Doll (R) defeats A. Zacheriah Worf.  Doll is currently in the House of Representatives.

    Rep. Rick Billinger (R) defeats Alex Herman.  Billinger is currently in the House of Representatives.

    HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    Dist. 3    Monica Murnan (D) defeats Rep. Chuck Smith (R)

    Dist. 5    Rep. Kevin Jones (R) beats Doug Walker

    Dist. 6    Rep. Jene Vickrey (R) defeats Christy Levings

    Dist. 8    Patty Markley (R) defeats Ben Chociej

    Dist. 9    Rep. Kent Thompson (R) defeats Patrick McMurray (L)

    Dist. 12 Doug Blex (R)defeats Jean Kurtis Schodorf

    Dist. 14 Rep. Keith Esau (R) defeats Merlin Ring  ??

    Dist. 15 Erin Davis (R) defeats R. Paul McCorkle

    Dist. 16 Cindy Holscher (D) defeats current Rep. Amanda Grosserode (R) 

    Dist. 17 Tom Cox (R) defeats Helen Stoll

    Dist. 18 Cindy Neighbor(D) defeats Eric Jenkins.  Neighbor is a former Representative.

    Dist. 19 Rep. Stephanie Clayton (R) defeats Elizabeth Meitl and John Taube

    Dist. 20 Jan Kessinger (R)defeats Chirstopher McQueeny

    Dist. 21 Jerry Stogsdill (D) defeats Dorothy Hughes

    Dist. 23 Rep. Linda Gallagher (R) defeats Amber Versola

    Dist. 24 Rep. Jarrod Ousley (R) defeats Rob Johnson

    Dist. 25 Rep. Melissa Rooker (R) defeats Matt McCann

    Dist. 26 Rep. Larry Campbell (R) defeats Cheron Tiffany

    Dist. 27 Sean Tarwater Sr. (R) defeats Larry Miller

    Dist. 29 Brett Parker (D) defeats Rep. James Eric Todd

    Dist. 30 Rep. Randy Powell (R) defeats Darla Graham

    Dist. 36 Rep. Kathy Wolfe-Moore (D) defeats Kevin Braun

    Dist. 38 Rep. Willie Dove (R) defeats Mike Fonkert and Frederick Caleb Cristopher

    Dist. 39 Shelee Brim (R) defeats Angeliina Lawson

    Dist. 40 Debbie Deere (D) defeats Rep. John Bradford(R)

    Dist. 41 Jeff Pittman (D)defeats Rep. Tony Barton(R)

    Dist. 42 Jim Karleskint (R) defeats Kara Reed

    Dist. 44 Rep. Barbara Ballard (D) defeats Michael Lindsey

    Dist. 45 Rep. Tom Sloan (R) defeats Terry Manies

    Dist. 47 Ronald Ellis (R)defeats Michael Caddell

    Dist. 48 Rep. Marvin Kleeb (R) defeats Sandy Ackerson

    Dist. 49 Rep. Scott Schwab (R) defeats Darnell Hunt

    Dist. 50 Rep. Fred Patton (R) defeats Chris Huntsman

    Dist. 51 Rep. Ron Highland (R) defeats Adrienne Olejnik

    Dist. 53 Jim Gartner (D)defeats Richard Kress

    Dist. 54 Rep. Ken Corbet (R) wins over Renae Hansen

    Dist. 56 Virgil Weigel (D)takes back his former House seat from Rep. Lane Hemsley

    Dist. 60 Mark Schreiber(R) defeats William Ballard

    Dist. 61 Francis Awerkamp (R) defeats Lauren Van Wagoner

    Dist. 63 John Eplee (R)defeats W. Brett Neibling

    Dist. 66 Rep. Sydney Carlin (R) defeats Stanley Hoerman

    Dist. 68 Dave Baker (R)defeats Laura Blevins

    Dist. 69 Rep. J.R. Claeys (R) defeats Gerrett Morris by a narrow margin – 163 votes

    Dist. 70 Rep. John Barker (R) defeats Jo Schwartz

    Dist. 71 Rep. Diana Dierks (R) defeats Jeffrey Zamrzla and Joey Frazier

    Dist. 72 Tim Hodge (D) defeats Rep. Marc Rhoades by 2% - 220 votes

    Dist. 73 Rep. Les Mason (R) defeats Terrance Krier

    Dist. 76 Eric Smith (R) defeats Teresa Briggs

    Dist. 78 Rep. Ron Ryckman (R) defeats Jason Darby

    Dist. 80 Anita Judd-Jenkins (R) defeats Michelle Schiltz

    Dist. 81 Rep. Blake Carpenter (R) defeats James McCluer

    Dist. 82 Rep. Pete DeGraaf (R) defeats Danette Harris

    Dist. 83 Rep. Henry Helgerson (D) defeats M. Lewis Ackerman

    Dist. 85 Rep. Chuck Weber (R) defeats Patty Beamer

    Dist. 86 Rep. Jim Ward (D)defeats Christopher Drake and James Pruden

    Dist. 87 Roger Elliott (R)defeats Tonya Howard and Marco Giorgi

    Dist. 88 Elizabeth Bishop (D) beats Rep. Joseph Scapa (R)

    Dist. 90 Rep. Steve Huebert (R) defeats Lou Cicirello

    Dist. 93 Rep. John Whitmer (R) defeats Deb Shepard

    Dist. 94 Leo Delperdang (R) defeats Susan K. Osborne

    Dist. 95 Rep. Tom Sawyer (D) wins a close race over Michael Capps

    Dist. 97 Rep. Les Osterman (R) defeats Stan Reeser

    Dist. 98 Steven Crum (D) defeats Rep. Steven Anthimedes. 

    Dist. 100 Rep. Dan Hawkins (R) defeats Glen Shafer

    Dist. 101 Rep. Joe Seiwert (R) defeats Clifton Beck

    Dist. 102 Patsy Terrell (D) defeats Rep. Jan Pauls (R)

    Dist. 104 Rep. Steven Becker (R) defeats Betty Taylor

    Dist. 105 Brenda Landwehr (R) defeats Cammie Funston.  Landwehr is a former legislator.

    Dist. 106 Clay Aurand (R) defeats Todd Frye.  Aurand is a former legislator.

    Dist. 108 Rep. Steven Johnson (R) defeats Kelley Menke

    Dist. 111 Eber Phelps (D) former Representative – defeats Rep.Sue Boldra to take back the seat.

    Dist. 116 Rep. Kyle Hoffman (R) defeats Jolene Roitman

    Dist. 119 Bradley Ralph defeats Daniel Love

    Dist. 120 Adam Smith (R) defeats Bonita Peterson

    Dist. 121 Rep. Mike Kiegerl (R) defeats Jason Graff

    FEDERAL RACES

    The 45th President is Donald J. Trump (R)

    Senator Jerry Moran (R) retains his U.S. Senate seat over Wiesner and Garrard.

    Roger Marshall (R) wins U.S. House District 1 over LaPolice and Burt.  Defeated Huelskamp in primary.

    Representative Lynn Jenkins (R) retains her U.S. House District 2 position over Potter and Bales.

    Representative Kevin Yoder (R) retains U.S. House District 3, over Sidie and Hohe in the closest U.S. House race in KS.

    Representative Michael Pompeo (R) retains U.S. House District 4, over Giroux, Allen and Bakken.

    It appears that all of the Supreme Court Justices have retained their judicial positions in spite of an aggressive campaign to kick out at least four of them.

    And finally – the constitutional amendment to protect hunting and fishing rights passed handily.


  • Monday, October 24, 2016 3:52 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

                                  

    KABR is giving  you the tools to Stand Up for Small Business.  The key is to support the candidates who support you.  MAKE IT COUNT!  With the polls running very close in a number of races, your vote matters.  And this is the time of year when elected officials and candidates are most eager to hear from you.

    Click here for a list of candidates on the ballot and where they stand on our issues (if we know).  Many of our friends are facing fierce challengers and they need your help!   For step by step instructions - read more at this link. 


  • Sunday, September 25, 2016 11:02 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    KABR expects to face our toughest battle against Uncork during the next legislative session.  This means that what retailers do between now and the General Election in November will be key to our success or failure next year.  Many of our loyal friends in the Legislature are retiring - so, we can't sit back to "see what happens"!  Legislators (especially new ones) are not likely to ignore the Big Box offer to add $40 million to the state budget - in spite of its falsehood - unless they have been educated by their local businesses.

    The KABR Annual Conference and Legislative Events has been organized to support our fight for small businesses - we will meet with legislators at the Friday Reception and the Saturday Legislative Luncheon.  Please RSVP today!

    Get more out of these events by bringing your checkbook, and it will be an informal fundraiser for those who attend the Reception from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday at Blarney Stone Pub.  We must support the legislators who support us, so please plan to participate by attending or sending a contribution through KABR.  Senate contributions are limited to $1000.  House of Representatives contributions are limited to $500.  Any level is appreciated by the candidates.  

    The KABR Conference and Legislative Luncheon is an effective opportunity to educate legislators and show them the importance of their locally owned retail businesses.  You will also learn which legislators have supported our Kansas owned liquor stores.  Our annual luncheons have created wonderful partnerships with many legislators.  In order for these efforts to continue to be successful, retailers must show up.  (This is also a good opportunity to give a contribution to key legislators.)

    We will also present first hand information about the efforts in neighboring states Oklahoma and Colorado to expand liquor sales to the grocery and convenience stores  and how that may impact the issue in Kansas.

    Other important weekend events include the Retailers/Employees Training, Awards Dinner, and Annual Business Meeting.

    Please register now to attend:   Register Online


  • Friday, September 16, 2016 4:24 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

                           


    KABR is giving  you the tools to Stand Up for Small Business.  The key is to support the candidates who support you.  MAKE IT COUNT!  With the polls running very close in a number of races, your vote matters.  And this is the time of year when elected officials and candidates are most eager to hear from you

    Click here to read the chart for a list of candidates on the ballot and where they stand on our issues (if we know).  Many of our friends are facing fierce challengers and they need your help!

    KABR is providing the step-by-step formula for a winning future – and we know it works!  KABR is doing the research to help you make informed choices for the elections.  The strategy is simple – we must support legislators and candidates who support us – please act now.  Legislative candidates cannot win without financial contributions, campaign signs, and volunteers to help with fundraisers and campaigning.  What to do:

    1. Pay your dues to KABR and attend the October 7-9, 2016 Wichita Conference.  Info at http://kansasretailer.org
    2. Establish your budget for campaign contributions for the 2016 Kansas Elections.  How much can you afford to give each week or every two weeks through the General Election November 8?   Can you host a fundraiser?  Post a message in support for your preferred candidate on Facebook?  Put up a campaign sign at your store and your home?
    3. Begin with your local House of Representatives race and Senate race.  If you have a supportive Representative and/or Senator who is running, contact them now.  Confirm their support.  Please make the maximum contribution you can afford and offer to post a campaign sign in your yard and/or at your store.  Your store and your home may be in different election districts and we encourage you to be involved in all of these races. You can and should contribute up to the maximum limit in both the primary election and the general election.  Find your legislators at http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/  or you can easily find your district by looking up your voter registration - see instructions at the bottom of this message.
    4. Contribute to and support legislative leaders and committee chairs who support us.  Contribute to and support other candidates across the state.  A list is available from the KABR Office 785-969-1617.
    5. Share information with KABR about the candidates you know.  Verify that current supporters still stand with us and talk to new candidates to gain their support.
    6. Remember to always have a conversation with the candidate(s) and be sure to include your name, address, phone number and email when sending contributions.  Reach out to them through telephone, email or show up at events.  Ask to be included on their mailing list.  


    AND DON'T FORGET - THE GENERAL ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 8, so it is very important to reach out to those candidates before November.  You will receive more information about those candidates in the near future.

    *****************************************************************

    ELECTION INFO

    Check your voter registration:  Click this link or copy and paste into your browser for important information about your ballot  https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView/RegistrantSearch.do   – you can view your ballot!

    Simply enter your county, name and birthdate to see the address of your polling place, the districts you live in, and your voting history.  Under Sample Ballots, click on the underlined color letters of your precinct ballot.  You can see all of the choices you will make in the voting booth. 

    Contacts:             Brian Davis, KABR President – 316-990-1425   Email President 

                                    Amy Campbell, lobbyist – 785-969-1617    Email Lobbyist


  • Friday, June 24, 2016 8:16 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    Legislators adjourned the Special Session this evening around 8:25 p.m. after the Senate approved a bipartisan bill on a vote of 38-1 to solve the K-12 equity funding issue.  The House of Representatives approved the bill - Sub. for HB 2001 - 116-6 around 7:06 p.m.  

    The substitute bill was crafted on Friday with the collaboration of House moderate Republicans when it became clear that the original versions of SB 1 and HB 2001 would not have enough votes to pass.

    Leaders had initially crafted a plan that would redistribute existing school funds in order to meet the equity demands of the Supreme Court.  The original plan would have taken .5% of schools' general state aid to achieve a balance between rich and poor districts in addition to taking from the extraordinary needs fund and shifting Children's Initiatives Funds / tobacco settlement funding and holding Pre-K programs harmless by inserting federal TANF (temporary assistance to needy families) funds.

    The plan that was adopted will use different sources to come up with a similar equity formula and avoid cutting schools' base budgets.  This doesn't mean that all schools will be net winners at the end of the day, but attorneys for four school districts that were plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case have agreed that this will resolve the equity issue.

    Sub. for HB 2001 distributes $38 million to school districts from the following sources:

    • $2.8 million cut to virtual school aid
    • $7.3 million sweep from the K-12 extraordinary needs fund
    • $4.1 million sweep from Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (to replace Pre- funding that would have come from the tobacco settlement)
    • $10.5 million from state’s tobacco settlement
    • $13 million from the sale of the Kansas Bioscience Authority*

    *If the KBA sale comes up short, an addition $8 million will come from the extraordinary needs fund and another $5 million will come from KDOT’s motor vehicle fee fund.

    Below is an article from Kansas.com by Bryan Lowry with more information:


    Brownback says he will sign school finance plan passed by lawmakers   

    http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article85793822.html

    Bill would send $10.3 million in additional aid to Wichita school district

    Plaintiff districts think bill meets equity standard

    Plan would use sale of Kansas Bioscience Authority for school finance fix

    BY BRYAN LOWRY    blowry@wichitaeagle.com

    Gov. Sam Brownback says he will sign a school finance bill that passed both chambers of the Kansas Legislature on Friday night with overwhelming bipartisan support.

    Brownback, lawmakers and school officials all hope the measure will eliminate any possibility of a school shutdown next month and satisfy a Kansas Supreme Court order for more equitable school funding.

    The bill will steer more than $10 million in additional aid to the Wichita school district, and the district’s attorneys submitted a signed letter to lawmakers saying they won’t contest the bill in court.

    Lawmakers and school districts both declared victory, suggesting that the issue of whether Kansas schools are equitably funded is settled for now.

    “Even plaintiffs’ attorneys agreeing for the first time in the known history of school finance litigation that the Legislature has fully complied, that’s pretty good,” said Senate Vice President Jeff King, R-Independence, who served as the state’s attorney in a previous school finance case.

    The plan was crafted after a coalition of Republicans balked at leadership’s original plan, which would have imposed a 0.5 percent cut to all school districts’ general state aid in order to pay for a financial fix to inequities identified by the Kansas Supreme Court. The new plan does not include the cut.

    HB 2001 passed the House by a vote of 116-6. An hour later, it passed the Senate by a vote of 38-1.

    “I will sign it, and this will be finished,” Brownback said, noting that Wichita school district and other plaintiff districts that have sued the state over school funding since 2010 supported the bill.

    Their attorney, Alan Rupe, confirmed in an e-mail that the plaintiff districts have agreed to file a joint stipulation with the court saying the bill meets the equity standard.

    The court still needs to rule on whether Kansas schools are adequately funded in the future.

    “While plaintiffs view this as a victory, we are also mindful that this is just one aspect of the overall case,” Rupe said. “One down, one to go.”

    The plan will steer proceeds from the sale of the Kansas Bioscience Authority to the school finance fix, an idea that attracted support from moderate Republicans and Democrats who objected to House leaders’ initial plan.


    “Everybody ought to be just warm and fuzzy about it,” House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, joked about the compromise plan.

    Lawmakers enabled Brownback to sell off the assets of the Bioscience Authority, which oversaw investment in the biotech sector, earlier this year.

    The pending sale is estimated to bring in $25 million, but if the sale surpasses that mark, up to $13 million could be used to give extra aid to poor school districts, allowing lawmakers to avoid a cut to all districts’ general fund budgets.

    However, Brownback said he does not expect the Bioscience Authority sale to beat its estimates. That means alternative sources of funding will likely have to be used.

    “I wouldn’t be particular confident of that at all. But there’s another piece in if it doesn’t click in,” Brownback said. “That’s not the sort of estimates I’ve been seeing as far as the price tag on KBA, but who knows. I just wouldn’t be confident it’s going to come in higher than $25 (million).”

    If the sale comes up short, the bill would allow the state to empty the K-12 extraordinary needs fund, a pool of money meant to help districts cope with unforeseen costs. Another $5 million can be taken out of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s motor vehicle fee fund, which otherwise goes to highway projects, if the Bioscience Authority sale misses the mark.

    Despite the uncertainty around the Bioscience Authority sale, the plan attracted a broad base of support.

    “Yes, I can live with this,” said Rep. Melissa Rooker, R-Fairway, one of the main lawmakers who pushed for alternatives to the original bill.

    “The main thing is we protected the classroom, which was the key,” she said. “The sources of funding are never easy, whichever direction we’re going at this point, but I do like the fact that I think we have a compromise that I think will have plenty of support.”

    The Senate waited until it received a signed letter from the districts’ attorneys stating that fact until it began debate on the bill.

    “We want the signature of their attorney. … Not that I don’t trust them, but I don’t trust them,” said Sen. Jeff Melcher, R-Leawood.

    The bill would bring in nearly $10.3 million to the Wichita school district. A little more than half of that would go toward property tax relief for Wichita residents.


    “We lost over $17 million in state aid the last two years. Our property taxpayers have paid higher taxes. They deserve having a tax reduction,” said Diane Gjerstad, a spokeswoman for the Wichita school district.

    In addition to the tax relief, the bill gives the district $4.5 million in capital outlay aid that Gjerstad said would give it “a little breathing room” to “fund the brick and mortar of schools.”

    A total of 169 school districts will see net gains in their state funding through the plan. Another 77 districts will see net losses, but they will lose less than they would have under the leadership’s original plan. And 40 districts will see no change in their funding.

    Todd White, the superintendent of the Blue Valley school district, said the bill was much better than the one lawmakers entered Topeka with the previous day and credited that collaboration between school officials and lawmakers.

    “There were a lot of people who participated at various levels to make sure we were going to have the best opportunity to have schools open on July 1,” he said.

    Conservatives, moderates and Democrats all embraced the plan, a rare occurrence in Topeka.

    “I think this is a fabulous spirit of collaboration, bipartisan agreement,” said Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore, D-Kansas City.

    “Nobody wants to close schools,” Rep. Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said before the House debate. “I think this is a good compromise. … There’s things that people don’t like in there, but everybody can get behind it. And I think that’s what’s happening right now. Everybody’s getting behind it and saying, ‘Hey, we can do this.’ ”

    Some Republican lawmakers had initially bristled at the prospect of the special session and even suggested a few weeks ago that the Legislature defy the court.

    A handful of members still felt that way Friday evening. Rep. John Rubin, R-Shawnee, opined that lawmakers had sent a message that the Legislature is subservient to the court.

    For the most part, however, lawmakers embraced the need to craft a solution and do it quickly.

    “I believe the legislators realized the seriousness of the situation,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita. “They didn’t want schools closed, and it was a relatively small amount of money. And we clearly wanted to resolve the problem.”

    Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article85793822.html#storylink=cpy



  • Monday, June 20, 2016 3:21 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    (6-20-16)  The Kansas Legislature returns to Topeka for a Special Session Thursday, June 23.  Legislators will attempt to resolve the recent Kansas Supreme Court decision ordering changes to the funding plan for K-12 schools.  While some legislators prefer to move funds around to meet the Court’s order to provide more equitable funding distribution between wealthy and poor school districts, others suggest that $38 million should be added to the formula.  This is no small challenge in a year that State revenues continue to come in below agency forecasts.   

    UnCork Kansas hopes to gain new traction for their proposal to generate extra funds by paying enhanced liquor license fees in order to sell strong beer, wine and spirits.  They claim their proposal would raise $40 million. 

    This is a significant threat to Kansas small businesses and all retailers should be in contact with their legislators.   Keep us informed of your communications. 

    KABR will be attending the legislative meetings of the Special Session and will keep you informed through our e-newsletters.


  • Sunday, May 15, 2016 2:16 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Dozens of measures rushed to Gov. John Hickenlooper's desk in final hours

    By John Frank and Joey Bunch
    The Denver Post

    May 11, 2016 - On the final day of the legislative session, Colorado lawmakers forged what they believe is a grand compromise to modernize the state's Prohibition-era liquor laws.

    "We're changing 83 years of law in the last hours of the session, hoping for the best," said House Speaker Pro Tem Dan Pabon, a Denver Democrat.

    The legislation — approved by the House and Senate in overwhelming votes Wednesday — would allow a limited expansion of liquor, wine and full-strength beer sales at more grocery and convenience stores.

    Rep. Don Coram, left, who had dressed up for a skit, gives a parting hug to Rep. Lois Court during the annual end-of-session skits called Hummers on the

    Rep. Don Coram, left, who had dressed up for a skit, gives a parting hug to Rep. Lois Court during the annual end-of-session skits called Hummers on the last day of the legislature at the State Capitol on Wednesday. Court is term-limited and will be running for the Senate. Nine senators and 15 representatives said their goodbyes as the 70th General Assembly came to a close. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

    The last-minute push is intended to blunt a potential ballot question in November to allow broader beer and wine sales. But even as lawmakers began popping bottles in celebration, its future remained unclear.

    Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat and former brewpub owner, has expressed reservations about the legislation, recently suggesting he would "tend to favor the status quo."

    And the organization behind the ballot question, Your Choice Colorado, responded to the bill's passage with indignation, threatening to continue its efforts or file a lawsuit.

    The organization objects to the limits in the legislation, such as the delay of full-strength beer sales to 2019 and restrictions on grocery sales within 1,500 feet of a current liquor store.

    "Instead of fixing an antiquated law, the legislature failed Colorado consumers, jamming together a last-minute bill that masquerades as a compromise," said Georgie Aguirre-Sacasa, the organization's campaign manager.

    Sen. Pat Steadman, a Denver Democrat who helped craft the deal, suggested the opposition is bluffing. "Their appetite for going ahead with their ballot initiatives is greatly exaggerated at the moment," he said.

    The heavy lift on the 120th day contrasted a session that saw little movement on most top priorities, such as more money for road construction and deeper budget reforms.

    Still, lawmakers spent the last hours rushing dozens of bills to the finish line.

    Among the legislation to win approval: a measure to allow out-of-state investors to own marijuana shops, another to significantly cut the license fees for distillers and liquor wholesalers, a bill that removes outdated criminal penalties on people with HIV, another to permit the state to invest public school money in higher-yield but riskier investments.

    A last-minute dispute on a pair of bills to allow more leniency for juveniles serving life sentences in prison complicated the picture. But lawmakers managed to pass legislation to reduce the sentence mandates and permit a select group to participate in a program aimed at making the case for clemency.

    Despite the ticking clock, the House and Senate found time to honor the Super Bowl championDenver Broncos.

    The session's end regressed to a school's-out-for-summer mood, as lawmakers packed boxes and pulled pranks and the House Republicans roasted the chamber's Democratic leaders.

    In the Senate, Lakewood Democrat Andy Kerr prefaced his presentation of Senate Bill 183 with this request: "Please do not shoot any more rubber bands at me," he said, as colleagues fired a torrent of colorful loops from their bill folders.

    Nine senators and 15 representatives said their goodbyes.

    The session adjourned just hours before the midnight deadline, marked by the drop of a rubber-band ball in the Capitol rotunda.

    See article online at http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29880916/colorado-lawmakers-strike-deal-booze-bill-session-ends 

    John Frank: 303-954-2409, jfrank@denverpost.com or @ByJohnFrank


  • Friday, April 29, 2016 2:27 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    Big retailers would pay $200,000 to the state for an initial liquor license

    Uncork Kansas says its plan would generate $40 million for the state

    BY EDWARD M. EVELD  eeveld@kcstar.com      TOPEKA 

    A group that backs bringing liquor sales to Kansas grocery and convenience stores is offering lawmakers a plan to raise $40 million at a time when the state needs to close a $290 million budget shortfall.

    Uncork Kansas says the stores would be willing to pay as much as $200,000 each for an initial state license to sell beer, wine and spirits. For smaller stores, the initial license would be $10,000.

    “Our customers are ready for this change, and we’re pleased to bring this free market solution to the governor and Legislature knowing it will infuse the Kansas budget with much needed cash,” said Jessica Lucas, spokesperson for Uncork Kansas, said in a statement.

    Under current law, only liquor stores in Kansas are allowed to sell full-strength beer, wine and spirits.

    Grocery and convenience stores are limited to selling 3.2 percent beer.

    Tuck Duncan, a lobbyist for the Kansas Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association, an organization that opposes wine and liquor in grocery stores, called the proposal “a blatant bribe” and that enacting it would be detrimental to small retailers.

    The Uncork group is calling the offer the “Uncork Kansas Free Market Budget Bailout.” After the initial license buy-in, annual licensing fees would generate about $6.5 million a year to the state, Lucas said.

    Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article74640347.html#storylink=cpy

  • Friday, April 29, 2016 2:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    A man carries a case of beer as products from Coors, Miller and Anheuser-Busch are stacked in a grocery store Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Enlarge photo

    Associated Press

    April 29, 2016

    TOPEKA — A group of grocery and convenience stores in Kansas has proposed a new plan for expanding liquor sales, saying it would generate a $41 million cash infusion toward the state's budget deficit.

    The Wichita Eagle reports that the Uncork Kansas coalition is proposing that large retailers would be able to buy full liquor licenses directly from the state. That would eliminate current laws that limit them to selling beer with an alcohol percentage less than 3.2 percent.

    The new plan abandons earlier efforts that would've required big-box stores to buy liquor licenses of small businesses. Those businesses are currently the only stores in the state allowed to sell full-strength beer, wine and spirits.

    Uncork Kansas represents major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Dillons and Hy-Vee, and convenience stores, such as QuikTrip.

    Originally published at: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2016/apr/29/group-retailers-offers-new-plan-kansas-liquor-sale/


  • Thursday, April 28, 2016 1:47 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Friday, April 29 2016 - Uncork is proposing to buy into the Kansas liquor system and destroy hundreds of businesses and jobs currently occupied by Kansas taxpayers who are already paying property taxes, payroll taxes, income taxes and liquor taxes.

    Their inflated numbers pretend that there is no cost to their proposal and that liquor deregulation will sell more alcohol in Kansas.  They claim it could bring back liquor sales from Missouri, although the sales tax on groceries is lower in Missouri, the tax on alcoholic liquor is lower in Missouri, and the tax on fuel is lower in Missouri.

    Meanwhile, putting strong beer, wine and spirits into the big box stores will put liquor at the hands of underage workers and customers.

    The Legislature would need to create and adopt legislation in order for this to happen.  Currently, legislative leaders are pushing to end the 2016 Session as quickly as possible - with conference committees meeting multiple times a day to wrap up legislation that has already passed one chamber or another and leaders attempting to craft a palatable budget fix. 

    One time money for liquor deregulation is a cynical response to a serious State budget issue. 


Call Us:  785-969-1617

Email

Address:
P.O. Box 3842
Topeka | Kansas 66604-0842

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software