Liquor lobbyists who support Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-48) booze bill were angered yesterday by a proposed amendment that would protect churches.
Rep. Curt Cobb (D-62) filed an amendment yesterday to force distilleries who sell liquor to abide by local ordinances that define how close to churches liquor can be sold. Local zoning laws approved by voters across the state prevent liquor and porn stores from locating near churches. As written, Rep. Carr’s booze bill would allow licensed liquor stills to locate wherever county manufacturing zoning allows.
Several conservative Republican representatives, including Rep. Maggart (R-45) and Rep. Lynn (R-57), filed amendments to exclude their counties from Rep. Carr’s booze bill because the bill doesn’t protect churches or the will of voters. Carr’s conservative colleagues felt they were protecting the values of their communities from a poorly written bill.
Rep. Kent Coleman (D-49) successfully added an amendment to the booze bill that gives voters the right to decide if they want liquor stills in their county. Rep. Carr fought the amendment unsuccessfully hoping to force counties to accept liquor stills whether they wanted them or not. Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34) also voted against the amendment.
The bill goes to the House floor for a vote next Wednesday.
So does this mean that Carr’s bill will allow whiskey cooking right next to my church?
These people are using him and flushing his career right down the toilet. And he’s going right along like someone getting jumped in to a gang.