A new governor-backed proposal that would end Prohibition-era restrictions on liquor sales already has been greeted with mixed reactions.
For example, a on a Naugatuck Patch article show support for the proposal, which, among many recommendations, would allow package stores to open on Sunday, extend the hours of sales on liquor, eliminate the minimum price requirements and create a medallion system that would allow stores to sell the rights to their permit. See the first .pdf file for more information.
On the other hand, other people said easing the restrictions would force mom-and-pop stores to stay open on Sundays but not increase their revenue, proposing that the state instead look toward reducing the sales tax on liquor sales.
Gov. Dannel Malloy, who announced his plans to overhaul the state's liquor laws during at the , said the taxes also could be revisited in the future, according to an article by CT News Junkie.
While small independent liquor stores dominate the industry in the state, some of the sweeping changes being proposed by Malloy are likely to invite competition from larger stores, according to The Connecticut Mirror, which cites the proposed easing of ownership requirements that now allow for a maximum of two stores and under the plan would increase to up to nine stores.
Although some legislators have unsuccessfully attempted to lift the restrictions on liquor store sales on Sunday, this latest attempt is viewed as having a better chance because of the governor's backing. Connecticut and Indiana are the only states in the country to ban alcohol store sales on Sunday.
Also making headlines in the state was news that a Republican plan to drastically redraw U.S. Congress district lines – including moving towns such as Newtown from the Fifth Congressional District to the Fourth – appears headed for defeat.
Nathaniel Persily, a law professor who was appointed by the state Supreme Court to be the special master on redistricting, has recommended slight modifications to the existing congressional lines that is more in line with Democratic calls for few changes than the Republican plan for drastic shifts.
For instance, under the GOP plan, Democratic stronghold Bridgeport would have been moved from the Fourth to the Third Congressional District and towns with a solid Republican base, such as Newtown would be moved from the Fifth to the Fourth.
That configuration would have allowed Republicans a better shot at having one of their candidates face up against Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th)
House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero (R-Norwalk), who was one of the main advocates for the GOP plan, said he accepted Persily's recommendations and was ready to "move on from here," according to CT News Junkie.
See the second .pdf file for more details on Persily's draft report.
