Today’s Idaho Statesman had a nice collection of stories regarding Gov. Otter’s recommendations to the legislature.
Why the Otter camp negotiated with a guy who has stakes in over 20 liquor licenses is beyond me. The goal of the task force should have been to make Idaho’s liquor laws fair for everyone, not just those investing/speculating on government issued licenses.
I hate to fall into the frame of mind that says, “my God, these people are thinking way too much into this”, but that’s what seemed to have happened. Not to over simplify; but wouldn’t have made more sense to give tax credits to businesses who bought licenses on the secondary market up to the cost they paid for it? From there allow local governments decide on the issuing of new licenses.
Then allow the state to collect their usual taxes on booze and call it good — the state shouldn’t be rewarding/supporting people who made investments on government licenses. The current proposal supports people who gambled with government issued — it doesn’t do anything to level the playing field, unless you open up a full restaurant.
And yes, I’m sure there would need to be more details worked out — I’m just a guy with a pc and an internet connection — the common sense in me says that this would be a good starting point.
The ultimate goal should be to keep the state legislature out of it — the last thing I want is that group of people to be deciding on what the morality of this state should be. Section 24 of the Idaho Constitution should be removed — it, like our current set liquor laws is antiquated.
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