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Last updated on Thursday, February 12, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Once again the debate whether or not to allow Sunday alcohol sales in Indiana rages at the Statehouse.
The public policy committee overwhelmingly passed House Bill 1624 Wednesday, 10-2, sending it to the full House. The chair of that committee, Rep. Tom Dermody (R-LaPorte), is also the sponsor of the bill.
Amendments added to the legislation may be the 'poison pill' that will kill the bill moving forward.
"The liquor store lobby zinged us," said John Elliott, a spokesman for Kroger. The company is in favor of Sunday liquor sales.
The amendments added to House Bill 1624 restrict where grocery and convenience stores display alcoholic beverages. The legislation also requires employees be trained in selling those beverages, which those in the retail industry believe is a costly inconvenience.
"If this amendment gets in the bill, we have to oppose it," Grant Monihan, president of the Indiana Retail Council, said ahead of Wednesday's debate. "That's even more of an inconvenience to customers and we would have that inconvenience seven days a week."
The liquor store lobby, which supports the amendment, considers it "good public policy."
Dermody believes it's just the beginning of a discussion that he hopes will carry on through the legislative session.
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