Twin Cities Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog posts by tag - Sunday Saleshttps://www.minnesotaconnected.com/blog/Copyright MinnesotaConnected.com2022-10-28T07:14:20-07:00tag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15048Minnesota State Senate's Party Lines Blur as Liquor Laws Take Center Stage<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Growler-Sales-State-Senate.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-241508 aligncenter" alt="Growler Sales State Senate" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Growler-Sales-State-Senate.jpg" width="570" height="482" /></a>
On Monday the Teamsters Union nabbed an important win in their <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/teamsters-lobby-gets-dfl-leaders-to-quietly-kill-sunday-growler-sales-from-liquor-bill_218079/" target="_blank">push-back</a> against a popular provision to allow for Sunday growler sales in the Minnesota State Senate's liquor bill. All hope (for beer-lovers) seemed lost as the provision was <a href="http://kstp.com/news/stories/S3424264.shtml" target="_blank">officially stripped</a> in the Senate Tax Committee. It appeared destined to become yet another autumn election issue... at least it did until 25 Republicans and 18 DFLers decided to not play nice and resurrected it on the floor of the Senate.
Even so, the issue may prove too challenging for a simple majority to overcome.
Minnesota is one of the last remaining states that doesn't allow off-sale liquor sales on Sunday (meaning one can't buy a closed container and take it home). Andrew Schmitt of <a href="http://mnbeeractivists.com/" target="_blank">MN Beer Activists</a> has been working hard to get that changed, but unfortunately for him (and us) he has a lot of politicians to sway. Not only did the state Senate easily vote down the repeal, but so did the House last year with a majority of 106-21 (these numbers are far from reflecting the views of average Minnesotans on the matter). Schmitt shared some insights on this for Minnesota Connected:
"You have to keep in mind that there is decades of misinformation to overcome. Some very smart people actually believe the same old illogical talking points."
Although the allowance of general Sunday liquor sales appears to be a long way off, the prospect of growlers being sold on Sunday still has a chance (because of the Senate floor vote).
[caption id="attachment_189505" align="aligncenter" width="570"]<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Brau-Brothers-Gift-Store-Specials.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-189505 " alt="Brau Brothers Gift Store Specials" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Brau-Brothers-Gift-Store-Specials.jpg" width="570" height="430" /></a> Growler in a gift box on the right at Brau Brothers Taproom in Marshall, MN[/caption]
Growlers are a 64 ounce refillable jug that local craft breweries are allowed to sell straight out of their taprooms. They're environmentally friendly, convenient, delicious (usually) and perfectly sized for a small group of friends. Apparently they're also a big contract-renegotiating headache for the Teamsters Union (or so they say). To the Teamsters and their allies such as Rod Skoe (DFL-Clearbrook) and the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA), losing the battle on growlers could mean a slippery slope to all-out Sunday Sales (which are even less appetizing to the Teamsters). The stakes are quite high.
That's why, even though Monday the issue appeared to be put to bed, the resuscitation of growler sales on the floor meant so much. After the Senate body voted up the amendment (with a mix of support from both parties, but more-so Republican), Senator Jim Metzen (DFL-South St. Paul), the omnibus liquor bill's sponsor, quickly had his bill tabled (thus stopping discussion and voting on it for the time being).
Usually when a bill is tabled it means that it quietly drifts away from memory and dies; but in the case of the omnibus liquor bill there are a plethora of provisions that politicians and voters have intense interest in (including extending bar hours for the MLB All-Star Game and beer sales at TCF Stadium for Vikings games). Unless the state House of Representatives manages to send up a workable version of their bill (doubtful), the Senate's bill may not be allowed much rest. Its restlessness will also depend on the public uproar; Schmitt explained the importance of calling Senators and their reps if you have views on the issue:
"People like to blame lobbyists and special interests for politics going awry, but you have to get involved with the process if you want to have an impact. That means making phone calls, writing letters, voting in elections."
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/First-Avenue-to-Host-Beer-Rally-on-St.-Patrick’s-Day.png"><img class=" wp-image-182073 aligncenter" alt="First Avenue to Host Beer Rally on St. Patrick’s Day" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/First-Avenue-to-Host-Beer-Rally-on-St.-Patrick’s-Day.png" width="570" height="466" /></a>
This is a bi-partisan issue, but partisanship is still a problem. A <a href="http://www.mndaily.com/2012/09/18/poll-finds-minnesotans-want-sunday-liquor-sales" target="_blank">recorded</a> majority of Minnesotans want Sunday liquor sales; but if the issue doesn't sway enough of voters outside the party they're comfortable with then the debate holds little power. Schmitt:
"There isn't enough backlash in the voting booth. I think this will change in the very near future, people have had enough."
Whether voters have had their fill of political games and stonewalling on Sunday sales remains to be seen. But with the rise in popularity of our truly innovative craft breweries and wineries, it seems almost inevitable that the disruptive blue laws will eventually be filtered out.
Photos via: Brau Brothers Brewing Co -- Erik Bergs -- Minnesota Beer Activists
2014-05-06T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:13:49-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15122Teamsters Lobby Gets DFL Leaders to Quietly Kill Sunday Growler Sales From Liquor Bill<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Teamsters-Lobby-Gets-DFL-Leaders-to-Quietly-Kill-Sunday-Growler-Sales-from-Liquor-Bill.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-219715 aligncenter" alt="Teamsters Lobby Gets DFL Leaders to Quietly Kill Sunday Growler Sales from Liquor Bill" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Teamsters-Lobby-Gets-DFL-Leaders-to-Quietly-Kill-Sunday-Growler-Sales-from-Liquor-Bill.jpg" width="553" height="369" /></a>
Most of the time I have to settle for covering stories that involve beer or politics, but once in a blue moon these two cosmic bodies (that I spend way too much time thinking about) align into something distinctly interesting. Yet somehow an under-reported sleeper of a story involving such things almost missed my attention. Unfortunately the scoop isn't good: in short, the influential Teamsters Union has entered the "<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/events/first-avenue-to-host-beer-rally-on-st-patricks-day_182071/" target="_blank">Sunday Liquor Sales Debate</a> "on the wrong side.
Even though the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) possesses a majority in the state House and state Senate, it does not retain complete free will in terms of policy adjustments (but who does?); the Teamsters lobby (like many unions) has an uncanny ability to get elected officials of the DFL variety to acquiesce to their views.
This past week Ed Reynoso, the Teamster's Union political director, <a href="http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/04/11/teamsters-lobby-against-proposed-sunday-growlers-sales" target="_blank">pulled a few strings</a> with DFL leaders to stop the sale of growlers (a practice becoming popular in the taprooms of microbreweries around the state) on Sunday. He did this because an unnamed liquor distribution company, which employs some of his members, claims it would reopen contracts due to the legal changes made by the law.
Senate Tax Committee chair Rod Skoe (DFL-Clearbrook) appears to be one of those contacted. He was already against Sunday liquor sales in the first place and has claimed there is no need for any of the provisions of the liquor bill to be completed this year (which is the political way of saying he's going to bury it a filing cabinet and hope his constituents and Minnesota voters as a whole forget about it).
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Teamsters-Union-Grolwer-Debate.png"><img class=" wp-image-219716 aligncenter" alt="Teamsters Union - Grolwer Debate" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Teamsters-Union-Grolwer-Debate.png" width="570" height="394" /></a>
Except we aren't going to wait for next year or forget about it. It would mean there would be no liquor sales at TCF Bank Stadium for football games (remember who is playing there come fall?), it would mean brewery taprooms couldn't be open on Sunday and there would be no extension of bar hours in Minneapolis for the MLB All-Star Game.
But not all DFLers adhere to the pressure of the Teamster lobby. State Senator Roger Reinert (DFL-Duluth), a primary sponsor of the liquor bill (and its growler provision) and an overall advocate for Sunday liquor sales, informed Minnesota Public Radio on what he knew:
"I have been told that those provisions are problematic and unless I'm willing to take them out, which I'm not, then the bill is not moving forward," Reinert said.
There is also a liquor bill working its way through the House. There the bill is in even more fragile condition, so heavy lobbying could easily pick off the provisions pertaining to Sunday growler sales. The common conclusion is that the House will wait for the Senate's version.
<img class=" wp-image-182072 aligncenter" alt="Minnesota Liquor -Sunday-sales-first avenue event" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Minnesota-Liquor-Sunday-sales-first-avenue-event.jpg" width="553" height="553" />
The sad part is the provision for growler sales on Sunday possessed popular support from members of both parties; at least it did before the Teamster lobby stepped in. It's just another example of a good thing being undermined by undemocratic political pressure. I respect those with different opinions on Sunday liquor sales, but it shouldn't go down like this.
There is plenty of time before November elections. This issue does not have a clear partisan division, so if it matters to you then get informed about your candidate's views and get to the voting booth!
Photos via: Fulton Brewery -- MN Beer Activists
2014-04-14T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:14:20-07:00Erik Bergs