STAR, IDAHO — Speaker Mike Moyle has pushed his bill to uphold special liquor distributor agreements to the Senate, making the liquor division extend their agreement with the Merc through the end of March.
- The bill was read a third time on February 26th and passed in the House 66-1-3.
- With the bill continuing its process the Merc received a new extension in their agreement that will last through the end of March.
- For more information on this story refer to our previous articles on this issue.
- Many boo the loss of booze at the Star Merc
- So you're telling me there's a chance... Merc keeps selling liquor
(Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)
Let there be liquor! At least a little longer. I'm your Star neighborhood reporter Alexander Huddleston at the Star Merc, where their agreement with the state to sell liquor as a special distributor was set to expire at the end of the month. As lawmakers work to find a permanent solution for private businesses in similar situations, the Merc gets the green light to keep the sales going for now.
As managers at the Star Merc keep their eyes on the capitol, temporary relief as the state offers a month-long extension of their special distributors agreement, allowing them to continue selling liquor through the month of March.
"For us, it means a lot. it means we have a chance with all these other box stores and stuff, we can offer something different. that not everybody else can offer," said manager Nathan Day.
Day is hoping legislation introduced by representative Mike Moyle of Star, will eventually offer their locally owned shop the chance to keep selling liquor in Star despite the opening of a new state-run liquor store down the street.
Day explained, "I'm going to assume that we are going to get extensions until it either fails or goes all the way through."
I sat down with Speaker Moyle last week to discuss House Bill 570 which would prevent new state liquor stores from pushing mom-and-pop shops out of business, allowing them to stay on as special distributors.
In our talk, Moyle said, "Most people I tell are ok with it. They don't like that the state is coming in and competing with private industry."
Shoppers I talked with in Star are in support.
One shopper said, "I think it's a great idea. I think it's really important, and like I said, small business is an engine that moves the country, and I think this is an example of that."
"You want to support your local small business. It has been here forever," said another.
"We do have a following and we have people who will come here until the day they die," smiled Day.
"Come shop here! It's amazing! It's a great place to be," exclaimed another shopper.
Day finished with, "It gives us a better chance as a mom-and-pop shop to continue."
The Merc will continue to sell liquor under their new extension but still await as the bill sits in the Senate. I'm your star neighborhood reporter Alexander Huddleston, Idaho News 6.
