Granholm Vetoes Bill Expanding Sunday Liquor Sales
There won't be any Sunday morning liquor sales in Michigan just yet. Governor Jennifer Granholm has vetoed legislation that would have allowed early morning sales on Sundays and holidays.
Granholm said in a statement that she "wholeheartedly supports" allowing Sunday alcohol sales to start at 7 a.m., rather than being banned from 2 a.m. to noon. She also favors expands options for wine and beer-tasting functions.
However, the Granholm said other parts of the legislation would hurt some other Michigan businesses. Specifically, the Governor said the law would allow an unlimited number of restaurants and other food establishments to sell and deliver alcohol at off-premises locations hurting other small businesses.
The governor also said someone could file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law and she said the legislation would allow for free samples of wine totaling up to nine ounces. The governor thinks that's too much.
The governor called on the Legislature to revise the law.
The veto leaves a hole in the budget since the state was counting on extra money from a special license sellers would need to buy for the extended liquor sales.
(Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
