State laws restricting corporate independent campaign expenditures and requiring registration as a political action committee in Oklahoma are considered “unenforceable” in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, according to some state officials. Changes are needed in the state’s laws governing city elections to bring it […]
Laws
Posted inNews
‘Life’ laws
House Bill 1888, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, bans abortions past the 20th week of pregnancy, a change from the previous 24 weeks. Senate Bill 547 is meant to prevent elective abortion coverage in insurance policies sold in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the fourth state to pass a pain-capable law, and opponents claim the laws […]
Posted inNews
Booze redo
Bishop says that if Whole Foods Market, Sam’s Club, Walmart, etc. are allowed to sell all alcohol, that “all of that revenue that currently stays in Oklahoma would leave the state” from local liquor merchants. Well, I have traveled extensively in the U.S., and I can safely say that in any other state I have […]
Posted inNews
Quality control
Bill Bishop’s Commentary (“Counterpoint: Paying the price,” Jan. 19, Gazette) is frustrating and loaded with half-truths. The idea that Texas liquor laws have a negative impact on selection and price in that state is an outright fallacy. Most major cities in Texas have robust selections in grocery and chain stores, and have thriving niche liquor […]
Posted inNews
OKC Chamber CEO’S chronology is incorrect
Regarding the Point/Counterpoint Commentary in the Jan. 19 Oklahoma Gazette by Roy Williams (“Point: Revise outmoded liquor laws”), president and CEO of Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, and Bill Bishop (“Counterpoint: Paying the price”), owner of The Grape Wine & Spirits in northwest Oklahoma City: Bishop makes several very valid points regarding the very […]
Posted inNews
Liquor bargain
He correctly implies that the restrictions currently in place have an adverse effect on quality of life. It would certainly be desirable to have access to wine and quality beer outside the current 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. While Mr. Bishop clearly writes his argument from a stance of protectionism, it […]
Posted inNews
Point: Revise outmoded liquor laws
That’s right — the bulk of these laws remain unchanged since the birth of Oklahoma more than 103 years ago. We live in a world where change is all around us, yet some resist the notion to even examine laws that were put in place more than a century ago. The business community in Oklahoma […]
Posted inNews
Counterpoint: Paying the price
A current law states you must live in the state of Oklahoma for 10 straight years in order to own a liquor store. Every store you see on every other corner is owned by Oklahomans. If you change the laws and allow Whole Foods Market, headquartered in Texas, and Walmart, based in Arkansas, to sell […]