"Citizens [image-nocss] across the state have been struggling through this economic downturn, and we need to do all we can to keep businesses, jobs and economic activity in Kansas, and modernizing these anti-competitive laws can help," said Tom Palace, executive director of the Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association of Kansas. "Updating laws on the sale of beer, wine and spirits will provide significant revenues for Kansas businesses, local and state governments and for the economy as a whole--and it will do so immediately."
CJCC said that it plans to work with Kansas legislators to update current laws to allow grocery stores, convenience stores and other Kansas retailers to sell beer, wine and spirits. Kansas currently faces an estimated $550 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year.
Updating laws on the sale of these products is a simple yet substantial way to increase revenue without increasing taxes, the group said.
"Like many other states, Kansas has been hit hard by the economic downturn. As a result, supermarkets have been negatively affected in all aspects of their business," said Jon McCormick, president of the Retail Grocers Association. "Deregulating current laws will promote competition in both rural and urban areas, enabling supermarkets to create more jobs, generate tax revenue and increase options for consumers."
CJCC represents hundreds of companies and thousands of Kansans who recognize the immediate and positive impact that updated laws on the sale of beer, wine and spirits will have on the Kansas economy.
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