This week I asked the governor why he hates freedom. It was a tongue-in-cheek question that got a laugh out of the governor. No, John Hickenlooper does not hate freedom.
I asked the question because the governor has indicated that he plans on vetoing legislation that would allow local governments to extend bar hours past 2 a.m.
The bill has been framed by supporters as being about freedom, liberty and local control. Those who want to see it pass joke that Hickenlooper must hate freedom.
The governor has written a letter to legislative leaders essentially telling them that he would veto the legislation if sponsors don’t come up with data proving that implementation would be safe. If they can’t come up with that data, then the governor said the bill must be amended into a study. And if supporters don’t meet the governor’s demands, he would likely veto the bill.
After I asked him the freedom question, Hickenlooper pointed out that the current system has been in place for many years, in which there is a regulated closing time. He even threatened to sing any number of last call country songs based around the regulated system.
“I worry about the way this law would roll out and local communities would get into an arms war to see who would have later hours, and then all of a sudden you’ll have people driving across town to try and get that last drink where the liquor is still being served for an hour later,” Hickenlooper said. “The image is not exactly one that is conducive to public safety.”
Pushing the bill is Rep. Steve Lebsock, a Democrat from Thornton who is toying with the idea of running for governor. In his veto threat, Hickenlooper appeared to take a jab at the local-control argument, pointing out that he vetoed legislation in the past that would have banned red-light cameras statewide.
The legislation would have taken control away from local governments, Hickenlooper argued. It was sponsored last year by Lebsock.
Read the rest of the article at the website listed below]
By Peter Marcus, ColoradoPolitics.com
http://coloradopolitics.com/insights-reason-asked-governor-hates-freedom/
[Thank you to Alex Teitz, http://www.femmusic.com, for contributing this article.]