Letter: Legislators disregard commission advice

As a lay member of both the 2017 and 2018 Alcohol Revision Commission, I welcome Beverly Gard’s comments regarding the two sessions to which I was appointed by Sen. David Long. [View from other side of Legislature is not impressive, Forefront, June 28.]

Myself and several other lay members were acutely aware that several, especially two, legislators had little interest in tackling many of the issues of reform the commission was assigned to study and make recommendations. Sunday sales passed primarily because it had broad public support. Not because we recommended it. Most other issues didn’t suit the politicians that run the legislative committees that deal with the alcohol laws.

There was also a feeling from myself and some other lay members that some of the politicians didn’t even think we should be there.

I applaud Beverly’s courage to call these issues out and hope in the future that such commissions’ recommendations be taken more in earnest, especially ones with lay members who have a true interest in good government without the wills of special interests.

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Keith Byers
Fort Wayne