Ouachita":1w2kq7yo said:
Here in Arkansas we were just voting to allow alcohol sales state wide. It failed. We still have half of the 75 counties dry and half wet. Interesting looking at the results. It passed in most of the dry counties and failed in most of the wet ones. Couldn't have anything to do with the propaganda political ads strategically placed in each county.
Over all I'm happy with our state election results. Just still a bit pizzed I can't buy a beer in a "free" country because I live in a county where the churches have a stranglehold on local politics. Most have preachers that drive across the state line to give Oklahoma some tax revenue. Around here, we call that a crock pot full of shyt.
Issue #4, often referred to as the alcohol beverage amendment failed by a wide margin statewide, and was not favored by Clay County voters as they cast 2,399 votes against the measure while 1,582 voted yes. Clay County is dry.
The funding came from these guys: Arkansas Beverage Retailers Association (Wet Counties), Citizens for Local Rights (More Wet County Retailers) and Pastor Revel Kidd.
Arguments
Pastor Revel Kidd from Hempstead County opposed the legalizing of alcohol sales, saying it leads to problems for marriages and children.
A letter from the Arkansas Beverage Retailers Association stated: "Obviously this [approval of Issue 4] would be catastrophic for county line liquor stores around the state, but it also has dire consequences for stores in currently wet counties and wet metropolitan areas. The industry in Arkansas as we have known it would be turned upside down, with the result of inviting global retailers like Walmart, Kroger, Walgreens, Target and others to enter the business at their existing locations with the inevitable impact on existing operators' sales and margins."
According to a report on Issue 4 published by The Public Policy Center of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension, arguments in opposition to Issue 4 included:
What do opponents say? - The amendment would take away a local community's ability to decide the issue of alcohol sales.
If passed, this amendment would create a dangerous situation of liquor sales being legal within 1,000 feet of a school, day care or church.
Alcohol has numerous negative health and social effects. Alcohol use contributes to heart and liver damage, car crashes and crime.
http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_Alcohol ... ue_4_(2014)
Campaign contributions
Three ballot question committees raised a total of $2,769,684 in opposition to Issue 4. The following amounts were accurate as of October 23, 2014.
Total
campaign cash for the Issue #4 was Zero where those
opposing raised $2,769,684 to fight the proposition.
Let Local Communities Decide for Themselves $1,704,684
Arkansas Beverage Retailers Association Fund $490,000
Conway County Liquor Association Fund $575,000
Top contributors:
CCLA $575,000
Conway Co. Liquor Association $558,000
Shamrock Liquor $150,000
Poinsett Package Store $140,000
