The House today defeated HB 1792 by Rep. John Payton of Wilburn to allow city or county governments to veto issuance of private club alcohol permits. It grows from a reaction in some dry areas to a proliferation of private clubs around the state in dry areas as nominal economic development tools. The vote was 25-30.

Payton and Rep. Josh Miller pleaded for local control of the issue. 

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Both, it so happens, voted against the gay discrimination bill to strip local governments of the power to adopt civil rights ordinances.

Which, when you think about it, makes sense. Both votes were about enforcing their personal opinion on moral matters.

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