Tom Loftus

@TomLoftus_CJ

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Rookie State Rep. C. Wesley Morgan, the owner of four liquor stores, went right to work during his first week as a state legislator, filing six bills that would help liquor store owners.

Morgan, a Republican from Richmond who is the owner of Liquor World, filed bills that he agrees will significantly help liquor stores in their relationships with wholesalers and competitors.

In an interview Tuesday, Morgan said that his bills are aimed at correcting laws that he found to be unfair during his 35 years as a liquor store owner. And he said that his filing of the bills does not represent even a hint of conflict of interest because they would benefit all liquor retailers — not just his own Liquor World stores.

"It's not a conflict because all my bills apply across the board to all retailers. It's no different than an attorney being for a law about tort reform or a doctor being for a law relating to medical practice," Morgan said.

State law prohibits a legislator from intentionally acting in any official capacity in ways where the legislator would "derive a direct monetary gain," and violation of that law is a Class D felony.

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But that law contains a qualifying section that says because the right of legislators to represent their constituencies is of such importance, legislators should be barred from voting on matters of direct personal interest "only in clear cases of conflict and if the matter is particularly personal."

Richard Beliles, chairman of Common Cause of Kentucky, said that by immediately filing so many bills that help liquor store owners including himself, Morgan appears to have stepped over that line.

"I think it's a conflict. ... At the least, it's something that damages the public's confidence in government and the state legislature," Beliles said. "Legislators are supposed to be representing their constituents and all of the people of Kentucky. Here it seems like he's all out for himself."

And the head of a wholesalers' organization that opposes the bills agrees.

"Here we have someone in the retail package business who files six bills that pertain particularly to his own personal interest. I think it's a conflict of interest," said Dan Meyer, executive director and general counsel for the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Kentucky.

The spokeswoman for House Speaker Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, said that Hoover "has not had a chance to look at those bills and it would just be unfair to even comment on them right now."

But Morgan said he resents any suggestion that he is trying to help himself. He stressed that the ethics of lawmakers who are lawyers or doctors are seldom — if ever — questioned when they file bills affecting members of their professions.

"I certainly don't have any regrets for filing those bills. They are common-sense bills," Morgan said. In general, he said, his package of bills eliminates practices that are unfair to retailers and would result in lower prices for consumers.

Morgan's Liquor World Stores are in Richmond, Barbourville, Irvine and Manchester. He also is a director if the industry group Kentucky Association of Beverage Retailers. Here's a look at the six bills:

House Bill 133 would permit brewers and distributors to extend 30 days of credit to retail stores in buying beer.

would permit brewers and distributors to extend 30 days of credit to retail stores in buying beer. House Bill 134 would require wholesalers and distributors to deliver promptly to retail stores - within one week after an order has been received.

would require wholesalers and distributors to deliver promptly to retail stores - within one week after an order has been received. House Bill 136 would delete a current law that mandates that other liquor wholesalers may not sell on credit to a retailer who has exceeded a 30-day credit limit with different wholesaler.

would delete a current law that mandates that other liquor wholesalers may not sell on credit to a retailer who has exceeded a 30-day credit limit with different wholesaler. House Bill 154 would prohibit the granting of exclusive distributing rights for any particular brand to one wholesaler.

would prohibit the granting of exclusive distributing rights for any particular brand to one wholesaler. House Bill 155 would allow retail stores with a common owner to transport alcoholic beverages across county lines to each other.

would allow retail stores with a common owner to transport alcoholic beverages across county lines to each other. House Bill 164 would prohibit certain package liquor and malt beverage license holders from selling distilled spirits, wine or beer for less than the purchase cost.

Reporter Tom Loftus can be reached at (502) 875-5136 or tloftus@courier-journal.com.

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