Sunday, May 07, 2000
Bengals quiet on drink issue
By Michael Hawthorne
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Bengals fans could start enjoying their favorite alcoholic beverages a few hours earlier on game days under legislation advancing in the General Assembly.
The state's other pro football team, the Cleveland Browns, is leading the lobbying effort to begin Sunday liquor sales at 11 a.m. But the Bengals are conspicuously silent about the subject.
Relax. Mike Brown isn't secretly promoting a return to Prohibition.
The team is trying to keep its focus on the big prize from state government: another $20 million contribution toward construction of Paul Brown Stadium on the riverfront.
“I've been instructed not to get sidetracked on anything else,” Gordon Scherer, the team's Columbus lobbyist, said Friday. “We would like it, obviously, but it's not something we are actively pursuing.”
Under a bill pending in the House and an amended bill in the Senate, 10 professional sports venues would get earlier Sunday liquor sales. Current law would remain in effect everywhere else, meaning drinks couldn't be sold until 1 p.m. at other establishments.
The Reds also could sell drinks earlier before Sunday home games.
Pro teams want to encourage more pregame parties in corporate sky boxes, but lobbyists for the state's taverns think the sporting world shouldn't get preferential treatment. They're pushing to expand Sunday liquor sales statewide.
Democrats have been comparing Gov. Bob Taft's recent campaign-finance troubles with President Clinton's use of the Lincoln bedroom to treat big contributors.
But while Cincinnati financier Carl Lindner is a big financial backer of Mr. Taft, he hasn't spent the night at the Governor's Residence. (Mr. Lindner was one of Mr. Clinton's White House sleep-over pals.)
In a Sept. 10, 1999, letter, Mr. Taft urged Republicans to give at least $25,000 to an Ohio Republican Party account that can accept unlimited funds without public disclosure of who contributed.
An attachment to the letter offered seats in Mr. Taft's box at an Ohio State football game and tickets to a party at the governor's house.
After the letter came to light, The Cincinnati Enquirer requested a list of the governor's overnight guests.
Texas Gov. George Bush is on the list. (He stopped by after a suburban Columbus fund-raiser for his presidential campaign.) So are U.S. Sen. George Voinovich and former U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh. But none of the guests appears to be fodder for some kind of influence-peddling scandal.
On March 9, 1999, for instance, the Tafts hosted Dexter Fields and Kim Brown, two schoolchildren whom the governor recognized the next day during his State of the State speech.
A month later, Peter, Susan and Christine Glaubitz had a gubernatorial sleep-over. They're described as friends of the Tafts.
Oh, Peter Glaubitz also gave $50 to the governor's campaign fund in 1998.
Michael Hawthorne covers state government for The Cincinnati Enquirer. He can be reached at (614) 224-4640.
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