A House panel wants to let Republican National Convention-goers drink later into the night.
The State Government Finance Division unanimously voted Wednesday to let bars serve customers until 4 a.m. for an 11-day period spanning the convention in St. Paul. Liquor stores, too, could open on the Sundays before and after the early September event.
The hitch? The proposal would apply only to establishments in a city, county or township within 10 miles of the Xcel Energy Center, where the convention will be held.
That's narrower area than a Senate proposal for the entire seven-county metro area, which was withdrawn by its sponsor because of various concerns.
Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, said she's pushing the later bar hours because she doesn't want to make a bad impression on visitors from larger cities. Kahn turned down a request to temporarily lift the statewide smoking ban.