Rep. Patrice Arent is proposing a pilot program to allow some state liquor stores to remain open on certain holidays. Our insiders and readers overwhelmingly think the legislature should approve the program.

Also, some say the Michigan and Arizona primaries on Tuesday are very important to Mitt Romney's chances because his father was Governor of Michigan and Arizona has a large LDS population. Most of our insiders think he needs a loss in either state would be damaging to his quest for the GOP nomination.

Do you think the legislature should approve a pilot program to allow some state liquor stores to remain open on certain holidays?
	Republican insiders	Democratic insiders	UtahPolicy.com readers
Yes	72%	90%	93%
No	22%	3%	7%

Some anonymous comments:

"The state should not be in the business of monopolizing the liquor industry."

"As a state we need to allow people to have choices. I am in favor of putting Wine and beer in grocery stores. There is no good reason that the stores should not be open."

"Research shows more booze=more crime. People can buy it before the holiday anyway. Plus workers should receive a day off."

"It is foolish to close the only arm of the state government that makes a profit."

"The current policy is an anachronism and the free market people ought to come on board and support this small step toward sane and sensible liquor laws."

"If the state of UT is going to be in the alcohol retail business it needs to be run as a free market and serve at the convenience of consumers needs and demands."

"I think they should stay closed on holidays only so those staffers have a chance to have a day off like the rest of the world."

"Even non-drinking, LDS, Republicans think our liquor laws should be reasonable and rational."

"Should it? Yes. Will it? No. The GOP Legislature won't quit its favorite pastime of legislating morality and growing government Inquisition Style. NO ONE EXPECTS THE UTAH INQUISITION! (Yeah, they totally do)"

"The kind of people that can't even plan one day ahead are the very kind of irresponsible drunks that we need to keep off the highways."

"If the state is going to be in the retail liquor business, stores should be open on retail holidays like MLK's birthday, Presidents' Day, and Columbus Day - particularly in tourist areas. Liquor is available on those days at bars, clubs and restaurants. We shouldn't require people to get a drink in a bar and drive to their hotel, condo or home. They should be able to buy wine in a liquor store and take it home."

"I HATE alcohol and its awful effects. I am for closing every liquor store in the world! Damn alcohol. How's that for a subtle response?"

"Why should tourists be treated better than all the taxpaying citizens of Utah? This is bull**it as usual concerning liquor in the state. Either run them like any other business or get out of the business altogether. Liquor stores are the same as 7 11's. What happened to the free enterprise mantra of the Legislature? Hypocrites all."

"Give private store owners the chance to sell liquor already!"

"Other state employees have the day off. Holiday pay will drive up costs and prices. Many places of business are closed on holidays."

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In your opinion, how badly would a loss in either Michigan or Arizona (or both states) damage Romney's chances?
	Republican insiders	Democratic insiders	UtahPolicy.com readers
Winning Michigan is critical for Romney	7%	29%	22%
Winning Arizona is critical for Romney	2%	0%	11%
He needs to win both contests	51%	55%	44%
"Super Tuesday" is more important to Romney's chances	40%	16%	22%

Some anonymous comments:

"Winning Arizona and Michigan is important, but more for perception than numerical necessity. The path to the nomination is a delegate numbers game even though the media would like it to be a momentum game."

"As much as the vast majority of people in Utah want Mitt to win the Republican nomination it really won't matter - the citizens of the USA will probably re-elect President Obama - ugh."

"I kind of hope Santorum will; he'll be much easier to beat in November!"

"I think his performance in the Arizona debate and Santorum's stumble make Romney wins more likely and should stop the bleeding Romney has been doing..but Romney is not out of the woods."

"As a UT democrat and elected official I am hoping Santorum receives the Republican nomination. Romney on the ticket is dangerous for down ticket Democrats in UT."

"It's all about Super Tuesday. However, momentum is a big factor in terms of raising money to compete on Super Tuesday. It's really all about the delegate count and money to continue the fight."

"Michigan went for Obama in 2008, and the Republican nominee needs to do well in the industrial Midwest to win in 2012. I think Romney will win Michigan. But if he can't defeat a Republican who was turned out by voters in Pennsylvania after one term, what does that mean for his chances in November?"

"Lose Michigan. Say goodbye Mitt."

"GOP voters just can't seem to get excited by Mitt. Too bad, because he is a much better candidate than Santorum."

"It doesn't matter as neither candidate could win a national election to begin with."

"I hate to pull a 'Rushism' but the 'main stream media' is the only one touting Michigan as a must win. It is logical for him to lose it since he is opposed to the auto bailouts and Santorum is pandering on the issue."

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Respondents include - 

Fred Adams, Stuart Adams, Jess Agraz, Scott Anderson, Patrice Arent, Bruce Baird, Tom Barberi, Heather Barney, Steve Barth, Jeff Bell, Tom Berggren, Mike Bertelsen, Ron Bigelow, Rob Bishop, Laura Black, Jim Bradley, Ralph Brown, Ken Bullock, Chris Bleak, Curt Bramble, Ralph Brown, Aaron Browning, Dave Buhler, Ken Bullock, Ric Cantrell, Maura Carabello, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Kay Christensen, David Clark, Thomas Clay, Peter Corroon, Fred Cox, Lew Cramer, Gene Davis, Richard Davis, Brad Daw, Alan Dayton, Margaret Dayton, Mike Deaver, Brad, Dee, Joseph Demma, John Dougall, Randy Dryer, Donald Dunn, Becky Edwards, Scott Ericson, Jessica Fawson, Janice Fisher, Wendy Fisher, Lorie Fowlke, Ronald Fox, Jordan Garn, Luke Garrott, Dave Gessel, Natalie Gochnour, Robert Grow, Karen Hale, David Hansen, Neil Hansen, Joe Hatch, Jeff Hartley, Deidre Henderson, Lyle Hillyard, Randy Horiuchi, Ben Horsley, Bruce Hough, Scott Howell, Miriam Hyde, Allison Isom, Eric Jergensen, Mike Jerman, Roger Johnson, Michael Jolley, Gordon Jones, Leslie Jones, Kirk Jowers, Brian King, Scott Konopasek, Chris Kyler, Fred Lampropoulos, Douglas Larson, David Litvack, Larry Lunt, Matt Lyon, Ben McAdams, Gayle McKeachnie, JT Martin, Jason Mathis, Karen Mayne, Derek Miller, Rob Miller, Ethan Millard, Brett Millburn, Karen Morgan, Mike Mower, Holly Mullen, Wayne Niederhauser, Mike Noel, Ralph Okerlund, James Olsen, Val Oveson, Scott Parson, Kelly Patterson, Frank Pignanelli, Jason Powers, Joe Pyrah, Mike Reberg, Jill Remington Love, Lauren Richards, Holly Richardson, Robin Riggs, James Roberts, Luz Robles, Ross Romero, Don Savage, Bryan Schott, Jay Seegmiller, Patrick Shea, Randy Shumway, Soren Simonsen, Jeremy Slaughter, Carol Spackman-Moss, Howard Stephenson, Mike Styler, Todd Taylor, Juliette Tennert, Gary Thorup, Kevin Van Tassell, Royce Van Tassel, Michael Waddoups, Chuck Warren, Christine Watkins, LaVarr Webb, Todd Weiler, Alan West, Ted Wilson, Carl Wimmer, Mike Winder, Thomas Wright