Appointment shows clear position

Call it a vote for the status quo.

That’s the best description available for the appointment of Bill Davis as chair of the Indiana Alcohol Code Revision Commission.

Davis, who represented this part of Indiana for more than a decade, is on record numerous times as an opponent of expanding access to alcohol purchases.

When he was chairman of the House Committee on Public Policy, Bill was a steadfast opponent to Sunday sales of alcohol.

A teetotaler, he sincerely believed that expansion of alcohol sales was not in the best interests of the state of Indiana.

There’s no reason to believe his position has changed today in his new role with the Indiana Alcohol Code Revision Commission.

The next issue on the table is whether to allow grocery stores and convenience stores to sell cold beer.

Our guess is that Bill opposes that, but we’d also assume he’ll give the question a full, fair hearing. That’s how he operated in the Indiana General Assembly, and there’s no reason to expect him to change now.

He tends to make his position clear, hear opposing arguments, then stick with his original position. Call it stubbornness. Call it conviction. It’s just the way he’s wired.

So why was he appointed by House Speaker Brian Bosma to take on this new role? Our guess is that it was a way of making the issue go away.

Those who want further loosening of alcohol laws know they’re not going to get much headway with Davis at the helm.

Those still unhappy about the expansion of Sunday sales get a symbolic nod in their direction. — J.R.