A few Idaho state legislators, including Luke Malek and Mary Souza are apparently behind trying to change the way liquor licenses are allotted by the state of Idaho. Behind this effort are lobbyists for big chain restaurants that don't want to play by the current rules. I have emailed all of our Kootenai County legislators without response, so I thought I would take it to the people.

Currently, Idaho liquor licenses are allotted on a quota basis. In Coeur d'Alene, a new license is available for every 1,500 residents. The state has a waiting list that some people have been on for decades. This has created value in existing licenses. The last license in Coeur d'Alene went for $300,000. If licensing is opened up like Washington, a liquor license will have virtually no value.

So what? Well, many of us bar owners sought out liquor licenses and paid market value for them. Personally, I have nearly $400,000 tied up in two licenses, and if you consider the possible market value, those licenses could be worth $600,000. That is my retirement! I even have an SBA loan on one of those licenses that I am still paying on. So far the state has made no mention of compensating us for the loss in value. Is that fair?

The other side of this is the moral side. Do we really need more bars? More bars mean more problems. More DUIs. More traffic deaths. More money for law enforcement. More money to prosecute offenders. More money to police more bars. Idaho already has the 3rd WORST record for DUIs per capita! We do not need more bars and it makes sense to only increase the number of bars based on increases in population. This may sound self serving, but consider that I made business decisions based on how licenses were allotted. Changing the rules is just not moral or fair.

Then there is the human side of this argument. Many of us bar owners have real dollars tied up in liquor licenses and our businesses. I can tell you that the pie in downtown Coeur d'Alene is only so big. Fair competition is always welcome, but when I have invested my whole life savings into my businesses and someone is now able to come into town and get into the business for virtually nothing — THAT IS NOT FAIR! If four new bars open up downtown my sales will certainly go down no matter how good a job we do. That means less income for my employees too.

I have paid my taxes and run good businesses for many years and now I am being marginalized for the interest in big business. Big business does not want to play by the rules and has deep pockets, so for the sake of new development let's screw the guys that have been paying the bill for years. Sorry, that is the way I feel!

I would appreciate it if you would call your state legislator and voice your concern over the proliferation of new bars and the mistreatment of many small business people.

Thanks for listening.

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Dave Pulis is the owner of the Moose Lounge and Rocker Room bars in Coeur d'Alene.