South Dakota School of Law Dean Barry Vickrey has announced that he will step down from the post and become a full time member of the faculty.

"Professionally, I look forward to the challenges and opportunities of fulfilling the teaching, research and service responsibilities of a full-time faculty member. Personally, I plan to use the summers and other breaks in the academic calendar to spend more time with my family, and especially my two grandchildren."

Vickrey had held the position for 11 years.

49.3% of South Dakota students are known to be employed upon graduation. The number climbs to 84.9% after 9 months.

The 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles for starting pay for graduates working full time in the private sector are $36,000, $42,000, and $60,000.

Within 9 months of graduation, only 65.4% of South Dakota graduates are employed in full time positions requiring bar admission.

[Souix City Journal]

The Colorado State House killed a bill that would have allowed grocery and convenience stores to carry full strength beer.

Currently, grocery and convenience stores can only sell beer with alcohol contents no greater than 3.2%, and it looks like things will stay that way. The proposal received only 18 votes, short of the 33 needed to pass.

Opponents of the bill argued that it would harm liquor stores, which can sell higher strength beer and are mostly locally owned small businesses, by forcing them to compete with large grocery store chains.

The bill offered some concessions to liquor store owners, literally. It would have allowed liquor stores to sell non-perishable food items, such as chips and other snacks.

Apparently the Colorado House doesn't know that this is America, and in America we believe in a free market and competition. People should be able to sell what they want to sell, and buy it where they want to buy it. And, if liquor store sales suffer due to the increased competition, then you just tax alcohol higher and create a subsidy to compensate them for their losses. Duh. It's like they haven't even read the Declaration of Independence out there.

There is a bill still pending before the State Senate that would allow full strength beer sales in grocery stores, but not convenient stores.

[Denver Post]

The Missouri House has endorsed a bill that would make the regulations passed by administrative bodies as much of a pain for the state and its agencies as they are for its citizens.

The new bill, sponsored by Jason Smith, would place a 6 year life span on all rules and regulations passed by administrative agencies, requiring them to be reconsidered by the state legislature to stay in effect.

House Minority Leader Mike Talboy opposed the bill, citing the increase work load it would have on the state legislature, as well as the cost of stamps needed to republish all the rules.

[The Republic]

Legislation has been proposing in the Alabama state legislature that would raise taxes on cigarettes by $1 per pack, bringing the total tax rate to $1.42, still shy of the national average of $1.45, but higher than any neighboring state. The rate in Georgia is $0.37, Florida, $1.34, Mississippi $0.68, and Tennessee $0.62.

Supporters, which includes State Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, estimate the bill could generate $205 million a year for the state, even after taking into consideration decreased consumption rates.

But, Alabama has a poor performance record when it comes to vice laws.  For decades a main point of contention in state politics has been gambling.  Each of Alabama's neighbors has a state lottery, while Alabama does not, and Alabama citizens often drive to other states to buy their tickets.

So, the increase in cigarette taxes is risky.  Alabama citizens may start stocking up on cigarettes at cheaper prices while they're already across state lines funding Georgia's Hope scholarships. New Yorkers are well known to buy cigarettes in New Jersey where cigarettes are $3.15 cheaper per pack. Following the law of diminishing sacks, bulk cigarette purchases would increase the rate at which people smoke, and the easy access to cigarettes locally will keep them puffing after their stockpile has run out.

[Forbes]