House panel: Cheers to later bar hours during GOP convention Eds: APNewsNow.

ST. PAUL (AP) A House panel wants to let Republican National Convention-goers drink later into the night.

The State Government Finance Division unanimously voted 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 located in a city, county or township within 10 miles of the Xcel Energy Center, where the convention will be held.

That's narrower than a Senate proposal for the entire seven-county metro area, which was withdrawn by its sponsor over various concerns.

Representative Phyllis Kahn of Minneapolis says she's pushing the later bar hours because she doesn't want to make a bad impression on visitors from sophisticated cities. Kahn turned down a request to temporarily lift the statewide smoking ban.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 03-26-08 1721CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list