Alcohol tax draws strong opposition

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A legislative proposal to double statewide alcohol taxes to help bail out an agency that runs Indianapolis' stadiums is generating strong opposition.

Republican Sen. Luke Kenley of Noblesville had hoped the tax increase would draw support because much of the extra $42 million it would collect would go to cities and towns across the state. But opposition to the plan has been so strong he says he'll likely drop the idea.

The heart of the opposition may be the $8 million of new money that would have been set aside to assist the cash-strapped Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board. That panel runs the city's professional sports stadiums.

Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, a Bloomington Democrat, says it's pretty hard to explain to people in other parts of the state that taxes would be raised to help out the Indianapolis board.