Of all the recent legislative sessions, we thought for sure this would be one in which a couple of seemingly perennial proposals actually blossom into sensible changes.

They involve dropping the state’s antiquated laws that ban auto sales and keep liquor stores closed on Sundays.

Yet as of Tuesday, House File 1294 seemed destined for defeat. There was no companion bill in the Senate, and we’ve heard little discussion of the measure.

That’s too bad.

First, there are about 5.2 billion very obvious reasons this move could help the state.

Sure, allowing vehicles and off-sale liquor to be sold on Sundays is not going to make a huge dent in the state’s budget deficit. But at a time when legislators are shaking public couch cushions for loose change and treating private nickels like they are manhole covers, you’d think they would embrace measures that potentially boost state revenues without, well, you know.

Let’s look specifically at liquor.

According to the Distilled Spirits Council, lifting the ban is worth millions.

Another big reason to modernize both these laws is convenience. Sundays may be a traditional day of rest, but they also are the second-busiest shopping day of the week.

Similarly, what about competition from other states, especially for car dealers in the age of the Internet?

As for liquor sales, well, you don’t have to travel out of state to see ridiculous. How does it make any sense to allow restaurants and bars in Minnesota to sell and serve alcohol on Sundays but not allow people to buy it that same day for use then or later?

In writing about these so-called “Blue Laws” in recent years, we’ve never heard a reasonable answer to that question or many of the other queries raised here.

Lacking those answers — and facing a huge state budget problem — it’s finally time to modernize these laws. Repeal these archaic bans.

— St. Cloud Times, April 8