ROCHESTER, N.Y. - As the New York legislature considers a bill to allow grocery and convenience stores sell wine, New York Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker has thrown his support behind the proposal, the Democrat & Chronicle reports. Gov. David Paterson has indicated he would sign the legislation into law.

Earlier this week, Hooker helped to launch a campaign called "Convenience is Choice. Bring Home the Wine" with Wegmans Food Markets CEO Danny Wegman and local farmers. Both Hooker and Wegman said the bill would enable wineries to have a wider market for their wine, which would enlarge existing farms and open new farms. Also more jobs at grocery and convenience stores, as well as farms and wineries, would be created.

"How could you not support this?" said Hooker. "Right now, we have 2,500 outlets selling wine to 19 million New Yorkers. The sale of this product is being funneled down through a very small opening."

But liquor and wine stores are fighting back with a coalition called the Last Store on Main Street. "The numbers are phony," said Michael McKeon of Last Store on Main Street. "There??s no way that this would add $300 million in franchise fees over two years."

"What these stores should be doing is demanding that their lobbyists in Albany start negotiating instead of just saying no," said Hooker.

The bill would charge stores a franchise fee to sell wine, and liquor and wine stores would be able to stock some food and other items. How much support the bill has in the legislature is uncertain, but several members say it is far from being dead.