It may seem difficult to believe after the 2007 session, but Montana's Legislature is perfectly capable of recognizing a problem, devising a solution, and waltzing the resulting bill through the process without a hint of controversy, partisan maneuvering or ideological angst.

A case in point is an easily passed measure that will substantially increase the number of "cabaret" beer and wine licenses available to Montana restaurants.

Such licenses do not allow gambling machines or a sit-down bar. Restaurants may serve beer or wine only to customers eating meals at tables, and they may be open only from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Cabaret licenses cost from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on seating capacity, compared to the many hundreds of thousands of dollars a regular liquor license can fetch in the state's larger cities.

And in many Montana communities, demand for them has far exceeded supply.

Last year Jennifer Lewis, the owner of a Mexican restaurant in Whitefish, brought the shortage to the attention of her local state senator, Dan Weinberg, D-Whitefish, and as a result the number of such licenses in the state will increase from 304 to 469 as of July 1.

This is good news for people who enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with their meal, a harmless practice that the state really has no business restricting. But it is better news for the many Montana restaurant owners who might need to attract a few more customers and receive a little additional income to stay in business. "Selling alcohol won't make a restaurant," Lewis said, "but not having a license can break a restaurant."

Lawmakers always give lip service to helping small businesses, but in this case they not only did so, but they made it look easy.