Texas Bill Dies
Distributors and major brewers kill bill to allow sic-pack and tour sales
Predictably, a bill in Texas that would have allowed Texas breweries to charge for tours and then allow visitors to take home up to a 12-pack worth of beer died in the House without a vote.
The Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas (WBDT) perceived this as a threat and demanded an amendment so that the bill would only apply to breweries producing 75,000 barrels annually, which excluded Anheuser-Busch InBev. Never mind that Anheuser-Busch does not offer tours.
Saint Arnold founder Brock Wagner helped Representative Jessica Farrar author the bill, and has pushed for similar legislation in past sessions. He tweeted; “HB602 is dead. So close. Thanks to all who helped push it this far. Cause of death: pissing match between A-B & distributors.”
The bill got further than any past attempt at similar legislation, but nonetheless died when Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst refused to recognize Senate sponsor Eddie Lucio Jr. to bring it to a vote.
“What bothers me is that beer tourism is growing,” he said. “People come to Texas and visit breweries. We’re going to get 100,000 people through our building this year. It would increase sales, it would make it a better experience for the tourists, and it would be good for the Texas economy in so many ways. It’s very frustrating when you’re stymied,” Wagner was quoted as saying in a local newspaper.
Expect Wagner and Texas craft brewers to be back again.
Kudos to Mr. Wagner for his valiant struggle. My reaction would not have been so graciously understated.
Luck,
Liam
A pissing match between AB and wholesalers. This is our representative government at its finest. As always, legislators represent moneyed interests and themselves. In this case, big bucks fought big bucks and the fight ended in a loss for the citizenry and small business people.
The Texas legislature meets but once every two years. Wagner and the craft brewers will be back in 2 long years. Mark your calendars.
Money used to talk. Now it screams loud and clear.
Yet another example that our government is no longer for the people & of the people. The folks in Austin (or Washington for that matter) have forgotten who they work for and rely on the fact that our attention span is short.
Contact your elected representives and remind them that they work for us not A-B or the wholesaler/distributors.
Below are links to help you find your TX representives. and an example of what I sent to my reps as well as the LT. GOV.
I hope you all have a great Memorial Day.
http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us
I was very disappointed seeing that HB 602 was not passed this session. I would hope you would support legislation that would help small business, promote tourism and create jobs in Texas. I Feel that large corporations that are not based in Texas played a role in the defeat of this bill. I am writting to remind all of representives that we the people of Texas are to be the primary concern for you and your fellow congressman. A-B will not be voting in November, but I will.
In closing I would like to thank all of those who have served our great country and scarificed all for our freedom. I feel that by excercising my right to contact you I am honoring their scarifice.
Yet another example that our government is no longer for the people & of the people. The folks in Austin (or Washington for that matter) have forgotten who they work for and rely on the fact that our attention span is short.
Contact your elected representives and remind them that they work for us not A-B or the wholesaler/distributors.
Below are links to help you find your TX representives. and an example of what I sent to my reps as well as the LT. GOV.
I hope you all have a great Memorial Day.
http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us
I was very disappointed seeing that HB 602 was not passed this session. I would hope you would support legislation that would help small business, promote tourism and create jobs in Texas. I Feel that large corporations that are not based in Texas played a role in the defeat of this bill. I am writting to remind all of representives that we the people of Texas are to be the primary concern for you and your fellow congressman. A-B will not be voting in November, but I will.
In closing I would like to thank all of those who have served our great country and scarificed all for our freedom. I feel that by excercising my right to contact you I am honoring their scarifice.