Bill seeks to sidestep ruling on direct wine shipments
A brewing Capitol Hill fight pits California winemakers against beer wholesalers and others who are hoping to outflank a landmark Supreme Court decision.
One hundred and seven lawmakers, nearly one-fourth of the House of Representatives, support legislation that would make it easier for states to hinder direct shipments of alcohol. The bill effectively takes the fizz out of a 2005 Supreme Court decision that said some bans on direct shipments violated the Constitution.
The bill's supporters say they want to bolster state alcohol enforcement powers.
"With (the bill), Congress is taking an important step toward ending the erosion of the states' ability to regulate alcohol," the president of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Craig Purser, declared when the bill was introduced earlier this year.
The bill’s opponents say it would benefit booze distributors at the expense of wineries and consumers.
“It really threatens the progress that’s been made on direct shipping of wine,” Rep. George Radanovich, R-Calif., said Friday. “It puts into jeopardy all of the work we’ve done.”
Himself a former winemaker, Radanovich co-chairs the 250-member Congressional Wine Caucus. The caucus supports direct shipping and will play a big role in what happens next.
Realistically, the legislation to complicate direct shipments has little to no chance in the remaining months of this Congress.
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One hundred and seven lawmakers, nearly one-fourth of the House of Representatives, support legislation that would make it easier for states to hinder direct shipments of alcohol. The bill effectively takes the fizz out of a 2005 Supreme Court decision that said some bans on direct shipments violated the Constitution.
The bill's supporters say they want to bolster state alcohol enforcement powers.
"With (the bill), Congress is taking an important step toward ending the erosion of the states' ability to regulate alcohol," the president of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Craig Purser, declared when the bill was introduced earlier this year.
The bill’s opponents say it would benefit booze distributors at the expense of wineries and consumers.
“It really threatens the progress that’s been made on direct shipping of wine,” Rep. George Radanovich, R-Calif., said Friday. “It puts into jeopardy all of the work we’ve done.”
Himself a former winemaker, Radanovich co-chairs the 250-member Congressional Wine Caucus. The caucus supports direct shipping and will play a big role in what happens next.
Realistically, the legislation to complicate direct shipments has little to no chance in the remaining months of this Congress.
READ MORE AT LINK
