We just got word that the bill will be heard in the Alcoholic Beverages Subcommittee in the next couple of weeks, which means that members of that subcommittee need to hear from all of you. Please urge them to pass the legislation so that the bill can get its fair hearing in the full House of Delegates. Let the House vote!

The members of the Alcoholic Beverages Subcommittee who need to hear from you and your friends and family are:

Mary Ann Love (Dist. 32, Anne Arundel Co.), Chair (410) 841-3233, (301) 858-3233

Aisha N. Braveboy (Dist. 25, Prince George's Co.)
Richard K. Impallaria (Dist. 7, Baltimore, Harford Cos.),
Sally Y. Jameson (Dist. 28, Charles Co.)
James J. King (Dist. 33A, Anne Arundel Co.)
Carolyn J. Krysiak (Dist. 46, Baltimore City)
James N. Mathias, Jr. (Dist. 38B, Wicomico, Worcester Cos.)
Joseph J. "Sonny" Minnick (Dist. 6, Baltimore Co.)
Donna Stifler (Dist. 35A, Harford Co.)

Continue reading "Letters Now Needed to Delegates on the Alcoholic Beverages Subcommittee" »

Posted by Scott Ehlers at 11:51 PM | Permalink

Let's Pack the Hearing Room!

A hearing has been scheduled for the House version of the wine direct shipping bill, HB 1260. The House Economic Matters Committee (House Office Building, Room 231) will begin the hearing on Monday, February 18, at 1pm. Please note that this is President's Day, so many constituents will have the day off to come up to the legislature to show their support for the bill.

Testimony, Supporters Needed to Pack the Hearing

This committee is hostile to our efforts and we need as many people as possible to pack the hearing room. We need consumers to testify or just be in the audience showing their support. If your delegate is on this committee, or if you know anyone whose delegate is on this committee, please write them today in support of HB 1260.

You can find out who your elected officials are here.

The easiest way to contact your delegates is through the Free the Grapes! website.

The members of the House Economic Matters Committee are:

* Dereck Davis (Dist. 25) -- Chair
* David Rudolph (Dist. 34B) -- Vice-Chair
* Aisha Braveboy (Dist. 25)
* Emmett Burns, Jr. (Dist. 10)
* Brian Feldman (Dist. 15)
* Jeannie Haddaway (Dist. 37B; co-sponsor)
* Hattie Harrison (Dist. 45)
* C. Sue Hecht (Dist. 3A)
* Richard Impallaria (Dist. 7)
* Sally Jameson (Dist. 28)
* James King (Dist. 33A)
* Ruth Kirk (Dist. 44)
* Carolyn Krysiak (Dist. 46)
* Mary Ann Love (Dist. 32)
* Roger Manno (Dist. 19)
* James Mathias, Jr. (Dist. 38B)
* Brian McHale (Dist. 46)
* Warren Miller (Dist. 9A)
* Joseph "Sonny" Minnick (Dist. 6)
* Donna Stifler (Dist. 35A)
* Herman Taylor, Jr. (Dist. 14; co-sponsor)
* Michael Vaughn (Dist. 24)
* Mary Roe Walkup (Dist. 36)

A factsheet on the bill is here.

If you are interested in testifying at the hearing, please email me with the subject of the email, "Testify."

More details on events scheduled around the hearing will follow in the coming days.

Posted by Scott Ehlers at 04:56 PM | Permalink

Dear Maryland wine consumers,

I would like to alert you to a unique opportunity for the wine making and grape growing industry and the growing number of consumers of wine in Maryland. Last month, my good friend and former colleague in the Maryland legislature, Peter Franchot, won the nomination for Democratic candidate for Comptroller of Maryland. The Comptroller is the chief regulator of alcohol control laws in Maryland.

The possibility of Peter being Comptroller is an historic event for wineries and their customers in Maryland and, in fact, might be a historic event for wineries and wine lovers across the country. Peter Franchot is an unabashed supporter of wineries and has expressed on numerous occasions his support for ending the restricted prohibition era regulations that restrain the growth of the industry and are based on antiquated notions of threats to health and safety.

Mr. Franchot has been very solicitous of the Maryland wine industry which is in marked contrast to the previous Comptrollers who believed firmly in the three-tiered system and were unwilling, at almost every turn, to promote changes to that system. Peter’s election to this office will mark a generational shift in alcohol regulation, one that will take into account changes in technology and the changes in the marketplace.

I am supporting Peter – both financially and with my vote – and hope that you can join with me in this support for the general election that will be held on November 7, 2006. Should you desire to make a financial contribution, please make your check payable to “Friends of Peter Franchot” and mail to Melvin A. Steinberg, Esq., 600 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Towson, MD 21204.

Maryland has long been considered one of the nation’s most restrictive states for our industry. This is a historic opportunity to have a true friend of the winemaking industry in a state-wide regulatory position.

Thanks in advance for your kind consideration.

Sincerely,

Melvin. A. Steinberg
Former Lt. Governor of the State of Maryland

Posted by Scott Ehlers at 09:59 PM | Permalink

Maryland's wineries are facing the very real threat of having their right to sell wine directly to wine stores and restaurants taken away. This would be devasting for our state's wineries.

We're asking all friends of Maryland Wine to sign a petition - http://www.petitiononline.com/mdwine06/petition.html - that urges Maryland legislators to support S. 812/H.B. 1122, which would end any alleged discriminatory effect of Maryland's laws about wineries, and would protect our local wineries. The petition will be submitted this Friday (March 3), so please sign it today.

To learn more, visit http://www.marylandwine.com/mwa/laws/peril.shtml and http://www.marylandwine.com/mwa/laws/contactlegislators.shtml .

Posted by Scott Ehlers at 02:23 PM | Permalink

Wouldn't you like to take home that partially finished bottle of wine from your favorite restaurant instead of leaving it behind? Or maybe you drank more than you would have preferred rather than waste that classic vintage?

SB 280 and HB 517 would allow you to take home that partially finished bottle of wine from a restaurant, reducing waste and over-consumption.

On Friday, February 17, the Senate Education, Health and Enviornmental Affairs Committee will be holding hearings on SB 280. Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws is supporting this legislation, along with organizations like the Restaurant Association of Maryland and the Maryland Wineries Association.

You can help us pass this progressive legislation by contacting your state legislators today. The easiest way to urge your state legislators to support SB 280 and HB 517 is by going to the Restaurant Association of Maryland website. Just customize the form letter a bit, enter your address, and press "send."
 
Thanks for helping make Maryland's beer and wine laws better today!
 
All my best,
 
Scott Ehlers
Executive Director
Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws 

Posted by Scott Ehlers at 01:32 PM | Permalink