Maryland legislature considering direct wine shipping

[Robin Garr]

This just in, in a mailer from Calvert-Woodley:

Maryland Legislature to Consider Direct Shipping

As a courtesy to our customers in Maryland, we wanted to pass on the following message from the Executive Director of Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws:

Dear Wine Lover,

The Maryland General Assembly is currently debating legislation that would allow retailers and wineries to ship directly to Maryland consumers. This legislation will die again an untimely death this year, its 10th in a row, if you and your friends are not able to let your elected officials know how important this is to you. SB338 and HB1262 will help small businesses like ours while benefiting consumers and wineries. Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws (MBBWL) is the main consumer advocacy organization pushing this bill forward, and they are seeking as many letter-writers and callers as possible to get these bills out of their respective committees. Please visit their website at http://www.mbbwl.org for more information and to get involved or contact MBBWL's Executive Director, Adam Borden, at (443) 570-8102 or aborden@mbbwl.org.

Best,

Adam

Executive Director
Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws
4315 Underwood Road
Baltimore, MD 21218
Tel: (443) 570-8102
http://www.mbbwl.org

I believe it's gonna die once again do to our liberal folks in Annapolis. They are, as we speak, debating the death penalty which I believe will be "put to death" but that's another issue for another board.

Drew

I believe it's gonna die once again do to our liberal folks in Annapolis.

Actually, I'm proud to say that my state senator, Jamie Raskin, and one of my state delegates, Tom Hucker, are the lead sponsors of this legislation in the Senate and House. They are both as liberal as one can be. If the bills die, it won't be because of liberals, it'll be because of the money and power of the Maryland distributors and their ex-con lobbyist, Bruce Bereano.

The fact that hearings were held on the legislation last year and again this year, is at least progress. But I do think every Marylander on this board ought to contact their state legislators. It may be an exercise in futility -- though I hope not -- but the more we fight, the better chance we have.

From comments made elsewhere I have gathered that they seem to think if they can get it to the floor it can pass but that it will never make it to the floor. To be honest, have not really followed the drama as much this time as I figure it is still dead.

But I do think every Marylander on this board ought to contact their state legislators. It may be an exercise in futility -- though I hope not -- but the more we fight, the better chance we have.

Having received an e-mail from Calvert-Woodley Wines today on this subject, I have sent my reps on the state legislature letters urging them to allow instate shipment.