Archive for the ‘H.R. 5034’ Category

Jul 28, 2010

Free Market Advocates Stand Up for Free Trade in Wine

The current state of H.R. 5034, a bill introduced into Congress on behalf of wholesalers that would give the middlemen the power to initiate and see passed state laws that protect their state-mandated control of the market in beer, wine and spirits, remains somewhat unaccounted for. That is to say, no hearings in the House Judiciary Committee, where the bill is parked, have been scheduled since a tentative July 14 hearing date was canceled. However, that has not stopped the…

Jul 14, 2010

H.R. 5034: The Lies, The Facts, The Fictions

With so much at stake for America's alcohol wholesalers and their protected monopoly status that props up unearned profits, it's no surprise they would swing for the fences with all their state-granted political power and attempt to pass H.R. 5034. This bill, currently in Congress, would give wholesaler lobbyists the means to turn back the clock on consumer access to wine, lead to the passage of laws that override federal regulations on alcohol, kill jobs and business that focus on…

Jun 29, 2010

How To Fix The Anti-Consumer H.R. 5034 Wine Bill

At a recent meeting of the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) a lively debate over H.R. 5034, the bill that would allow states to pass any discriminatory or protectionist laws and regulations regarding alcohol sales and distribution without concern of court challenges. At that debate, wholesaler supporters complained that opponents of the bill have done nothing to suggest changes to the bill that would make it more passable: "The people who oppose this legislation may have ideas to…

Jun 23, 2010

General McChrystal and Alcohol Regulators: Subverting Democracy

In criticizing the Obama administration General Stanley McChrystal made a fundamental mistake that is too often perpetrated in our society: He mistook himself for a politicians when he is really just an administrator. The reason this is such an important mistake is because the fundamental role of an administrator is to carry out policy. The fundamental role of a politician is to make policy on behalf of the people. The key difference here is that a politician has a constituency,…

Jun 14, 2010

Wine Wholesalers Have Jumped the Shark on H.R. 5034

It appears that wine wholesalers have jumped the shark where H.R. 5034 is concerned. It has been two months since America's alcohol wholesalers have attempted to radically change the rules of alcohol regulation with their introduction of H.R. 5034, the bill that would overturn the 2005 Granholm v. Heald Supreme Court decision and allow state governments to pass discriminatory legislation, stop direct shipping and write laws that need not conform with any federal laws. Why the wholesalers would want the…