An underdog story? MD Direct Shipping Bill: The Final Round: 03/07/2008

I’m a big fan of the Rocky movies (well, I - IV anyways!). They are the ultimate underdog story - a local Philadelphia boxer who is mediocre at best in his amateur career is given a shot at the champ. Everyone counts him out, the champ hasn’t prepared well, and in the end, he fights a great fight to the final bell and almost pulls off the greatest upset of all time.

Our fight isn’t for glory or money, it’s for market freedom and let me tell you, we Maryland consumers are the major underdogs. The wholesalers and their lobbyists have spent a lot of money and time to make sure this bill goes down. But there’s one round left and perhaps we have some fight left in us. The date and venue? The state capital building in Annapolis next Friday at 1:00 PM. It doesn’t matter what got us to this hearing, the only thing that matters now is we give it our all.

On March 7, 2008, the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee will hold a session at 1:00 PM to determine the fate of SB 616 (a.k.a. HB -1260). The bill proposes to overturn 80 year old, Prohibition-Era laws in the state of Maryland that currently consider it a felony (yes folks, a felony) to have wine shipped directly to the consumer in Maryland. Further, SB-616 will permit Maryland wineries to export their wine to other states.

It seems quite simple to anyone looking at this bill that it will provide positive outcomes on all ends. The state wins by increased tax revenues on wines shipped into the state, the wineries win by having a much larger market available, the people of maryland win in that we are finally given a free market allowing us to obtain items that are otherwise not available in our great state.

Alright people, now’s the time. If you haven’t sent letters and e-mail to your state legislators, then get to it! There is no better way to show support than attending the hearing, with that in mind, if anyone wants to carpool from Baltimore next Friday…I have 3 open seats!

Everyone has been saying it’s too little too late and that this bill doesn’t stand a chance. That may be true (I won’t believe it), but no one says we can’t go down swinging. If the legislation is dismissed this time around, no worries…we’ll recover and begin preparing for our next showdown against the wholesalers and their deep pockets. If Rocky can come back and win in the sequel, so can we! (This is where I wish I had a video blog to play the song “Eye of the Tiger” while shadowboxing around my desk!).

FRIDAY MARCH 7, 2008
1:00 P.M.
SB 616 Sen Raskin, et Alcoholic Beverages - Direct Wine Shipper’s License
2 West Miller Senate Building, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401-1991
(410-841-3661 Annapolis/Baltimore Area; 301-858-3661 Washington, D.C. Area)

Thanks to a comment by “Oscar” on this post for bringing this to my attention. A full version of his comments are up for discussion on the forums: Click Here
Image credit: Wikipedia.com