Comments on: Who’da Thunk It? But, Honestly, It’s Been a Long Time Coming… Illinois Wine Consumers Unite http://wine-blog.org/index.php/2009/01/09/whod-thunk-it-but-honestly-its-been-a-long-time-coming/ Juicy Tales by Jo Diaz Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:52:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mike http://wine-blog.org/index.php/2009/01/09/whod-thunk-it-but-honestly-its-been-a-long-time-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-1602 Mike Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:00:31 +0000 http://wine-blog.org/?p=2582#comment-1602 Jo is right - some states open up and some shut down. Some raise their fees to discourage interstate shipments. We are a small California producer with a smattering of interstate customers. Because we are located along a major freeway artery, the amount of wines we ship to other states will continue to grow. But, the cost of compliance, taxes, fees, bonds, etc is outrageous. Our current thought is to ask the California State Legislature (who needs to find $$ in a big way, fast) to impose the same fees and reporting on any incoming alcohol shipments that these obstructionist states impose on our outgoing shipments. Isn't Illinois where the distributor for Corona beer is located? Case in point - Texas changed their import fees to $470 for two years from $150. Plus, you have to pay to get a bond for $1,000. Our excise taxes in Texas will not be $1,000 in $20 years. But you cannot directly pay them, say $300, and have them credit your account as you file the labrynthian monthly returns. How silly! Wouldn't the State of Texas benefit from having $300 from each of the 2,000 wineries that currently ship wine to that state? I applaud these folks in Illinois who are banding together consumers to battle the special interests and money-grubbing governmental forces. Mike Jo is right – some states open up and some shut down. Some raise their fees to discourage interstate shipments. We are a small California producer with a smattering of interstate customers. Because we are located along a major freeway artery, the amount of wines we ship to other states will continue to grow. But, the cost of compliance, taxes, fees, bonds, etc is outrageous. Our current thought is to ask the California State Legislature (who needs to find $$ in a big way, fast) to impose the same fees and reporting on any incoming alcohol shipments that these obstructionist states impose on our outgoing shipments. Isn’t Illinois where the distributor for Corona beer is located?

Case in point – Texas changed their import fees to $470 for two years from $150. Plus, you have to pay to get a bond for $1,000. Our excise taxes in Texas will not be $1,000 in $20 years. But you cannot directly pay them, say $300, and have them credit your account as you file the labrynthian monthly returns. How silly! Wouldn’t the State of Texas benefit from having $300 from each of the 2,000 wineries that currently ship wine to that state?

I applaud these folks in Illinois who are banding together consumers to battle the special interests and money-grubbing governmental forces.

Mike

]]> By: Jo http://wine-blog.org/index.php/2009/01/09/whod-thunk-it-but-honestly-its-been-a-long-time-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-1595 Jo Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:07:08 +0000 http://wine-blog.org/?p=2582#comment-1595 Matt, This has been such a long time coming that I'm honestly relieved to see it now moving forward with consumers banding together. I have so many other wine related tasks to do, that this one wasn't my cross to bear. Surely, though, it's been needing people like you to finally get fed up enough to begin fighting for what's rightfully yours... Freedome to choose. And, yes, who would have thought that as other state open up, yours would shut down? I still think it's just a matter of time, and a matter of enough voices saying, "Hey, knock it off!" to make this all shake down to a final even playing field for all states for all people. Best wishes on your journey! Matt,

This has been such a long time coming that I’m honestly relieved to see it now moving forward with consumers banding together. I have so many other wine related tasks to do, that this one wasn’t my cross to bear. Surely, though, it’s been needing people like you to finally get fed up enough to begin fighting for what’s rightfully yours… Freedome to choose.

And, yes, who would have thought that as other state open up, yours would shut down?

I still think it’s just a matter of time, and a matter of enough voices saying, “Hey, knock it off!” to make this all shake down to a final even playing field for all states for all people.

Best wishes on your journey!

]]> By: Matt Borneman http://wine-blog.org/index.php/2009/01/09/whod-thunk-it-but-honestly-its-been-a-long-time-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-1594 Matt Borneman Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:54:08 +0000 http://wine-blog.org/?p=2582#comment-1594 Jo, Thank you so much for your enthusiastic words of encouragement. As a member of the IWCC Steering Committee, I am very excited to raise awareness and enact new legislation that will bring back choice and fairness to Illinois wine consumers. Who would have thought that the Granholm v. Heald Supreme Court ruling to create interstate commerce fairness would have had the opposite result in Illinois? We ask everyone to check out our website and, especially if you live in Illinois, hit the "Join Now" button to show your support. We won't solicit money nor give out your email address. Jo,
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic words of encouragement. As a member of the IWCC Steering Committee, I am very excited to raise awareness and enact new legislation that will bring back choice and fairness to Illinois wine consumers. Who would have thought that the Granholm v. Heald Supreme Court ruling to create interstate commerce fairness would have had the opposite result in Illinois? We ask everyone to check out our website and, especially if you live in Illinois, hit the “Join Now” button to show your support. We won’t solicit money nor give out your email address.

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