Brock Wagner, the main man at Saint Arnold’s, sends a letter to the Houston Press, as does one of his microbrewing colleagues.
Kill bill: I laughed when I read your article [“Beer Time in Austin,” as told to Richard Connelly, December 21]. While I hope you are wrong, the betting man should be putting his money with you. I’m getting completely stonewalled by the big beer wholesaler lobbyist, which I do not view as a positive development. It is annoying when you start to part the curtains and view the process of law being made. Money does buy influence. Our success depends upon idealism winning out. Which gets back to whom I would bet with — your horse looks more appealing right now!
Brock Wagner
HoustonCheers: Thanks for the article. Hopefully we won’t get beat up too bad, but you are not the first to predict that, so I’m sure the chances of it happening are pretty good. Hell, they let wineries do it.
Frank Mancuso
Austin
Well, I’d wondered if there was going to be a bad guy in all this. Looks like the answer is Yes.
Meanwhile, the Austin Chronicle blog picks up on the microbrewers’ legislative effort, and promises some coverage in their print edition preview of the 80th Lege. I’ll check for that when it’s available. Link via St. Arnold Goes To Austin.
Even if the microbreweries found a legislative sponsor, the distributors would make sure they wouldn’t get a hearing, especially if Craddick holds on and Flores remains chair. Check those campaign contributions.
You are going to learn real quick that common sense laws are not made in Austin.
Common sense requires lots of Cents. If you dont pay, you dont play.
Welcome to Texas politics.