H.R. 2903 is up to 83 co-sponsors...

[Brewhaus]

I would be extremely shocked to see the President veto this if it makes it to his desk. For one, it is not a big enough bill for him to use his veto power, and secondly, it is widely supported on both sides of the aisle, so it is not as though it is something being pushed just by Republicans. Heck, it is the top Democrat on Senate Finance that sponsored the bill!

[S-Cackalacky]

Tom, thanks for the info. My congressman is Bob Goodlatte. It's good to hear of Tim Kaine's apparent support. I don't have a good feel for how Warner might fit into this - no response isn't a good sign. I'll be emailing both Kaine and Warner in the next couple of days.

My email to Goodlatte was short and not at all personal. Sorry, I didn't keep a copy of it and it was sent from a "contact" link on his web site, so I don't have a quote of what I wrote. I basically asked, in a curtious way, for his support of the bill - indicating that it would be good for free enterprise and personal liberty. I made a point of mentioning the docket number, H.R. 2903, and the working title of the bill.

I've sent emails to him in the past to advocate for legalization, but have never received replies until now. Maybe it didn't peak his interest until it actually became a bill. I think a tougher nut to crack will be the Commonwealth of Virginia - with some of the most draconian likker laws in the country.

Anyway, thanks again for that last post. And, thanks Rick for your take on the president's potential response.

[BaxtersDad]

Well, it has to start with the feds, and then it is state by state. I emailed my Congresswoman urging her to support H.R. 2903.

I remember when homebrewing was illegal - not that it stopped anybody. I was a scofflaw homebrewer from 1965 to 1979, when I finally got respectable! It was not until the 1980s when good information, eqjuipment and ingredients became widely available. It is also not a coincidence that is when the first great microbreweries were founded.

I don't know where home distilling is headed, but the prohibition is just unreasonable. In the meantime, we are all a bit paranoid ("Just because you are paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you") and keep the doors closed and windows covered.

[spisska]

Any chance this thing could move along, be approved by the house and senate, and end up being vetoed?

Next to zero percent chance of that happening. Presidential vetoes are quite rare, and are only ever applied when a bill is highly contentious and goes directly against a president's policy agenda.

The Obama administration since 2009 has issued a total of four vetoes: 1) an appropriations bill that was subsequently passed in a different form; 2) a rather technical bill having to do with recognition of out-of-state and/or electronic notarization (believed to open loopholes to various financial shenanigans); 3) a bill concerning the controversial Keystone XL pipeline; and 4) a bill related to case procedures at the National Labor Relations Board.

The George W Bush administration issued 12 vetoes in its eight years: most dealing with stem cells, defense issues, healthcare for children, and broad-based agricultural policy.

There's nothing in either the House or Senate bill, as either now stands, that would raise an eyebrow, let alone a veto threat, from the current White House.

The most likely outcome, unfortunately, is that the bill never makes it out of committee. This is the fate of most bills introduced in either Congressional chamber.

It's become standard procedure for the dysfunctional US legislature -- that popular or harmless bills that make it out of committee then get saddled with amendments that make them unpassable in the full House or Senate. It's largely because of that any really important legislation tends to get tacked onto must-pass budget or defense bills.

The best hope for this bill is that it's so minor, so low-key, so common-sense, and has so much bipartisan support that it can make it to floor, pass with a quick vote and enter into law with few people remarking much about it outside the Congressional Register and Congressional Quarterly. The current legislative session runs through Jan 2017, so that's also a lot of time.

On the other hand, the current Congress is filled with people who like to turn everything they possible can into a point of political grandstanding. One party in particular takes more pride in preventing new laws than in passing them, no matter how much (or little) common-sense is involved.

[Venture Rider]

Signed up for bill tracker. Got an email this morning and the count is now up to 89 sponsors.

[tcowdrey]

Hello All,
A subject came up on another forum that is worth mentioning here. A hobby distiller in the northeast said that he does not believe the Congressmen/Women in his state are paying attention to his calls and emails for their support of Hobby Distilling. Sooooo, what to do to get their attention? Instead of even mentioning section 502 of the main bill, ask for their support of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2015. The two bills, S. 1562 and H.R. 2903 are designed to give tax relief to small craft breweries and distilleries. If you would rather not reveal your name in favor of hobby distilling or don't think the Reps in your state are paying attention to you, use the main bill as your request for support. Lets face it, these bills did not get over 100 sponsors and cosponsors because of section 502 - they signed on because helping small businesses will help them. Of course it is the right thing to do as well.

MY SOAP BOX:
1) Please email or call your Senators and Congressmen/Women in DC. Ask to speak to the legislative staffer since your chances of talking to you Rep is approaching zero. Use the bill's name and number and ask for their support. On the Congressman's/Woman's website you will find local offices that are staffed by Constituent Representatives- make an appointment and go spend some time with them. It is their job to listen.

2) If you have not joined HDA, please do so today. Our lobbyist is expensive and Rick is footing the cost for everything the membership dues not cover (he is currently in the red.). Go to http://www.hobbydistillersassociation.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow and join. It is only $35.00 a year. Also check out our website. There is lots of good information on the site.

Questions or suggestions, go to the HDA website. Or contact me. We are here to help you help us all get these bills passed.

Tom Cowdrey
tocowdrey3@gmail.com

[RandyMarshCT]

We now have 92 co-sponsors in the house and 19 in the senate!

Keep the letters rolling!

[S-Cackalacky]

Randy, can you fill us in on the implications of sponsorship? Does it need a certain number of sposnsors to move out of committee? Or, does it simply add to its likelihood of being passed? Or, both? Or, neither?

[RandyMarshCT]

It mostly increases the likelihood of passing, but not exactly.

It could be co-sponsored by the majority of the house and senate, and never be presented for a vote. However, many of the people in congress will look at a bill and decide whether to back it or not based on the other names attached to it. If we can get as many co-sponsors as possible, we can consider that a list of lawmakers that will most likely vote in favor of the bill if/when it does come to a vote. Also, these people are far more likely to vote for a bill without hesitation if they are familiar with it. One of the best ways to make them familiar with it is by contacting them by phone/mail/email and expressing your support for it while asking them to support it as well, as you are their constituent. The more people they hear from, the more likely they are to look into (or more realistically, have one of their staff look into) the bill.

Many of my reps that I contacted over the past 2 years (CT & RI... I moved) responded with, "while we take your requests and opinions to heart, there is no current piece of legislation related to the topic you are presenting" or some other BS like that. Well, now there are bills. It's their job to represent us, so we should be demanding representation... or at least politely asking for it.

[Boda Getta]

Maybe more important than who supports the bill, is who opposes it? Do we know of any large, powerful (rich) groups with paid lobbyist who, for whatever reason, oppose H.R. 2903. Often times opposition works in the background, below the radar and kills legislation and nobody is aware of the opposition until it's too late.

BG

[Brewhaus]

Thus far we have not been able to identify anyone specifically against the bill, and our lobbyist has worked to find out if such a group exists. Keep in mind that Congress has been trying for about four years to put together legislation that would do what this bill does (with respect to excise tax, and easing the burden on the craft side), but until now attempts only pleased one side- craft beer / spirits or big beer / spirits. This bill finally has support of both groups, so the likelihood of a positive outcome is much greater. Far from guaranteed, but it does have a real fighting chance.

Rick

[StillLearning1]

So i have a two silly questions on this.

First, I run a 15.5 boiler with a 7.75 thumper, will this setup be legal under the new laws?

And second, when will we have a deffinate answer on this passing? I know nothing about politics, I've never even voted. I usually stay out of politics due to my ignorance about them but this one sure does affect me!

[raketemensch]

Opposition isn't really as big of a deal as getting it introduced for a vote, from what I understand.

For the big distillers, it means more attention paid to spirits, which means more sales, like the industry that home brewing built.

The biggest hurdle seems to be getting a "representative" to put it out on the floor for a vote. It looks like it would pass, there doesn't seem to be real opposition, but lots of bills in a similar situation die before ever reaching the floor. It's not a death sentence, but the more they think people care about the issue, the more likely it is to get introduced. So call your people, and tell them it matters to you.

[MitchyBourbon]

The "Speaker of the house" is who determines what bills are to be voted on in the House of Representatives . On Friday last week John Boehner announced his resignation as Speaker of the house. John Boehner was the son of a bar tender. Ironic...

[Boda Getta]

"there doesn't seem to be real opposition,'

We'll see.

BG

[jb-texshine]

Funny story...made some calls today and my representatives are already aware of and on board...lol.

[RandyMarshCT]

Funny story...made some calls today and my representatives are already aware of and on board...lol.

Yeah... Texas is the birthplace of this movement.

However, it never hurts to let your reps know that there are plenty of constituents out there supporting this, and noticing/appreciating their lawmakers' support.

[Brutal]

We now have 92 co-sponsors in the house and 19 in the senate!

Keep the letters rolling!

95 this morning, and still 19 in the senate.

None of the dicks I emailed have responded or co-sponsored yet.

Time for more emails.

[MitchyBourbon]

Um...

Do we need to make sure these guys don't get confused and vote for this bill; H.R.2238?

H.R.2238 is a related bill to ours but it does not include section 502.

I would hate for that to happen.

[Boda Getta]

Get HR 2238 withdrawn.

IN

[Brewhaus]

I believe that HR 2238 makes up one of the components of S1562 / HR2903. S1562 / HR2903 is meant to combine several small, related bills into one bill that can get backing from multiple sides.

[StillLearning1]

Anyone have any new news on this? Its been on my mind lately. I have a spot on the front porch picked out for the still and everything!

[raketemensch]

Anyone have any new news on this? Its been on my mind lately. I have a spot on the front porch picked out for the still and everything!

It hit 100 cosponsors in the House today. That's almost 25%.

[city shiner]

Anyone have any idea when/if it will come up for a vote? Guessing that because its the gov'mnt it'll take a while. Would be nice if when I get my still put together it would be legal to run it. Ain't holding my breath though...

[pfshine]

If you read the bill it says if and when passed the law will go into effect one year after passing. That will be one loong build.

[city shiner]

If you read the bill it says if and when passed the law will go into effect one year after passing. That will be one loong build.

I did read it, and I forgot about the year wait. Fortunately I live in a state that defers to federal law on the issue of home distillation. So I'm assuming that if it did pass I'd be pretty safe doing it. Still wouldn't put my rig on the front porch though

[raketemensch]

Anyone have any idea when/if it will come up for a vote? Guessing that because its the gov'mnt it'll take a while. Would be nice if when I get my still put together it would be legal to run it. Ain't holding my breath though...

Someone has to bring it to the floor for a vote, which isn't guaranteed.

[raketemensch]

The bill now has 111 cosponsors (68 Republicans, 43 Democrats). There are 435 potentials, so we're almost at 25%.

My Senator finally got back to me with some BS about "I'm looking forward to talking about comprehensive tax reform."

So I wrote him right back (I had to dig around and do some guessing at his real email address), saying that I'm not asking about "comprehensive tax reform," I'm asking about a particular bill which has wide bi-partisan support and needs to be passed before any sort of amorphous "comprehensive tax reform" would ever stand a chance of becoming a reality. Which is never.

[Brewhaus]

The Senate bill is now at 25 cosponsors, so including the original sponsor that makes 26%!

[tcowdrey]

One of the worst part of this process is waiting to watch the grass grow. As of 10/25 H.R. 2903 up to 114 cosponsors (71 Repub and 43 Dem). S. 1562 now has 25 cosponsors - that 25% 0f the Senate (don't have the exact mix but it is very close to 50/50 Dems and Repubs).

Tom