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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2007 > October > 01 > Entry
Controversy escalates over new shipping restrictions
The plot thickens, as they say, according to this story from Cleveland.com entitled “Ohio watchdog group criticizes wine-shipment ban”. In addition, the national organization that calls itself Free The Grapes! is trying to rally consumers against the law.
The Plain Dealer story details how public watchdog agency Ohio Citizen Action is now questioning the apparent back-room deal, to wit:
“What we’re talking about is not just access, it’s cutting a deal that no one actually knows about until it’s over,” said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action.
Well, actually, Uncorked readers knew a little something about it, but not enough. I wish I had been able to better understand the bill’s language at the time to better assess the law’s impact.
Note that the Plain Dealer story identifies our local State Sen. Jeff Jacobson as one of the chief architects of the legislation. Here’s an excerpt from the story:
Jacobson said he felt the matter was thoroughly hashed out behind closed doors, noting that he even heard out a lobbyist for the large out-of-state wineries. “This had plenty of discussion within the Senate,” Jacobson said. “It would be impossible for every issue in every budget bill to be one that people spend hours and hours talking in a public meeting about.”
Maybe they should have spent a few more minutes talking about this one.
But who are we to question the wisdom of our legislative leaders?
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
Comments
By Ron
October 3, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
Sen. Jacobson knows that there was very little discussion of the details of this legislation anywhere in the House or Senate. Lack of review was the reason why our Sen. Niehaus and Senate Finance Chair Sen. Carey did the right thing to oppose attaching this to the budget bill. Jacobson had his arm twisted by lobbyists from the wholesalers and select Ohio wineries and he caved. It’s as simple as that. This all seems to be at heart a gross violation of trust. Constituents trusted Jacobson to protect their interests and he failed. Members of the Ohio Wine Producers Association trusted their organization to protect their interests. OWPA failed. To me the lesson here is to get informed, to get involved, and not trust any one or any organization to do the right thing.By chiefwino
October 3, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this
Not just for wine laws, but any type legislation - the legislature should be required to post the full text of a proposed law on a website for 2-4 weeks to allow citizen comment before a vote can be taken.By Nancy Bentley
October 2, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this
We’re glad that this clandestine deal is coming under public scrutiny. Ron (Kinkead Ridge) tried to get this out in the open and into legislation. We’re crushing Cabernet Franc, and he will have a comment later today after crush.By chris
October 1, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
ummm-is this the home of the Free? Why are we not allowed to choose for ourselves what wine and liquor to buy? Why should “The State” choose whose wine is imported where? Let consumers judge what is drinkable.By Ed
October 1, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
Mark: I just followed K V Brown to the email box. Hope Sen. Jacobson can keep those BIG wineries from destroying our fine, homegrown, family wineries. The heck with free trade. Oh, by the way, the heck with any broker living in Ohio that receives goods from prospective winery clients. At least Rep. Dolan admitted he did not think this through.By K V Brown
October 1, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Thanks for your heads up on this one. I have sent an email to Jeff Jacobson indicating that I am withdrawing any support because of his position on this matter and the manner in which it was handled. Hopefully, others will do the same.By Jim Gordon
October 1, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this
Mark: At the base of it, is this legislation the work of distributors defending their turf? Small wineries and consumers rejoiced over the 2005 Granholm decision by the Supreme Court that seemed to knock down the state by state barriers to home delivery of out of state wines, but it looks like the distributors have found a way around it.