So, this past week, the members of Free The Hops have been working up a sweat bombarding their state senators with desires of the passage of HB196, AKA the Gourmet Beer Bill. The Alabama Senate is notorious for fucking around and not getting anything done. The vote on HB196 was supposed to happen on Tuesday. No go. Then, it got moved to Thursday. Same thing. Now...well, here it is...an e-mail from Stuart Carter, the President of Free The Hops:
Members and supporters of Free The Hops,
Nothing is certain in Alabama politics, but we are confident that our lobbyist can get HB196 on the Senate's special order calendar tomorrow, which is the next-to-last day of the 2008 session. Passing a Senate floor vote is the final hurdle before the Gourmet Beer Bill can be sent to the Governor to sign it into law. It all comes down to this moment.
Although we take nothing for granted and encourage everyone to make a final call and email to your own Senator to encourage him or her to vote Yes on HB196, we have good reason to believe we have the votes needed for passage. Unfortunately, we have gotten word that one Senator may be prepared to stop our bill from ever coming up for a vote. Senator Hank Erwin has said he is inclined to filibuster the Gourmet Beer Bill because of his religious convictions. He is fundamentally opposed to all "pro-alcohol" legislation, period.
Because the end of the session is close at hand, the Senate as a whole has no patience for filibusters at this point. If anyone threatens a filibuster, they will most likely carry over the controversial bill and move on, possibly ending our chances of success this year.
So we are asking ALL of our members to call Hank Erwin today or early tomorrow (before 10am). Even if you are not one of his constituents, his threat to filibuster could prevent your own Senator from ever having a chance to cast a vote on the bill, which is not fair. BE POLITE. It is absolutely imperative that we all take the high road and be models of Christian charity and civility. But he needs to know that Alabamians are overwhelmingly in favor of HB196 and we want him to allow it to come up for a vote.
All you need to say is that you support HB196, and while you respect his convictions and understand he will vote No, you would simply like him to allow the bill to be voted on. Keep it short and simple.
He will be in the State House today and in the morning. His office number is (334) 242-7873. You can also send an email to senatorerwin@aol.com, but phone calls will have the biggest impact.
Stuart Carter
President
Free the Hops | Alabamians for Specialty Beer
So, some neo-Prohibitionist ass is trying to ruin the whole thing for the state. May 19 is our final chance this year. Think good thoughts. I've already called my senator about the bill. Hopefully, this douchebag won't screw this up, and beer lovers here won't have to drive to neighboring states for stronger brews.
