This about sums up the entire debate…
“I am all for free enterprise,” [Rep. Kent] Williams said. “but this could put some small-business owners out of business and small businesses are the backbone of this state.”
There’s not a lot more you can say about that.
April 20th, 2011
Get rid of the nonsensical “three tier” distribution system.
Allow wine and liquor stores to sell items other than alcohol above 6% abv.; glasses, corkscrews, bloody mary mix, olives, etc.
Oh, and stop playing politics and pandering to your lobbyist benefactors and listen to the people who sent you to do their work.
April 20th, 2011
I am a veterinarian. Flea and tick control products are a big income producer for veterinarians. Huge. Over the past two years, the two biggest flea and tick products were taken out of the hands of solely vets, and went ‘public’ and are now sold at WalMart. Veterinarians are mad about it, but business goes on. Vets still provide services and products that consumers can’t get anywhere else. Ditto with liquor stores. Bakeries, fruit and veggie stands, beauty stores, dairies, pet food shops all survive even though their product is sold in grocery stores. Liquor store owners need to put on their big people panties and deal with it.
April 20th, 2011
Rep. Curry Todd in Shelby Co. said the same thing. Circular logic is the backbone of the political class. We need a CHANGE in Nashville.
April 20th, 2011
Let’s get real, Rep. Kent Williams. The liquor lobby fills your pockets with money, and you want to keep it coming. You care not a whit about what the people want. With overflowing campaign coffers you think you can get re-elected until the cows come home. It may not be so.
April 20th, 2011
The other 99,000+ Tennessee small businesses don’t have the luxury of a protected market. They adapt and move on just as your business has. Thanks for the comment.
April 20th, 2011
Since you asked. Here’s Rep. Williams campaign contributions from the last election cycle.
April 26th, 2011
Wow, over 10% of his campaign funds comes from the Liquor lobby. Can we just raise some money and pay-off the senators for our side?
May 9th, 2011
Economic diversity is a good way to keep an economy strong and robust in bad times. The legislators know this.
I feel sorry for the people in Iowa. Thay have to pay more for the exact same wines no matter where they by it. Pick up the phone and call.
By setting up an oligopoly system for wine you are just agreeing to raise prices.
June 13th, 2011
Don’t forget the biggest opponents of this bill got the most money from the liquor store lobby…namely Todd and Williams…hope the voters don’t forget