Fwd: Please FIX and PASS HB541

[Jesse Bussard]

Beer-loving friends,

I just sent the forwarded email below to the MT Senate email list to request they FIX and PASS HB541... 

You'll see all the senators listed in the "To:" line. Feel free to copy and paste the emails and send your own message about HB541.

The Senate is discussing and voting on this bill at 1pm TODAY, so if you can take a moment to show your support for MT craft beer and let your voice be heard in our Senate, I know our brewery friends would appreciate it! On top of providing us with amazing beer, Montana breweries are our community centers and provide us with a venue to do so much good in this world. It's time we take a minute to do the same for them.

More background info on HB541 can also be found in the links below.

Amendments Could Force Kettlehouse to Shut Down Taproom: http://growlerfills.beer/2017/04/senate-amendments-to-hb-541-could-force-kettlehouse-to-shut-down-northside-taproom/

Senate Committee Approves HB 541; Guts it With Amendments: http://growlerfills.beer/2017/04/senate-committee-approves-hb-541-guts-it-with-amendments/

HB 541: Creep, and the Montana Legislature's Approach to Beer: http://growlerfills.beer/2017/03/creep-and-the-montana-legislatures-approach-to-beer/

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS EMAIL ONTO ANYONE ELSE YOU KNOW WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO CALL OR WRITE THEIR SENATORS!

Jesse Bussard

Cowpunch Creative | Fermentana, LLC

Co-Founder, Bozeman Craft Beer Week

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

~ Aristotle

"Just as the microbial cultures exist only as communities, so too do our broader human cultures."  
~ Sandor Katz

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jesse Bussard <jrb...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 8:51 AM
Subject: Please FIX and PASS HB541
To: goodwin...@gmail.com, rne...@gmail.com, Sen.Mark...@mt.gov, Sen.De...@mt.gov, ebut...@mtsenate.com, maryc...@gmail.com, Sen.Jill...@mt.gov, Sen.Pat...@mt.gov, TFa...@mt.gov, Sen.Jennif...@mt.gov, Sen.Steve....@mt.gov, Mrma...@me.com, Sen.Je...@mt.gov, Sen.Steve...@mt.gov, Sen.Jeded...@mt.gov, br...@hovenequipment.com, sendavi...@gmail.com, Sen.Lle...@mt.gov, Sen.Do...@mt.gov, Sen.Bob...@mt.gov, Sen.Mi...@mt.gov, suem...@gmail.com, edie.mcc...@gmail.com, Sen.Mary...@mt.gov, moe.mt...@gmail.com, Sen.Eri...@mt.gov, Sen.Albert...@mt.gov, ryanos...@gmail.com, mikeph...@montana.net, Sen...@mt.gov, Sen.Keit...@mt.gov, tomric...@gmail.com, Sen.Sco...@mt.gov, dansal...@gmail.com, senato...@gmail.com, Sen.Jo...@mt.gov, Sen.Jas...@mt.gov, Sen.Car...@mt.gov, clai...@hughes.net, Sen.Nels...@mt.gov, Sen.Margie...@mt.gov, sfred...@yahoo.com, vanc...@gmail.com, cvvi...@hotmail.com, Sen.Gene....@mt.gov, web...@hotmail.com, jeffw...@hotmail.com, Sen.Lea....@mt.gov, Sen.Cynth...@mt.gov

Dear Senators,

I implore you to please FIX HB541 by removing the amendments the Business & Labor Committee tacked onto this bill. HB541 had such promise to help our state's burgeoning craft beer community grow to its full potential, as well as bring great benefit to Montana's farmers, create jobs, and foster overall economic growth. With the proposed amendments, any hope of such benefits has been squashed and the craft brewers left with nothing, but a measly 20% in growth, more taxes, and the possibility of even one brewery location having to close.

If you say you are pro-business, especially pro-small business, you'll strike these amendments from the bill and pass it in its original format which allowed for a reasonable raise in barrel limits from 10k to 60k barrels. HB541 passed the House with a huge support of 85-14. Surely, it can't be that hard to do the same in the Senate. 

I urge you to please FIX and PASS HB541. Get rid of the anti-small business, burdensome regulatory amendments added which do nothing but stifle our economy's growth and rob our communities of jobs and revenue we greatly need. By doing so, you will open doors and create opportunities for Montana's citizens, business owners, farmers, and more. Do the right thing and get this fixed. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cheers,
Jesse Bussard

Jesse Bussard

Cowpunch Creative | Fermentana, LLC

Co-Founder, Bozeman Craft Beer Week

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

~ Aristotle

"Just as the microbial cultures exist only as communities, so too do our broader human cultures."  
~ Sandor Katz