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At
least one major Wisconsin business — MillerCoors — has opposed the
creation of an Office of Alcohol Beverages Enforcement led by a
political appointee, saying that the state's current enforcement system
is working well.
Senate Bill 801 has
brought out some of the heaviest hitters in state politics. Less than a
month ago, Fitzgerald's brother, former Assembly Speaker Jeff
Fitzgerald, signed up to lobby for the state's wholesale wine and liquor
sellers.
For the first time Thursday, Scott
Fitzgerald acknowledged talking to his brother about the bill. The
Senate leader said his brother hadn't exercised improper influence over
the process but also declined to say how many times they had talked
about the bill.
"The
angle is we currently have laws on the books and they're just not being
enforced," Fitzgerald said, insisting that was his reason for pushing
the bill.
The proposal would also give a special
liquor exemption to the Kohler American Resort. Kohler's American Club
is distilling a chocolate brandy but having difficulties selling it
because of state law.
Fitzgerald said he was
seeking to help that business grow but didn't specifically say why
Kohler should receive an exemption that many other alcohol makers would
like to receive.
"It's a carve-out," the senator acknowledged.
Kohler Corp. executive chairman Herb Kohler has been a frequent donor to Republicans, including Fitzgerald.
Wisconsin
has a complicated system governing the making, distribution and sale of
alcoholic beverages that is known as the three-tier system. It
dates back to the 1930s and was intended to prevent monopolies on the
sale of beer, wine and spirits by separating businesses involved in
alcohol production, wholesale and retail.
The system can both limit the businesses of brewers,
distributors and retailers and provide them with lucrative
opportunities, so proposed changes to the law often provoke intense
legislative battles.
Vos said he doubted the bill as written would pass the Assembly this legislative session.
"I think it's very difficult to move that bill at least in our own caucus," Vos told reporters.
He
said he agreed there is a need to have better enforcement of alcohol
laws and wanted to grant Kohler approval for its project. But he said he
believed a more comprehensive measure was needed that would ensure
particular types of businesses were not put at a disadvantage.
"My goal is to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to thrive in Wisconsin while still following the law," Vos said.
Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this article.
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