Luther Olsen's office emailed today:
This draft should have a bill number by either late next week of the first week of July. Once it has a bill number we can start looking out for the public hearing notice
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Getting a bill number is next
Friday, June 15, 2007
Rep. Mark Gottlieb
Mark Gottlieb contacted us today - he and Senator Sullivan have released the cosponsorship memo for this bill. The deadline for legislators to sign on is Friday, June 22nd.
Any contact with representatives/senators to support this bill will help.
Any of you out there who have corresponded on behalf of this bill - thank you very much. We think it's getting some much needed attention.
Luther Olsen
We were just notified that Luther Olsen has signed his name to this bill. Thank you Mr. Olsen! The support network is growing.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Contact information for State Legislation
As you know, we have been creatively lobbying the city of green lake for a full liquor license. You can imagine the importance to our business of offering full bar selections.
The city of Green Lake can't issue a license due to state quota regulations.
There is legislation being written to allow all Wisconsin cities to issue licenses to full service restaurants.
We need to drum up support for this bill. This is done by calling/emailing state officials, requesting that they support the bill.
If you would like to read more:
http://www.newslettermonkey.com/news/?ng=5D6799&NID=3716
Please, help us send the message to these guys that we need this change to the rules to help small businesses survive.
We appreciate your support in any way.
Please see our website for futher updates.
These communities are in the same situation:
Oconomowoc
Delafield
Oshkosh
Monona
Saukville
Slinger
Lake Geneva
Tomah
Support for Senate Bill LRB 2326/1Creates exemption for full service restaurants from state quota on liquor licenses.
Sponsors:
Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa)608-266-2512
sen.sullivan@legis.wi.gov
Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-Westbend) 608-266-7513 sen.grothman@legis.wi.gov
Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington)608-267-2369 rep.gottlieb@legis.wisconsin.gov
Call and ask these guys to sponsor the bill:
Scott Fitzgerald (Senate Leader)608-266-5660
sen.fitzgerald@legis.wi.gov
Sen. Luther Olsen800-991-5541
sen.olsen@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Joan Ballweg608-266-8077
rep.ballweg@legis.wi.gov
Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson
(608) 266-2253
sen.robson@legis.wi.gov
LRB 2326/1
This blog has been created to keep up a current status of a potential Senate Bill LRB2326/1 that would amend the exception for full liquor licenses, providing them for full service restaurants.
This bill is currently being written.
Then it needs to be co-sponsored by other representatives/senators.
Once this happens, a committee meeting is formed to get the bill formally written and to the Senate.
We're asking anyone who is willing to contact legislators and express support for this bill. Please email/call us with questions.
How the process works
From Rep. Ballweg's office (Thanks to Vince).
The bill is circulating for co-sponsors right now. Once Sen. Sullivan has collected all the names of the co-sponsors, then the bill will be introduced. Then it is up to the leader in the Senate (since Senator Sullivan is the main author) to refer the bill to a committee.
Yes, Rep. Ballweg is a co-sponsor of Sen. Sullivan's bill, there will only be one bill. (some bills have two identical bills introduced, one in each house)
So, there will be one committee that will hold a hearing on the bill in the Senate. If the bill passes that committee, then it will be voted on by the full Senate. If it passes in the Senate, then it is sent over to the Assembly, and it goes through the process again. The bill will be referred to a committee, and that committee can schedule a public hearing, then that committee would have to vote on the bill, and after that, it would be voted on by the full Assembly.
Finally, after passing in both houses, the bill will be sent to the Governor's desk, where he can sign it into law or veto the bill.
Sen. Sullivan's office is correct. In about three weeks, the bill should be introduced and referred to a Senate committee. It is highly unlikely though that whichever committee the bill is referred to will hold a public hearing right away on the bill.
The main focus for both houses of the legislature is the State Budget. It is supposed to be passed by July 1st. Most observers agree that it will be delayed this year, primarily because the legislature is split with democrats controlling the Senate and republicans in charge of the Assembly. Until work on the budget is complete, very few committees will meet to take up other business.
Also, the next floor period is not scheduled until the week of September 17th. Committees can meet prior to that time, but that is the earliest that the bill could get scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
The process.
A message to Wisconsin Legislators
To: Wisconsin State Legislators
From: Curt Witynski, Assistant Director, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Date: June 12, 2007
Re: Support for LRB-2326, Expanding Restaurant Exemption to the Quota on “Class B” Liquor Licenses
The League of Wisconsin Municipalities urges you to sign on to legislation being circulated for co-sponsorship by Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Gottlieb expanding the restaurant exemption to the state-imposed limit on the number of liquor licenses a municipality may issue. Many municipalities around the state are unable to accommodate restaurants seeking to anchor mixed-use developments in their community because no liquor licenses are available. These communities are missing out on economic development opportunities that are vital to their community's redevelopment and growth. Currently, state statutes exempt only restaurants with a seating capacity of 300 or more. This bill exempts full-service restaurants from the limit on the number of liquor licenses that a municipality can issue.
Despite the Tavern League’s concerns, this bill does not end the quota on tavern licenses.
If you are pro-local control and support economic development and job growth within your communities, then sign on as a co-sponsor of this important legislation. Thanks for considering our comments.
See the editorial linked below for more reasons to sign on to this bill.
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070612/OSH06/706120365/1189
*****************************************
Curt Witynski
Assistant Director
League of Wisconsin Municipalities
122 West Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 267-2380
Rep Ballweg's co-sponsorship
TO: All Legislators
FROM: Senator Jim Sullivan Senator Glenn Grothman Representative Mark Gottlieb Representative Gordon Hintz
DATE: June 11, 2007
RE: Co-sponsorship of LRB-2326/1 – Creating an Economic Development Exemption to the Quota on “Class B” Liquor Licenses
We are introducing LRB-2326/1 which will create an economic development exemption to the state-imposed limit on the number of liquor licenses a municipality may issue. Numerous communities around the state, such as Oconomowoc, Delafield, Oshkosh, Monona, Green Lake, Slinger, Ripon, Lake Geneva, Saukville, and West Allis to name a few, are at or near their quota and have no liquor licenses available to issue.
Such municipalities are unable to accommodate restaurants seeking to anchor mixed-use developments in their community because no liquor licenses are available. These communities are foregoing potential economic development opportunities that are vital to their community's redevelopment and growth. Currently, state statutes exempt only restaurants with a seating capacity of 300 or more.
This bill will exempt full-service restaurants from the limit on the number of liquor licenses that a municipality can issue. The bill defines a full-service restaurant as establishments where meals are prepared, served, and sold for consumption on the premises and in which the sale of alcohol beverages accounts for 50 percent or less of the restaurant's gross receipts. The local community will maintain the authority to issue, or not issue, "Class B" liquor licenses that best meet the needs of their communities.
The League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association have indicated their support this legislation.
If you would like to co-sponsor this legislation, please call Sen. Sullivan’s office at 6-2512 or Rep. Gottlieb’s office at 7-2369 by Friday, June 22.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law prohibits a person from selling alcohol beverages at retail unless the seller possesses a license or permit authorizing the sale. A “Class B” license authorizes the retail sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption on the licensed premises and, depending on the type of intoxicating liquor and whether a municipal ordinance has been adopted, may also authorize the retail sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption off the licensed premises, subject to certain limitations. Current law imposes a quota on the number of “Class B” licenses that a municipality may issue. This quota is generally determined by a formula based on the number of licenses previously issued by the municipality and the municipality’s population. Current law provides quota exceptions for a full−service restaurant that has a seating capacity of 300 or more persons and for a hotel that has 50 or more rooms and has a restaurant or banquet room meeting certain criteria. Current law also provides a quota exception for certain opera houses and theaters, but a “Class B” license issued under this exception authorizes the sale of intoxicating liquor only for consumption on the premises and only in connection with ticketed performances. This bill modifies the quota exception for full−service restaurants. The bill provides a quota exception for full−service restaurants regardless of seating capacity, but creates a definition of “full−service restaurant” that limits the exception to establishments where meals are prepared, served, and sold for consumption on the premises and in which the sale of alcohol beverages accounts for 50 percent or less of the establishment’s gross receipts. In addition, a “Class B” license issued under this exception authorizes the sale of intoxicating liquor only for consumption on the premises. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
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