NBWA enlists allies for state tax fights

Modern Brewery Age, Sept 29, 2003

With the threat of state tax increases on the rise, the National Beer Wholesalers Association is seeking, and finding, new allies for coming statehouse battles. The NBWA recently signed a joint letter to U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and

CEO Thomas Donohue, urging the group to continue to make combating state tax increase threats a top priority for its 2004 agenda.

"Adding the lobbying power and political clout of the U.S. Chamber to an industry-wide coalition will substantially increase the resistance to future state tax increase threats down the road," said NBWA President David Rehr. "Beer wholesalers are continually searching for allies and will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to combat state excise tax threats and tax increases in general."

Trade association participants in this coalition include: Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.; The Financial Services Roundtable; National Assoc. of Chain Drug Stores; Club Managers Association of America; National Restaurant Association; Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America; Grocery Manufacturers of America; American Frozen Food Institute; and Truck and Leasing Association.

The letter reiterates that the U.S. Chamber's efforts to fight tax increases in states across the nation would be particularly effective in highlighting the negative impact of tax increases on job growth and economic development. The letter also referred to the creation of an informal state tax coalition that will execute anti-tax increase initiatives such as: Retaining lobbyists and state association employees to react to all new state tax proposals; Building an effective business-based grassroots effort; Participating in events such as gubernatorial, mayoral and state leadership conferences; and Executing a national media strategy.