We did originally say the Gov had until this Thursday to sign it. But we later learned that due to the day on which it was transmitted to the Gov’s office (different from the day it passed the Senate) he actually has until Monday the 25th, as Stuart mentioned below.
He is being… deliberative. Yes, we are all chomping at the bit for him to sign it and no, the fact that he hasn’t signed it yet is not a bad sign. He has not directly given FTH any indication of what he will do, but so far all the signs are still good.
Just be patient, and try to think of someone you may know or perhaps recently met in line at the grocery store that might not have called the Gov’s office yet in support of HB373. Your barber? The guy you sat next to on your recent flight into Birmingham? Your kid’s best friends parents? Your mailman.
They all need to call.
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I’ve called so many times they’re probably saying “It’s him again!”
Pestering everyone I know and don’t know…
I’m a little behind the curve on the blogs and responses, but do we have any national/regional brewers behind us? Perhaps if we do, we can get them to start a corporate daisy chain of calls to the gubna?
Just a thought. I’m sure I’m not the first to have it.
Good idea Matt….I wonder.
I’m on it my man! The day that the bill passed Senate, I spread the word far and wide amongst my fellow Rogue’s in the industry to call and support the bill. I’m right here with you.
Dave @ ROGUE
Does anybody know how the Governor’s office is tracking the calls? I’ve called, my family has called, my friends have called, but nobody I’ve spoken to has had their name or address or anything taken. Are they tracking by phone numbers on a caller ID? I’ll call A LOT more if that would help.
Moi aussie
From what I’ve heard about the response, there’s really no reason to try to deceive, and it’s not the way we like to play the game anyway.
Thanks for your efforts.
They are just tracking the numbers (# for, # against).
Just called. Emailed on Friday. Trying to get others to call in as well.
Why the hold-up?….Cmon Riley sign it so we can start working on the next resolve for getting Alabama into the present century.
Just for comparison, it was a full week before Riley signed the wine bill. So if he follows the same pattern, expect him to sign it Thursday or Friday.
The big difference is that if he didn’t sign the wine bill it still would have become law. He could not pocket veto that bill. He can pocket veto HB373. I still think he’ll sign it, but he’s not leaving much time for the stores to get stocked with good beer before Memorial Day weekend.
I’ve called, and told everyone at the brewery to call too.
Terrapin’s behind you!!!
Thanks for the calls Steve! Can’t wait to see y’all again at the brewfest in Birmingham!
Thank you Steve!
Great to have that kind of support. Many thanks!!
yeah… ive called a bunch every day. i have access to about 20 different phone lines in my office area. ive called from most of those every day, just in case they had caller i.d.
I’m using the phonebook and getting everyone in there to call the governors office. I’m down to the D’s and still going. LOL
Monday is a holiday!..Memorial Day! So, he should sign it Thurs or Fri right?…since everyone is off on Monday?
I saw in this blog somewhere that those types of holidays don’t affect the gubna.
huh? I highly doubt Gov Riley will be in the office Monday. Therefore, he’ll have to sign it Thurs or Fri…right?
Everyone is sayin the deadline is Monday (holiday…no one in the office), so the gubna IS affected by the holiday.
See Stuarts post “Keep calling the Governor”.
called today!
I’ve decided he’s going to wait until Friday afternoon to sign it, that way the backlash from the “alcohol is the devil” crowd can get out of the way before he really gets back to work come Tuesday.
I find this rather appropriate. If anyone hasn’t read the “Soggy Sweat” speech you should… quite the insight into Southern political attitudes surrounding alcohol.
So close but yet so far! Todd does make a good point, hopefully it won’t be that long but we shall see.
As long as he signs it I don’t care how long it takes!
http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2009/dh-localnews-0519-cnorwood-9e18v2352.htm
“… the governor’s office has previously threatened to veto the hops bill…”
Is that true?
He would have a lot of explaining to do if he vetoed HB373, after signing the wine bill.
!?!? I’ve never heard of Riley indicating he would veto (or pocket veto) our bill. I’ve emailed Chris Norwood to ask where he may have gotten that indication. I’m not saying it isn’t accurate. It’s very possible I missed something, but I want to know what.
The Huntsville Times says Riley should sign the bill: http://www.al.com/opinion/huntsvilletimes/editorials.ssf?/base/opinion/124289739786130.xml&coll=1
Has anyone tried to get some chefs to speak out in favor of it. I would think that help lend creedence that these really are gourmet beers. Just a thought. Keep up the fight!
I’m trying to be patient and open-minded….but I’m worried. Anything new??
Mississippians are pulling for you! I feel like a kid waiting for his older brother to get his driver’s license because I get to go along for the ride. If this bill gets signed I hope some industrious Alabamian opens a gourmet beer store as close to Mississippi State University as possible. I think I could guarantee you a few thousand steady customers.
I’ve been thinking about you guys. You stand to gain in this too, huh? Hope your legislative efforts are successful one day. (Hope ours are too, for that matter.)
Sign it, Riley!
I am getting so antsy!
My husband and I toured Abita Brewery (north of New Orleans) Saturday (for the third time, hehehe) and already told them about the bill passing the Senate—so please please please Governor Riley we are counting on you! I am ready for Jockamo IPA, the Mardi Gras Bock (when it’s in season) and eventually (when the next bill that increases container size is passed, right guys?!) Andygator and Abbey Ale to be stocked on Bama shelves! And of course all the other great beers that other breweries create…
Be carefull with the Andygator…it’ll BITE!;)
I love beer and do support the effort to increase the alcohol limit of beers available in Alabama. But I don’t know all the facts, and would have to spend time doing research in order to write an intelligent and coherent email to the Governor’s office. Is there a boilerplate letter available somewhere?
I won’t pretend to speak for anyone but me, but the e-mail I wrote the gov more eloquently and delicately stated the following two points:
1.) When you were 17 did you have a penchant for stouts as thick as motor oil and IPAs as bitter as licking a 9V battery? No… kids don’t want these beers and can’t afford ‘em anyway.
2.) Most of these beers are made in Amur’ca. Craft brewers are often small businesses, but at the very least employers. Putting a gigantic Alabama shaped hole in their distribution area makes their business more difficult in ways that aren’t a problem for the Macros.
Just call the Gov’s office ((334) 242-7100)and tell the nice lady that answers, that you support HB373, the Gourmet Beer Bill, and would appreciate it if he signed the bill into law. The lady will say “Thank you”, you will not be asked any quesions, and you hang up. It takes less than a minute.
container laws differ in each country, city. anniston can sell beer in HUGE containers, b’ham can not. c’mon governor, sign that puppy – time’s a wasting’!
Does the bill that passed include the container size increase?
no, just abv
That’s too bad. Most of the HG brews I enjoy aren’t available in 12oz.
It is a huge first step though….
Hypothetical here…. I’ve heard Riley is considering a special session over the PACT program; if he doesn’t sign the bill by Monday and a special session is called would we be able to mount a campaign to get it signed during the special session or would be be S.O.L?
I’m pretty sure special sessions can only address the reason the special session was called.
Called the Gubna again!
The Prattville Progress Editoral page asked Gov Riley to sign it.
It’s getting down to the Nitty Gritty now! This is killin me!
Me too. I agree with what Todd said above – this afternoon would be the ideal opportunity to sign it. I’ll start getting pretty nervous if it doesn’t happen by the end of the day.
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[...] 373 legalizing gourmet beers up to 13.9% ABV in Alabama; however, nothing is certain in politics. Free the Hops needs you and anyone you know who cares to keep calling and emailing the Governor! Riley’s [...]