Just before 3:00pm today, the Alabama Senate passed HB373. Success. Vindication. The blood, sweat, and tears of all of our many supporters paid off.
BUT. We are at a point where we must have the Governor’s signature for our bill to become law.
We need to do everything we can to encourage the Governor to sign our bill. That’s why we’re asking everyone in the state who values personal freedom and who thinks the Alabama government should stop telling us which beers are ok to drink and which ones we can’t handle to contact Governor Riley immediately. By phone, fax, or email, whatever works best for you.
We’ve even had one of his former staffers give us some tips on how best to go about this:
The volume of letters and phone calls that he receives on a particular issue is reported to him every morning, and he takes them seriously. … A couple quick points:
- They have a pretty sophisticated constituent database, so multiple calls/mail from the same person won’t accomplish much. They report to him the number of persons, not the number of communications.
- Any arguments that sounds like something the gambling folks would say should be avoided (“People go over state lines to do it anyway…”). You don’t want to equate yourself with those guys in his mind.
- Arguments about personal liberty and economic development will probably have more sway.
Pointing out the surrounding states that allow it will also be helpful. The fact that GA, NC, SC, and WV have passed these bills in the past couple years is persuasive.
Just keep it short and to the point. Let him know you support the bill and why.
Here’s contact information for the Governor’s office:
Switchboard: (334) 242-7100
Fax: (334) 353-0004
Email form: http://www.governor.alabama.gov/contact/contact_form.aspx
Don’t hesitate! We haven’t come this far only to suffer a veto now. Make sure Gov. Riley knows the people of Alabama want him to sign HB373 into law.
Thank you to everyone who has gotten us to this point. Time to seal the deal.
78 Comments
Congrats!
Hooray! I called. It took about 1 minute. Do it!
I just emailed the Gov. and asked friends to do the same.
Done! emailed riley!
Did it pass with the on/off premises amendment or as originally written?
Yes. and the House concurred with it. The amended version is going to the Governor.
Emailed Riley. Tis done. *Crosses fingers and hopes its enough*
@Jeff, I’d imagine it passed with the amendment. They had already passed the amendment when they voted on the BIR.
Does the house have to concur with the amendment?
That’s my next question. I realize that’s a very minor hurdle, but I hate to count chickens…
FABULOUSLY AWESOME!!!
On the phone right now.
Done! Have asked all I know to do the same. I have faith!
I emailed Riley. Let’s hope the ammended verson passes the House and gets signed into law! I don’t see there being a problem passing the ammended version so I hope Riley comes through!
i’ve emailed the governor
Done done and done. Passed the news and request for appropriate encouragement to Riley to my office mates and friends. Can I hold my breath now?
E-mailed Gov. Riley. Crossing fingers and toes! The blog had really good tips on the feedback. One sour comment in a pile of cordial ones could be enough to make him want to veto it just for an example…
What was the vote count? Was Erwin mad afterwards? I think he was really grandstanding more than anything.
Originally it was 22-9 and Erwin was on record as voting Y. They used a previous roll call (requires unanimous consent) that Erwin had voted Y on.
But it looks like they re-voted or something b/c the final vote is now 19-9 and Erwin is down as a N vote.
Email sent. I’ve also asked my friends to do the same.
Emailed the governor. So excited!!
I called the Gov’s office, it took 15 seconds, no joke. Ask her how many people have called, she knew what I was calling for before I mentioned it!
10 seconds for me. I said the Free the Hops bill and she knew HB373.
Just emailed.
Done! Who’s coming to the J. Clyde tonight?
Just called. Now working on an email. Also will post on other forums I’m on that have sympathetic members to do the same.
I just called and the Secretary knew the bill number without me having to say it, so she must be getting quite a few calls.
Just emailed. FTH!
My friends and I have contacted Governor Riley. YAY! It’s been a long road guys. Hopefully Riley will sign it and we can start enjoying some great beer!!
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Now I will e-mail, phone, fax, telegraph, smoke signal, whatever……
Contacted Governor Riley – reminded him that I’ve supported and voted for him twice.
I called and she said he would get a number at the end of the day. But she never asked if I was against or for. I hope he knows the majority (or I hope) of the calls are in support of HB373
According to this article:
http://blog.al.com/live/2009/05/senate_passes_free_the_hops_bi.html
they used a previous vote total (possibly the vote regarding the amendment?) to pass the bill. Sen. Erwin had recorded an “aye” vote previously, which means he’s now on record as having voted to pass HB373!
Done! Go HB373!
Doesn’t if have to go back to the House to concur in the Seante Admendment?
I’m curious about that too. If it does, seeing how the amendment is a concession to the opponents anyway, hopefully some of them would even change their minds and vote their approval. And I would doubt that any purist supporter would reject the modified bill simply due to the amendment.
Yes, but it’s a procedural non-issue. A page will carry it over and they’ll vote to concur sometime today. It’ll probably also be on the Governor’s desk sometime today.
Just read in the news that the House has already concurred!
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/05/bill_oking_stronger_beer_clear.html
>>The so-called “Free the Hops” bill passed the Senate 19-9 today with changes, and the House OK’d those changes this afternoon.<<
Emailed Gov Riley, and am passing the same advice to friends.
YES! Belgium beer come to Daddy!
I called. The poor gal, she knew, “HB373, right, I’ve gotten a 100 calls already.” She didn’t take my name, number or anything. I think I’ll call her back on Monday, maybe Tuesday as well, just to make sure she knows that I want the Governor to support the bill.
Called, posted, passed along..Do you think Riley may Veto this since he has vetoed every other alcohol bill??
7 seconds! I called introduced myself, was asked HB373? I said yes, she told me she had it down. Emailed the office as well.
Surely the Gov won’t veto a bill that has such widespread support. Might make reelection a bit tricky.
Have one bottle of Orval left, might get popped tonight.
I’m becoming afraid that they will veto it after tomorrow and we will not have a chance to get overridden by the Senate..
Doubt he’ll veto it. All he has to do is not sign it. Call/email him and encourage your friends to do the same.
Not signing only works when the Legislature is in session, when they adjorn Friday it kills a bill.
I think we’re saying the same thing. My point was, there will be no overriding a veto, because there will be no veto. If he wants to kill the bill, he just won’t sign it.
We just got concurred in the House.
Just sent in my email of support.
From another forum I frequent:
a guy i work with just called and said “i’m calling about the beer bill” and they said “ok, we’ve got you down”
he didn’t even get out if he was for it or against it. sounds like they are getting flooded with calls. that’s gotta be a good thing.
Just emailed the gov. (crossing fingers)
E-mail sent. Could it really be on his desk to sign tomorrow?
E-mail sent. I’ve also posted bulletins and notes on some of the forums I visit, plus Facebook and MySpace.
WOW, bout time!!!
Done!
Great news…finally!!!! I called and left a message for the Governor. I’m working on getting friends to call now.
Just emailed Gov. Riley. THANK YOU FREE THE HOPS!!!
Called the gov AND e-mailed. Now pestering friends to do the same.
Congrats Danner, Stuart, and all the FTH gang! Almost there…
YAY!!!!!!
So many possibilities!
Gov. Riley has signed the stronger wine bill.
Bodes well for Beer
A good omen: Riley signed the wine bill:
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/05/gov_bob_riley_signs_bill_allow.html
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[...] office: Switchboard: (334) 242-7100 Email form: State of Alabama – Office of Governor Bob Riley Free The Hops | Alabamians For Specialty Beer [+] Rate this post [...]
[...] office: Switchboard: (334) 242-7100 Email form: State of Alabama – Office of Governor Bob Riley Free The Hops | Alabamians For Specialty Beer [+] Rate this post [...]
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