ALBANY, NY -- You know those slasher movies in which the evil being keeps bouncing back despite being shot, clubbed, electrocuted, poisoned, drowned and otherwise rudely treated? Meet its New York State legislative equivalent: the wine-in-grocery store movement.
The push that won't die, despite being critically wounded in the state budgetary process year after year, is back yet again. Bills to allow grocery stores to obtain state licenses to sell wine, rather than allowing wine and liquor stores to maintain their monopoly on the commodity, got lost in the budget wheeling and dealing in at least the last three state budget processes -- twice under David Paterson, and this year under Andrew Cuomo.
Now, State Senator Tom O'Mara, R-Big Flats, is sponsoring a bill he says would benefit wineries by giving them more outlets to sell their product. His proposal would require supermarkets to obtain a state license to sell wines. His constituency -- which covers Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler and Yates counties and parts of Tompkins County - is replete with wineries.
On the Assembly side, Monroe County's Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, whose district also includes numerous wineries, is pushing the same bill. To become law, a bill needs to be approved by both houses of the Legislature and signed by the governor.
Then-Governor Paterson pushed a similar plan as a revenue generator. Cuomo pretty much ignored it through the recent budget process. O'Mara, Morrelle and other legislators supporting such a bill estimate it initially would bring in $430 million for the state treasury, and $62 million to $70 million annually thereafter.
Not unexpectedly, the "anti" forces quickly came out against the renewed push, claiming the revenue estimates are exaggerated and such a law would harm independent retail stores. Some also say it would not help New York wineries. Rather, they contend, it would merely allow more sales of non-New York wines. Nevertheless, the bill's supporters promise to push fellow legislators for some kind of action before the end of the current session on June 20.
Comments