Senator Richard F. Colburn - A Shore Senator

May 5, 2006

Maryland Wineries Association
PO Box 173
Timonium, MD

Dear Senator Colburn:

I have some good news to report to you as a result of Maryland's successful enactment of new legislation allowing in-state and out-of-state wineries to sell directly to restaurants and retailers. As you will recall, this legislation was a reaction to a suit brought by a Pennsylvania winery alleging that Maryland's law was discriminatory because it did not allow out of state wineries the same priveleges to sell to restaurants and retailers which had been afforded the Maryland wineries in the past.

Senate Bill 812, an emergency legislation which was signed by the Governor on April 25, 2006, ended that discrimination and created a level playing field so that small wineries (defined as wineries producting under 27,500 gallons of wine a year) both in-state and out-of-state, would have direct access to restaurants and retailers in Maryland.

I am happy to report to you that on April 25, 2006, the Plaintiffs in the suit of Bushnell v. Erhlich filed a Motion in Federal District Court to end their suit alleging that Maryland law was discriminatory.

I would like to express the appreciation of both myself and the Maryland Wineries Association for your support and vote for Senate Bill 812. It is not often that legislation results so immediately in a direct positive effect on a Maryland industry. We happily report that that is the case here.

There is no doubt that without this legislation, litigation would have continued, creating great uncertainty for Maryland wineries and putting a damper on any business plan to start a winery in Maryland. With your help, that of the rest of the Maryland General Assembly and the Governor the enacted legislation has ended that possibility. This has not been the case in other states where legislatures have failed to act so swiftly and so decisively.

Again, thank you for your support of Senate Bill 812, which Governor Erlich signed on April 25, 2006.

We look forward to working with you again and calling upon if Maryland wineries are ever in similar situations.

Sincerely,

Carol Wilson


Paid for by Citizens for Colburn Committee. Authority John W. Phillips, Jr., Treasurer		May 5, 2006 Maryland Wineries Association PO Box 173 Timonium, MD Dear Senator Colburn: I have some good news to report to you as a result of Maryland's successful enactment of new legislation allowing in-state and out-of-state wineries to sell directly to restaurants and retailers. As you will recall, this legislation was a reaction to a suit brought by a Pennsylvania winery alleging that Maryland's law was discriminatory because it did not allow out of state wineries the same priveleges to sell to restaurants and retailers which had been afforded the Maryland wineries in the past. Senate Bill 812, an emergency legislation which was signed by the Governor on April 25, 2006, ended that discrimination and created a level playing field so that small wineries (defined as wineries producting under 27,500 gallons of wine a year) both in-state and out-of-state, would have direct access to restaurants and retailers in Maryland. I am happy to report to you that on April 25, 2006, the Plaintiffs in the suit of Bushnell v. Erhlich filed a Motion in Federal District Court to end their suit alleging that Maryland law was discriminatory. I would like to express the appreciation of both myself and the Maryland Wineries Association for your support and vote for Senate Bill 812. It is not often that legislation results so immediately in a direct positive effect on a Maryland industry. We happily report that that is the case here. There is no doubt that without this legislation, litigation would have continued, creating great uncertainty for Maryland wineries and putting a damper on any business plan to start a winery in Maryland. With your help, that of the rest of the Maryland General Assembly and the Governor the enacted legislation has ended that possibility. This has not been the case in other states where legislatures have failed to act so swiftly and so decisively. Again, thank you for your support of Senate Bill 812, which Governor Erlich signed on April 25, 2006. We look forward to working with you again and calling upon if Maryland wineries are ever in similar situations. Sincerely, Carol Wilson