With Supercommittee drama over with for now, the First Street Research Group needed a drink, First Street style. So, we took some time to see what the wine and vineyard organizations have been lobbying on. While these groups are not heavyweights in the lobbying industry, there are a surprising number of them for a relatively small industry. Over the upcoming holidays, as you partake in a glass or two, impress your friends with knowledge about the wine industry lobbying efforts. The First Street Research group took a look at eight organizations that focus on the wine industry.
Highlights
The Wine Institute
- Spent $255,000 on lobbying activity in 2011.
- Wine Institute Political Action Committee has donated $98,000 to 32 Members of Congress in 2011.
- 7 lobbyists represented The Wine Institute in 2011 including 4 who went through the revolving door.
112 H.R.1161: Community Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2011
- 21 organizations lobbied H.R.1161 in 201.
- 161 lobbyists lobbied H.R.1161 in 2011.
- 55 of the 161 lobbyists are former congressional staffers.
Other Profiled Wine Organizations That Lobbied in 2011
- WineAmerica
- Desert Grape Growers League
- Center for Wine Origins
- American Wine Heritage Alliance
- Kendall-Jackson Winery
- Pennsylvania Winery Association
- California Association of Winegrape Growers
Coalition Builder Image of Wine Institute Lobbying Activity in 2011
The Wine Institute Lobbying Activity in 2011
Description: The public policy advocacy association of California wineries, The Wine Institute brings together the resources of 1,000 wineries and affiliated businesses to support legislative and regulatory advocacy, international market development, media relations, scientific research, and education programs that benefit the California wine industry.
Lobbying Expenditures for 2011:
The Wine Institute spent a total of $255,000 in 2011 on lobbying activity.
The Wine Institute hired 3 lobbying firms in 2011 and paid them a total of $191,250.
- Hatfield Advisory Services: $101,250
- American Continental Group: $50,000
- Russell & Barron, Inc.: $40,000
Lobbyists Representing The Wine Institute in 2011:
Edward Barron
Currently: Registered Lobbyist – Russell & Barron, Inc.
Formerly: Minority (Democratic) Deputy Chief Counsel – Senate Committee on Judiciary
Manus Cooney
Currently: Registered Lobbyist – American Continental Group
Formerly: Staff Director, Chief Counsel – Senate Committee on Judiciary
Andrew Harker
Currently: Registered Lobbyist – Russell & Barron, Inc.
Frederick Hatfield
Currently: Registered Lobbyist – Hatfield Advisory Services
Formerly: Chief of Staff – Sen. John Breaux (D LA)
Sara Hope Murphy
Currently: Registered Lobbyist – Wine Institute
Tyson R. Redpath
Currently: Registered Lobbyist – Russell & Barron, Inc.
Formerly: Legislative Assistant on Agriculture, Budget, Financial Services, Taxes, Trade – Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)
Randall M. Russell
Currently: Registered Lobbyist – Russell & Barron, Inc.
Wine Institute Political Action Committtee Donations Made in 2011:
|
Beneficiary
|
Candidate | Amount |
| Cantor For Congress | Rep. Eric Cantor (R VA-7) | $ 10,000 |
| Kevin McCarthy For Congress | Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R CA-22) | $ 10,000 |
| Friends of Dick Durbin Committee | Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D IL) | $ 7,500 |
| Mike Thompson For Congress | Rep. Mike Thompson (D CA-1) | $ 6,000 |
| Devin Nunes Campaign Committee | Rep. Devin Nunes (R CA-21) | $ 5,000 |
| Friends of John Boehner | Rep. John Boehner (R OH-8) | $ 5,000 |
| Ken Calvert For Congress Committee | Rep. Ken Calvert (R CA-44) | $ 5,000 |
| Lungren For Congress | Rep. Dan Lungren (R CA-3) | $ 5,000 |
| Nancy Pelosi For Congress | Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D CA-8) | $ 5,000 |
| Prairie Political Action Committee | $ 5,000 | |
| Trust PAC Team Republicans For Utilizing Sensible Tactics | $ 5,000 | |
| Upton For All of US | Rep. Fred Upton (R MI-6) | $ 5,000 |
| Berman For Congress | Rep. Howard L. Berman (D CA-28) | $ 2,500 |
| Friends of Congressman George Miller | Rep. George Miller (D CA-7) | $ 2,500 |
| Jim Costa For Congress | Rep. Jim Costa (D CA-20) | $ 2,500 |
| Texans For Lamar Smith | Rep. Lamar Smith (R TX-21) | $ 2,500 |
| Bill Nelson For U S Senate | Sen. Bill Nelson (D FL) | $ 1,000 |
| Blumenthal For Connecticut | Blumenthal, Richard | $ 1,000 |
| Friends of Dennis Cardoza | Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D CA-18) | $ 1,000 |
| Friends of Farr | Rep. Sam Farr (D CA-17) | $ 1,000 |
| Garamendi For Congress | Rep. John Garamendi (D CA-10) | $ 1,000 |
| Levin For Congress | Rep. Sander Levin (D MI-12) | $ 1,000 |
| Lewis For Congress Committee | Rep. Jerry Lewis (R CA-41) | $ 1,000 |
| Lofgren For Congress | Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D CA-16) | $ 1,000 |
| Pat Roberts Victory Committee, The | Sen. Pat Roberts (R KS) | $ 1,000 |
| Team Emerson For Jo Ann Emerson | Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R MO-8) | $ 1,000 |
| Wally Herger For Congress Committee | Rep. Wally Herger (R CA-2) | $ 1,000 |
| Cooper For Congress | Cooper, James H.S. | $ 500 |
| Friends of Joe Baca | Rep. Joe Baca (D CA-43) | $ 500 |
| Jackie Speier For Congress | Rep. Jackie Speier (D CA-12) | $ 500 |
| Louise Slaughter Re-Election Committee | Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D NY-28) | $ 500 |
| Matheson For Congress | Rep. Jim Matheson (D UT-2) | $ 500 |
| McNerney For Congress | Rep. Jerry McNerney (D CA-11) | $ 500 |
| Sensenbrenner Committee | Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R WI-5) | $ 500 |
| Total Contributions Made in 2011 | $ 98,000 | |
112 H.R.1161: Community Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2011
Purpose: to reaffirm state-based alcohol regulation, and for other purposes.
Co-Sponsors: 114 (50D, 64R, 0I)
Committee Assignments: House Committee on Judiciary
Organizations that have lobbied H.R.1161 in 2011:
- Natl Assn of Manufacturers
- Distilled Spirits Council of The U.S., Inc.
- Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc
- Diageo North America
- Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc
- Beer Institute
- Brown-Forman Corporation
- American Bar Association
- National Beer Wholesalers Association
- Bacardi Limited
- Wine Institute
- MillerCoors LLC
- Anheuser-Busch Inbev
- New York Farm Bureau, Inc.
- County of Riverside
- Brewers Association
- Crown Imports, LLC
- Heineken USA, Inc.
- American Farm Bureau Fed
- Owens-Illinois, Inc
- WineAmerica
Lobbyists Who Lobbied H.R.1161:
- 161 registered lobbyists
- 55 former congressional staffers
- 15 former federal agency staffers
WineAmerica
Description: The mission of WineAmerica is to encourage the dynamic growth and development of American wineries and winegrowing through the advancement and advocacy of sound public policy. The Association also provides membership services to assist wineries with a variety of business operations. We invite you to explore the site to learn more about WineAmerica’s activities, membership, and benefits.
Amount Spent on Lobbying: $50,000 in 2011
PAC Donations: Donated $250 to Rep. Richard Hanna (R NY-24) in 2011
In-House Lobbyists Employed:
- Cary Greene, Esq.
- Michael Kaiser
- Jennifer Montgomery
Desert Grape Growers League (DGGL) Lobbying Activity in 2011
Hired Lobbying Firm: Schramm, Williams & Assocto
Issues Lobbied On: Trade (Domestic & Foreign) – “Table Grape Marketing Order; International Trade Agreements”
Amount Spent on Lobbying: Less than $5,000 each quarter of 2011
Center for Wine Origins Lobbying Activity in 2011
Description: The Center for Wine Origins is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is involved in many activities aimed at educating consumers, policymakers and the media about the importance of keeping wine labels accurate. The center aims to offer better resources for consumers so that they are able to make informed choices when selecting their wines.
Hired Lobbying Firm: Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates, Inc.
Issues Lobbied On: Beverage Industry – “Monitoring relevant trade and regulatory issues that impact Champagne or Port (no specific legislation).”
Amount Spent on Lobbying: Less than $5,000 each quarter of 2011
American Wine Heritage Alliance Lobbying Activity in 2011
Hired Lobbying Firm: Mr. Robert Kalik
Issues Lobbied On: Trade (Domestic & Foreign) – “International Trade”
Amount Spent on Lobbying: Less than $5,000 each quarter of 2011
Kendall-Jackson Winery Lobbying Activity in 2011
Hired Lobbying Firm: Alston & Bird, LLP
Amount Spent: Less than $5,000 each quarter of 2011
Pennsylvania Winery Assocation Lobbying Activity in 2011
Hired Lobbying Firm: Versant Strategies LLC (formerly known as Wolff Strategies, LLC.)
Issues Lobbied On: Agriculture – “Lobby members of the of the PA Delegation on issues related to the wine and beverage industry.”
Amount Spent on Lobbying: Less than $5,000 each quarter of 2011
California Association of Winegrape Growers Lobbying Activity in 2011
Description: Organization that represents the interests and concerns of wine and concentrate grape growers throughout the state.
Hired Lobbying Firm: Clark & Weinstock
Amount Spent on Lobbying: $60,000 in 2011
PAC Donations: Donated $1,000 to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D CA) of 2011
Legislation Lobbied on 2011:
- 112 H.R.2164: Legal Workforce Act
- 112 H.R.390: Family Farm Preservation and Conservation Estate Tax Act
- 112 H.R.1831: Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011
- 112 H.R.2414: Farmers’ Freedom Act of 2011
