Wine Auction Bill Pt 2

Wine Auction Bill Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. A bill that passed unanimously through the House, and now heads to the Senate, would eliminate volumes of paperwork for wineries taking part in charity auctions performed by non-profits.

Prosser Representative Bill Jenkin sponsored House Bill 1718 in order to level the playing field at auctions that are a great showcase for their wines ...

BILL JENKIN-4 = 16 ... "What the event does, it draws buyers to check all the wines that are presented there. That way the small wineries, they're looking just as good as the big wineries. So, throughout the industry, they're very happy with the opportunity to take part in these events."

The first-term Representative says Olympia has opened his eyes to the world of competition ...

BILL JENKIN-5 = 33 ... "That's what I've found over there, is that a lot of the issues that come up, not only in the wine industry, but everything that we seem to be hearing in committee, is big versus the small. And, I have three businesses, and I'm a small businessman, and there are a lot of small businesses especially throughout my district and throughout everybody's district. The idea is that small businesses have to be able to compete with the big businesses, otherwise they're never going to become a big business themselves. So, this gives them the opportunity to display their wines in a very, very good event."

Jenkin says the small businesses are suffocating under bureaucracy and his bill, at the very least, would encourage growth in the wine industry.

His bill would also allow for tastings at the auction events.

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