Kerry and the beer act

[Mass]

The Republican
http://blog.masslive.com/thefray/2011/03/sen_john_kerry_co-sponsors_bee.html

Sen. John Kerry co-sponsors 'BEER Act' to cut taxes on small brewers
...
Congressional Republicans and Democrats can't agree on much. Except maybe beer.
Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat, announced yesterday that he and Iowa Republican Sen. Mike Crapo were introducing the Brewer’s Employment and Excise Relief (BEER) Act, a bill that would reduce the excise tax paid by small breweries.
Kerry said that the reduced tax burden would create jobs at about 1,600 small breweries nationwide, including an estimated 38 in Massachusetts.
He explained on the Senate floor that the bill adjusts the definition of a small brewer, which was last revised in 1976. He said:
Under current law, small brewers are limited to those that produce 2 million barrels of beer per year. This legislation would update and raise the ceiling for the small brewer tax rate to 6 million barrels per year to reflect the original intent of differentiation between the large and small brewers. The largest beer producer in America used to produce 45 million barrels annually and that has increased to over 100 million barrels.
He cited research from Harvard economist and public policy professor Dr. John Friedman, who performed an economic analysis on the House version of the bill, which was co-sponsored by Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield. That study found that Massachusetts would be among the states to receive the largest economic boost from the bill, which was touted as a "beer stimulus" at the time.
More importantly (to the beer drinkers among us), it would "reduce the average price of a case of craft beer produced by small brewers in 2010 by $0.19."
According to the Kerry's remarks, based on Friedman's study, the bill would cut in half the amount of taxes brewers pay on their first 60,000 barrels produced annually, to $3.50 from $7 a barrel. It would also reduce the taxes paid on production between 60,000 and 2 million barrels to $16 apiece, down from $18. Read the study here »

And a few pictures from the 2004 campaign showing Kerry with beer. But know that the article is extremely weird, so click on the link at your own risks.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/dailyfray/a-brief-history-of-john-kerry-39-s-love-affair-with-beer-20110310

[karynnj]

1. As you said, a weird article - but very good pictures

How much you bet they are hoping people will jump to the conclusion that the Charles Koch here is Charles Koch, the RW funder of all Kerry opposes - even though the initials are different.

Obviously, they miss the reason Kerry gave - jobs in Massachusetts.

[Mass]

2. You learn something today. Apparently, Sam Adams is a beer for the elite

and Coors and Budweiser for the masses.

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/bottom_line/2011/03/john-kerry-taxation-and-beer.html

I really dislike beer, so I could not say, but apparently, this idiot seems to think so and to find dangerous that you would want to help jobs.

[beachmom]

3. I would say that's kind of true. Sam Adams is more expensive

than Bud and Coors, and has a fuller taste more akin to European beer. BUT OTOH, Sam Adams comes from Mass. so you could say Kerry is loyal to his state.

[karynnj]

4. Not to mention, at least, going by what I've seen my husband and friends drink.

they are more substitutes for the European beers - not Bud or Coors. If so, it helps with export/input.