Jackson Jambalaya

Clarion-Ledger reporter Elizabeth Crisp attempts to shed some light on the beer debate:

"This year, the legislature will consider a few bills that aim to increase the flow – so to speak – of beer in Mississippi.
But as they have in years past, it seems those bills are again heading toward failure.
Despite what appears to be an overwhelming support for the legislation among business owners and consumers, lawmakers are still hesitant to take up bills that appears “pro-alcohol” in a state where blue laws are the norm....

Many, including Republicans Sen. Dean Kirby and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, seem hesitant to even put the issue up for a vote in committee or on the floor.
So what are your thoughts on the beer issue?" blog post

The political reporter for the state newspaper might try digging through some campaign finance reports, or better yet, read this website (Sorry, I just had to write that. ;-) ) since JJ documented last week the money trail from Anheuser-Busch to Senate Finance Committee Chairman and the man responsible for killing these beer-friendly bills, Dean Kirby.

The Budweiser lobby in Mississippi consists of several players: Anheuser-Busch, Lobbyist Beth Clay and her firm, and Capitol Advocacy Group, a PAC created by Ms. Clay and funded by AB. However, there is another serious player: Southern Beverage, which is AB's distributor. Southern Beverage has not one, not two, but three lobbyists and not just any lobbyists: Clare Hester, John Lundy, and Clifford Thompson. All super-lobbyists and two, Ms. Hester and Mr. Lundy, are both members of Capitol Resources Group (CRG), Henry Barbour's firm. A review of campaign finance reports reveals how much money Southern Beverage has paid to its lobbying team:

2010: Not available.
2009: Clifford Thompson: $6,750, CRG: $60,000
2008: Clifford Thompson: $6,750, CRG: $60,000
2007: Clifford Thompson: $6,500, Al Sage: $3,000, CRG: $60,000
2006: Clifford Thompson: $6,500, Al Sage: $3,000
2005: Clifford Thompson: $6,500
2004: Clifford Thompson: $6,500, Al Sage: $3,000
2003: Clifford Thompson: $6,500, Al Sage: $3,000
2002: Clifford Thompson: $6,500, Al Sage: $3,000
2001: Clifford Thompson: $6,500, Al Sage: $3,000
2000: Clifford Thompson: $6,500, Al Sage: $3,000

A pattern emerges when reading these reports: Southern Beverage, Anhueser-Busch, and Capitol Advocacy Group did not spend much money in Mississippi politics until 2007. Southern Beverages spending on lobbyist jumped from $9,000 a year to nearly $67,000 in 2007 and has remained at that level. This team includes those some would argue are the two top lobbyists in Mississippi. A reexamination of the money trail documented last week shows the same pattern: AB gave little money to PAC's or Senator Kirby prior to 2007. Suddenly Anheuser-Busch was donating $10-20,000 per year to Capitol Advocacy Group. CAG is then making large donations to Senator Kirby.

Is there any particular reason why Anheuser-Busch and Southern Beverage started dropping money bombs and hiring the top lobbyists in 2007? These activities just happened to start taking place right before newly-elected State Senator David Baria began introducing "craft" beer-friendly legislation in the 2008 session? Anheuser-Bush and Southern Beverage have a huge market share in Mississippi and anything affecting said market share is going to draw their undivided attention. The increase in donations by Anheuser-Busch and its PAC to Senator Kirby began after the 2007 elections and right before the 2008 session. Meanwhile, Senator Kirby publicly states he will not allow any "craft" beer legislation to receive a hearing or vote in his committee. Coincidence?