One hurdle down, another yet to clear today

The bill to increase the allowed ABV limit on beer sold in Alabama has passed the Budget Isolation Resolution vote, where a similar bill stumbled in the House of Representatives last year. That means it's now finally up for debate, looking for an up-or-down vote on the proposal itself.

It's now being discussed on the floor (I think), and you can hear it live via the House Web site.

I'm not sure who's talking now, but he's not making much sense. He said that we don't need more alcohol for the young people to drink. Dude, the legal drinking age in this state is 21. He also said that "you can buy anything you want tonight at the state store." Except craft beer, friend.

Now a representative of the Alabama Railroad Association (huh? or was it "Retail?") is asking who will set the standards for what beer will be allowed under this bill. Sir, isn't that exactly what the Legislature is now considering? He's also saying he wants protections against "cheap, high-alcohol beer" flooding the state. Bullcrap. How does the 13.9-percent beer allowed under this bill stack up against the 80-percent-plus alcohol in lquor the state government itself will sell me at my local ABC store?

Warning friends, this is difficult to listen to.

EDIT: I think I understand that the nonsensical gentleman I mentioned before is Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery. He's now sparring with the bill's sponsor, Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville. He's really off the rails now, somehow bringing the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 into his argument against the bill. Jackson didn't help a whole lot, (sorta) getting him onto that track by saying Free the Hops represented "Germans" who asked him to introduce the bill. For the record, FTH is a group of Alabamans who want access to the world's finest beers.