Corporate America and high-paid lobbyists put a lot of pressure on our elected representatives. But if there’s one time when small, family owned business owners need our representatives to work for us, this is it.

We own World of Wines, a wine shop in Redmond. Since the Costco initiative two years ago, corporate America has moved into Washington and taken over the liquor industry. Prices have gone up, public safety has gone down and small, family owned businesses like ours have gone out of business.

Although two other wine/liquor stores in Redmond have closed in the last year, we haven’t closed yet. House Bill ESSB 5731 would allow us to sell a limited amount of hard liquor made by other small businesses (mainly Washington craft distillers). If 5731 doesn’t pass this session, we’ll end up closing our doors, as well, and the loss of small bottle shops will have long-term ramifications to the small wineries in Washington state.

Our family’s livelihood is at stake. We hope that our representatives remember that they’re supposed to work for small businesses, too!

Allen and Janet Bechtel and

Kathy Brunker, World of Wines owners