MTA board reviews session
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
The Montana Tavern Association's executive board in May voted to urge Gov. Brian Schweitzer to sign the server-training bill, and voted to oppose U.S. Sen. Jon Tester's effort to halt proposed limits on debit card transaction fees.
During its meeting May 12 in Helena, the board also discussed the new line-game legislation and other industry-related measures that were debated in the recently concluded Legislature.
MTA's government affairs counsel and lobbyist Mark Staples reviewed legislative action, including the mandatory server-training proposal that had landed on Schweitzer's desk. Senate Bill 29, which calls for a statewide server-training program that mandates that all sellers and servers of alcohol be trained within 60 days of hire, had been passed by the Legislature.
However, Schweitzer originally rejected part of the bill, sending it back to the Legislature and requesting that the Department of Revenue's training program be restored as part of the statewide plan. House legislators had removed the DOR program from the proposal, saying it was too expensive.
Staples said the MTA's Legislative and Gambling Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the board that the MTA urge Schweitzer to sign the bill, even without the DOR program being a part of it.
Without a statewide program, mandatory server training is going to be imposed city to city by local authorities, Staples said.
“Do we want to have to deal with this in every city council in Montana?”
Those local ordinances, he said, could be seriously unworkable compared to the statewide proposal.
The board agreed unanimously to recommend to the governor that he sign the bill.
Regarding line games, Staples said he emphasized two main MTA directives to lawmakers throughout the legislative process:
• To ensure that line games are available to all – “if you can afford it, you should get it;”
• And to ensure that percent payout does not exceed the agreed-upon limit – “I wanted to make that perfectly clear.”
He said those goals were met, and that now it's time to make it all work.
“In the grand scheme of things,” he said, “you did very well (in the Legislature).”
He urged members to stay involved with the organization in order to stay informed on the issues.
“We trust that you come to these meetings,” he said. “Take notes. Ask questions. Then take it home – have a meeting (soon) to disseminate the information to others.”
Ralph Ferraro, chairman of the Legislative and Gambling Committee, urged members to begin now to develop “some goals and plans for the next Legislature in 2013.”
He said multiple issues will likely require action, including tip credit, microbreweries and other gaming changes.
“I don't think status quo is the way to go,” he said.
Staples also acknowledged longtime MTA member and national director Harry Klock, who finished his fourth and final term as state representative from Harlowton.
“We're very appreciative,” Staples said of Klock's service. “It's a major loss to the Legislature and to us.”
Ferraro thanked his committee members and Staples for their efforts in getting the line games passed.
“We followed Mark's plan to a T and it worked perfectly,” he said.
Ferraro also introduced representatives of gaming machine manufacturers to answer questions – Bruce Wilson of Grand Vision Gaming and Blaine Bowman of Spielo.
One topic of discussion involved the desire of everyone involved that the roll-out of line games on Jan. 1, 2012, is “simultaneous,” meaning that operators who decide to purchase line games are able to offer the games for play immediately on Jan. 1.
To do that, the gaming reps said manufacturers will need to pre-install the games in October, November and December so that the games will be ready to go on Jan. 1. Bowman said the industry should urge the Gambling Control Division to accept this pre-installation as the agency develops administrative rules for the line games.
In other action, board supported the Legislative and Gambling Committee's recommendation that the MTA oppose U.S. Sen. Jon Tester's effort to stop limits proposed for debit card “swipe fees." A federal proposal would limit the fees to 12 cents per debit-card transaction, a significant savings from the current average of 44 cents per transaction by larger banks. Tester, however, wants to delay that proposed limit for two years while its potential effects are studied.
The committee had endorsed a plan to send letters to the entire Montana congressional delegation – Tester, Sen. Max Baucus, and Rep. Denny Rehberg – urging support for limits on debit card transaction fees.
Staples said state associations for convenience stores, retail stores and restaurants are actively opposing the limit.
Bobby Lincoln, chair of MTA's public relations committee, said tickets for the “no-dinner dinner raffle” were on sale and urged MTA members to “fire up and really sell those tickets.”
He said his committee, which convened earlier in the day, changed the payout structure for the raffle to provide more chances to win for ticket purchasers. The grand prize, to be drawn at the convention in September in Red Lodge, has been reduced to $10,000, but 10 additional drawings for $500 have been added.
In addition, he said an early bird drawing for $1,000 will be drawn each month leading up to the convention (four total). The deadline to be included in the first early bird drawing is June 15.
Lincoln said his committee is especially excited about the MTA's newest fundraiser, the “On-the-House Patality” promotion that runs during the National Football League season. Last season was the first for the promotion and was a big hit, despite getting a late start due to some regulatory holdups.
Lincoln said Steve Morris, who brought the idea to the board, deserves “a big thanks.”
This year the Public Relations Committee has already organized the promotion, and tickets are available to sell right now.
The promotion entitles buyers of $20 tickets to 36 free drink tickets from taverns across Montana (up from 12 last year). In addition, the ticket automatically enters the person in the Football Mania sweepstakes, where players participate each of the 17 weeks of the National Football League season with randomly chosen NFL teams. Each week the ticket holder's card lists three teams, and holders of the four highest and two lowest team point totals win cash prizes.
A question was raised regarding the possibility that current NFL labor strife could delay or even cancel some games. Lincoln ensured members that the promotion has a back-up plan to cover that scenario.
Lincoln also said his committee had developed an incentive plan to give bartenders $1 for each ticket they sell. In addition, for every 25 tickets sold, the seller will earn an entry into two grand prize drawings of $1,000 each.
Staples reminded MTA members that the item of value in the promotion is the free drinks, and the Football Mania game is an extra bonus. He said bartenders and others selling the tickets should emphasize the free drinks, not the Football Mania portion of the promotion, to keep the tickets legal.
Giving the national directors report, Steve Morris said the American Beverage Licensees (ABL) association, the MTA's parent organization, will definitely appreciate the MTA's decision to oppose Sen. Tester's effort to stop the limit on debit card swipe fees.
“Montana is pretty important to the ABL,” he said.
Morris even suggested that MTA members individually write Montana's senators and congressman in support of the limit.
He added that the ABL convention is slated for June 12-14 in Milwaukee and said the convention was definitely worthwhile for any MTA member to attend.
Budget and Finance Committee chair Mary Jane Heisler reported that memberships were up by 33 from a year ago, to 753. She added that the year's budget remains sound.
Heisler also said her committee recommended to the executive board that the convention registration fee be raised to $150 from $125 to help the host city (Red Lodge this year) cover rising costs. The fee has not been raised for several years, she said.
However, because taverns are continuing to suffer in a tough economy, the executive board approved a registration fee increase of only $10, to $135.
In other action, the board approved a request to raise the national directors' per diem to $100 from $28.
Also Rocky Roberts, chairman of the upcoming convention, reported that plans for this year's event in Red Lodge “are progressing really well.”
He said the planning committee has decided to combine the men's and women's luncheons this year. Another change involves eliminating the silent auction at the banquet in favor of a plan to offer single auction items at participating bars in the area. Details are still being developed.
“We're looking to have a good time in Red Lodge in September,” Roberts said.