Tester toasts to Montana brewers and distillers

Senator sponsors bill to cut taxes and reduce regulations on small businesses

(U.S. Senate) – After meeting with a Montana distiller today, Senator Jon Tester raised a glass to Montana’s alcohol producers by announcing his sponsorship of a bill to lower taxes and reduce regulations on breweries and distilleries.

The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act cuts excise taxes for small breweries in half and reduces excise taxes on distilleries by more than 70 percent.

Today, Tester met with Headframe Spirits Owner John McKee in his Washington D.C. office where the Senator heard about the importance of reducing federal regulations on his Butte-based business. Headframe is just one of about 75 breweries and distilleries in the state.

“Montana’s distilleries and breweries produce the best alcohol around,” said Tester. “This bill will cut taxes and reduce regulations so our state’s hard working businesses can grow and thrive.”

“We very much appreciate Senator Tester supporting this bill,” said McKee. “It goes a long way in supporting Montana’s newest value-added agriculture, manufacturing industry of craft distilleries, breweries and wineries.”

Tester’s Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act also simplifies the labeling approval process, helping to reduce costs and speed up the time it takes to get a product to market.

The bill is available online HERE.