Asked how he pulled it off, here's what lobbyist Bill Roden had to say about the lopsided vote today to kill the beer and wine tax increase bill: "It was a good vote." He added, "We worked at it. But you know legislators, they listen to all sides." Asked if he'd still work with proponents of the bill this year on a compromise, he said, "I don't think there's time this year to really consider it." Roden, an attorney and former state lawmaker who's successfully held off tax increases on behalf of the Idaho Beer & Wine Distributors for decades, said, "It wasn't my effort only. You have to understand, this was a very broad coalition of groups - retailers, the wineries, the breweries, just the general business community."

Roden, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, said this is his last session as executive director of the Beer & Wine Distributors Association, a post he'll pass on to lobbyist and attorney Jeremy Pisca. Roden said he's dropping a couple of his big clients after this year, the distributors and drug lobby PhRMA, but not retiring from lobbying - he'll still be around.  His other lobbying clients include the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Delta Dental, and Qwest Communications Inc.

---

---