Sen. Crapo touts tax cut for small breweries

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) used his visit to Portneuf Valley Brewing Company in Pocatello, Idaho, on Saturday to stump for his bill to give a tax break to small breweries.

Crapo introduced the bill on May 11 with Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The legislation now has 24 co-sponsors, increasing the odds it will be considered and passed by the Senate.

Crapo told a local ABC news reporter on Saturday that the small brewer industry is growing in Idaho and a tax break could help boost the economy.

“This is one of those win-win proposals for Idaho,” Crapo said. “It helps facilitate and give a hand to the small brewers so they can be competitive in the global market place and get beyond Idaho markets to national and maybe even international markets."

As a Mormon, Crapo is an unlikely advocate for the craft beer industry. He said in May he sees the issue as a business, not a moral decision.