It's all about the beer

Senator Chuck Schumer wants to cut federal excise taxes on microbrewery small businesses so that they can grow and create jobs.

There are more than 60 microbeweries in the state where he could have announced that proposed bill. He chose to come to Brown's Brewing Company on River Street in Troy Tuesday.

The Record was there http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2011/02/23/news/doc4d63fad56acb9965975186.txt) and quoted Schumer saying, "It’s the new economy, right here."

Aside from its popular microbrewery/restaurant on River Street, Brown's is planning to open a new brewery production facility in Hoosick Falls.

Brown's President Garry Brown welcomed Schumer's constituent service.

"This bill will help us be a more profitable brewery down the road. If we can get our excise tax reduced, we can reinvest that money into our business, more equipment, more jobs, more beer gets into the community, and it’s all good.”

Indeed, it is, whether you drink Brown's beer or not. Because more jobs in Rensselaer County, thanks to Senator Schumer's proposal, would obviously be a good thing.

 Full disclosure: we at RenssCoPolitico do, in fact, enjoy Brown's fine beer.

Won't you be my neighbor?

It is great news for county residents to learn Senator Gillibrand will be calling Rensselaer County home.  While we knew she would be coming back to the Capital District to be closer to family and friends, her choice of Rensselaer County was a closely-guarded secret until today's announcement to Rensselaer County Democrats by County Chairman Tom Wade:

"I am pleased to announce Senator Kirsten Gillibrand found the home she and her husband Jonathan have been looking for in Brunswick.  She has spoken to me in the past about settling in the Brunswick area of Rensselaer County in order to be closer to family and basic conveniences. 

I am happy she has chosen to make Rensselaer County the residence of one of our two great United States Senators."

When you think about it, the Senator knows what the rest of us know about Rensselaer County - it is a great place to live. Rural Rensselaer County has stunning views and any commuter knows it is far easier to get to downtown Albany from here thank from the suburbs of Saratoga County.  Downtown Troy has much to offer from funky little shops to wonderful eateries. And you can't beat the acoustics of Troy Music Hall.

In a way, the fact that the Senator chose to buy a home in the Town of Brunswick is almost like a home-coming. She spent a great deal of time here as a student at Emma Willard .

We here at RenscoPolitico are proud and pleased to call our wonderful Senator "neighbor." 

You can read more about it in the Times Union.