Dry-Cleaning Bill Folds in Committee

A bill to require Maryland dry cleaners to pay customers forclothing they damage or lose has been rejected by the House EconomicMatters Committee.

The proposal, introduced by Del. Barbara A. Robinson (D-Baltimore), was inspired in part by a D.C. judge's $54 millionlawsuit against his neighborhood dry cleaners over a lost pair ofgray trousers. Judge Roy L. Pearson Jr.'s lawsuit against CustomCleaners prompted worldwide ridicule and was dismissed in court.

Robinson's effort to change state law to specify for the firsttime what dry cleaners must do if they damage or lose clothing drewfierce opposition.

Dozens of dry cleaners and industry lobbyists packed a hearinglast week to oppose the measure.

-- Philip Rucker

The Maryland General Assembly appears poised to rejectlegislation that would let consumers purchase wine from retailersand vineyards over the Internet.

The House Economic Matters Committee has rejected a bill to liftthe prohibition of online sales of wine, a law that critics havedecried as antiquated and overly protectionist.

The Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committeeheard testimony on the proposal last week but has not voted on thebill.

Wine aficionados from across the state testified before lawmakersconsidering the proposal from Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery)and Del. Tom Hucker (D-Montgomery). Maryland would join 35 otherjurisdictions, including Virginia and the District, in legalizingwine shipments.

Maryland's powerful liquor lobby resisted the measure, arguingthat it could make tax collection difficult, hurt local retailersand distributors and make it easier for minors to obtain alcohol.

But Raskin said the legislation could still pass in the Senate.

"I think the bill is very much alive on the Senate side, and sothe opponents of the wine bill should not be opening any champagneyet," Raskin said.

-- Philip Rucker