The mystery of wine's stimulus

Napa Rep. Mike Thompson's office has helpfully discovered the source of special tax breaks for wine in the stimulus bill.

It turns out that Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., is trying to get "trees and vines" included in the 50 percent "bonus depreciation" tax break for businesses in the stimulus bill.

The provision is not yet in either the House or Senate bill, but Nelson is working on it. All those Florida citrus growers want their trees to qualify for the break.

California lawmakers did not dream up the provision, but they could get on board, thanks to all those almond, walnut, avacado, peach and other orchards blanketing the San Joaquin Valley, and all those vineyards covering the hills of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

Nelson is unlikely to win the provision in a floor amendment where he would surely lose. His most likely shot is a House-Senate conference committee.