Here is a very interesting article on the state of beer taxation in the state of Oregon and some of the...err...instruments of democracy that are involved in taxation determinations:

Seven state legislators - five Republicans and two Democrats - have acknowledged this fall that they accepted expense-paid trips to Hawaii in 2002 and 2004 for conferences sponsored by the Oregon Beer and Wine Distributors Association, and failed to report the gifts to the state ethics commission as required by law.