In the pageant of Capitol politics, the Tavern League of Wisconsin is like a beauty queen. She’s wonderfully attractive, wildly popular and everyone wants to date her. But lately, talk is turning. The beauty queen may not be so charming once she takes off her tiara. Not to mention her rhinestone-studded evening gown is starting to tatter with age. Word around the pageant is the beauty queen is falling out of favor and maybe it’s time to stop giving her so much attention.

Similar to a trade association for bar owners, the Tavern League is renowned for its effective lobbying at the Capitol. However, political winds are shifting and the Tavern League is not the powerhouse it once was. A growing concern over public health and safety has already fueled the passage of a statewide smoking ban. Tougher drunk driving laws are next. The Tavern League currently faces a difficult situation: how to fend for members’ bottom line without appearing indifferent to public concerns.

Despite the trouble they’re having now, the Tavern League, much like the beauty queen, once reigned uncontested.

“The Tavern League has an extraordinary influence. … over the psyche of this legislature,” says Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar. “I’ve not seen any evidence the Tavern League can affect an election, but there is clearly a psychological belief that they can.”

The legislature’s reluctance to pass a statewide smoking ban is emblematic of the Tavern League’s grip over the Capitol. Although public support for the ban was overwhelming as early as 2007, lawmakers refused to legitimize the issue until this year because of opposition from the Tavern League, according to Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of Smoke Free Wisconsin.

“In the last legislative session there was a lot of public demand to move forward,” Busalacchi says. “It was at a fever pitch to get the legislation moving … and leaders in both houses, from both parties just said ‘no’.”

The Tavern League said they believed the smoking ban would hurt small business. They remained fervently opposed to a statewide smoking ban up until this year when they folded to public pressure and agreed to compromise with anti-smoking organizations.

Just like the beauty queen, the Tavern League has always been able to turn on the charm to get its way.

“We have members in every legislative district,” says Scott Stenger, long-time lobbyist for the Tavern League. A dominant man in both physique and personality, Stenger has a strong grip on Tavern League policy and has mastered the art of rhetoric. His impressive office features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the great dome of the Capitol building. Though he is well known by his political neighbors, he’s not always well liked.

“Unlike most other interest groups, all the members of the Tavern League … have relationships with their legislator,” Stenger says. “We’re effective in communicating our message and I think that is what’s critical.”

Like a beauty queen with a silver tongue, the Tavern League is certainly effective in getting their message across. From 2003 to 2008, 60 percent of the issues the group took a stance on were successful, according to a review of state records conducted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Operating with nearly 5,000 affiliates across the state, Tavern League members are your legislator’s drinking buddies. They are present at the epicenter of many rural towns and are a well-liked organization in most places. In 2008, Tavern League members donated nearly $5 million to Wisconsin charities.

“[The Tavern League] is small business. They’re in everyone’s community. They’re in rural Wisconsin,” says Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah. Kaufert is a member of the Tavern League and still attends the fish fry at his tavern every Friday night. “They’re part of the heritage and part of the culture.”

The Tavern League can really turn up the heat on big issues, according to Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison. Tavern League members will often make phone calls, write letters, send e-mails and even appear in large numbers at the Capitol. Lawmakers often have a hard time saying “no” to their barstool neighbors.

“Legislators respond well to noise,” Jauch says. “[The Tavern League is] a noisy group … They speak loudly and their members are boisterous.”

But recently, the Tavern League has not been the only squawk box making noise. Concerned citizens have been just as active, prompting some lawmakers to finish their smoking ban victory lap and start getting tougher on drunken driving.