As a lifelong midwesterner and recent Wisconsin transplant, the Tavern League might be the most bizarre thing I've ever encountered in the politics of my home state.
I grew up in a state where, for a few years, we had more former governors in jail than out of jail. I also lived in a state whose Democrats don't go by that name - oh no, they're the Democrat-Farmer-Labor party, for cripe's sake! Yet, Wisconsin has both Illinois and Minnesota beat with its enormously powerful and well-funded lobbying group of... bars?!
It's also a bit of a racket too from what I've heard. They are partnered up with advertising, marketing, music booking agencies, atm/gambling services, etc and you'll be left out of things if you're a bar and not a member.
I grew up in a state where, for a few years, we had more former governors in jail than out of jail. I also lived in a state whose Democrats don't go by that name - oh no, they're the Democrat-Farmer-Labor party, for cripe's sake! Yet, Wisconsin has both Illinois and Minnesota beat with its enormously powerful and well-funded lobbying group of... bars?!