This Washington
Breaking: Costco to Propose Liquor Privatization Bill in Olympia
Last November, voters rejected a Costco-backed initiative to privatize the sale of liquor, 53-47. (Voters also rejected a separate liquor privatization initiative, backed by liquor distributors, 65-35).
Refusing to believe it's last call, Costco is now going the legislative route. Costco's lobbyist in Olympia, Greg Hanon, confirmed to PubliCola this afternoon that the company is cueing up a bill in another attempt to privatize booze. Hanon forwarded us to Costco for the specifics on the bill, and we have a call in.
Although voters rejected liquor privatization last year, the dire budget situation may play to Costco's favor if they can convince legislators that selling off the state-owned liquor infrastructure and taxing a more lucrative, private industry will be a net financial gain for the state.
In addition to privatizing sales, last year's Costco initiative (they spent $1.2 million campaigning for it) did away with the three-tiered regulatory system that currently prevents retailers from getting into the distribution game. (It also allowed volume discounts for retailers which helped opponents spin the initiative as a blueprint for a Costco monopoly.)
Last week, conservative blogger Stefan Sharkansky, who helped write I-1100, filed a similar liquor privatization initiative.
Refusing to believe it's last call, Costco is now going the legislative route. Costco's lobbyist in Olympia, Greg Hanon, confirmed to PubliCola this afternoon that the company is cueing up a bill in another attempt to privatize booze. Hanon forwarded us to Costco for the specifics on the bill, and we have a call in.
Although voters rejected liquor privatization last year, the dire budget situation may play to Costco's favor if they can convince legislators that selling off the state-owned liquor infrastructure and taxing a more lucrative, private industry will be a net financial gain for the state.
In addition to privatizing sales, last year's Costco initiative (they spent $1.2 million campaigning for it) did away with the three-tiered regulatory system that currently prevents retailers from getting into the distribution game. (It also allowed volume discounts for retailers which helped opponents spin the initiative as a blueprint for a Costco monopoly.)
Last week, conservative blogger Stefan Sharkansky, who helped write I-1100, filed a similar liquor privatization initiative.
