Last November, Washington voters approved Initiative 1183 by an overwhelming margin, moving the state away of a Prohibition-era liquor control regime and toward a free-market system that still retained important enforcement authority for the government. Four months later, the Liquor Control Board—and the soon-to-be ex-beneficiaries of the closed economy for spirits it roosted over—are still having trouble accepting the public’s

A trio of Democrats in the Washington State Legislature have introduced a bill that appears to be designed to strip Costco of the legal right to sell liquor under voter-approved Initiative 1183 when the new state law privatizing liquor sales and distribution is fully implemented in early summer of this year. On Thursday, State Reps. Sam Hunt (D-22), Sherry Appleton

It’s not surprising that a couple of lawsuits have been filed to stop the loss of state jobs for workers employed in state liquor stores.  Two unions are suing in King County to prevent the breakup of the state liquor sales system that voters approved last month with the passage of Initiative 1183. Someone who leases space for a state

The news Tuesday that two unions representing several hundred state liquor store workers have filed suit to stop voter-approved liquor privatization Initiative 1183 from going into effect is a sad but typical development in an otherwise positive development in state politics. Let me start by making full disclosure – I worked as paid member of the Yes on 1183 campaign

It may have taken nearly 80 years but Washington’s liquor monopoly has finally been repealed by voters. By a somewhat surprising margin, voters across the state are approving I-1183 60-40%. Ending the state’s liquor monopoly has been a long time goal of the Washington Policy Center. It is exciting to see voters embrace the idea of focusing government efforts on

With proponents and opponents of I-1183 (to end the state liquor monopoly) shattering state campaign contribution records for a ballot measure, the airwaves are about to see a binge of ads for and against the proposal. Hopefully future ads will fare better in truthfulness than some of those run to date. The Seattle Times has done a good job of

The Washington Retail Association is proud to endorse a “yes” vote on Initiative 1183. By getting the state out of the liquor sales business, the initiative creates important new opportunities for retailers by allowing qualifying retail stores to sell liquor. 1183 is a responsible plan to end Washington’s outdated monopoly on liquor sales and distribution, and lets consumers buy liquor

Over the past few weeks there was speculation as to whether Governor Gregoire would veto the emergency clause off of a liquor contract bill as well as veto the Legislature’s raid of the voter-approved dedicated performance audit fund. The answer is no – both actions stand as approved by the Legislature. Here is video of the Governor explaining why she