"Costco and liquor: Good or bad for Washington?"

Chris Grygiel (seattlepi.com):

In the debate over privatizing liquor sales in Washington state, Costco is either a retailer with a proven ability to give consumers what they want -- cheaply -- or a ruthless giant out to dominate and disrupt.

To foes of Initiative 1100, the privatization measure to which Costco has already given $735,000, the Issaquah-based corporation is the latter. Backers of the competing privatization bill supported by more than $1.4 million from two big beverage distributors -- Initiative 1105 -- have called the Costco measure "irresponsible" and say it will loosen restrictions to the point where there will be "more liquor stores than Starbucks stores."
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Both privatization campaigns say getting the state out of the liquor business will be good for consumers and could bring the state even more tax revenue.

A union-backed "no" campaign is ramping up to oppose both efforts, saying the initiatives will increase liquor sales and put much-needed revenue at risk just as the state budget is reeling from deep service cuts.

The broader opposition campaign, Keep our Kids Safe, is supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents state liquor store workers. The State Council of Firefighters and the Church Council of Greater Seattle also are involved in the "no" campaign.

In 2009, the state Liquor Control Board said taxes, markup and fees provided more than $332.7 million for programs and services throughout the state. Of that, $199 million went to the state's general fund, almost $63 million went to cities and counties and $49 million went to help pay for the state's health insurance for the poor. MORE...