Olympian (WA): "Vote NO on Initiatives 1100, 1105"

The Olympian (Editorial Board):

LIQUOR MEASURES RAISE SERIOUS MONETARY, SAFETY QUESTIONS FOR STATE---According to the state Office of Financial Management, Initiative 1100 would cost the state general fund between $76 million and $85 million over five years. Local governments would lose between $180 million and $192 million over same period.

OFM estimates that Initiative 1105 would cost the state general fund between $486 million and $520 million over five years, while local governments would lose between $205 million and $210 million over the same period.

Put in local terms, Sheriff Dan Kimball said city and county government in Thurston County would lose $2.09 million a year. The county would take the biggest hit -- $710,997 -- with Olympia and Lacey each losing about a half million dollars. For the county, Kimball said, that's the equivalent of eight sheriff's deputies.

We also believe Kimball's public safety concerns deserve consideration by voters. Under either initiative, the number of liquor outlets would increase dramatically, from 315 statewide to an estimated 3,300. Hard liquor would be available from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. and with those increases in availability and hours, Kimball expects to see more drunken drivers, more domestic violence, more alcohol abuse by youngsters and more deaths.

He notes that between 2006 and 2010, undercover sting operations found that 25 percent of mini-marts and convenience stores in this county sold beer and wine to underage minors. That is similar to the noncompliance rate for convenience stores and mini-marts across the state, according to Jim Cooper, with the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention. Think about it. The sting operations show that minors using their legitimate driver's license need to visit only an average of four stores before a clerk will sell them beer or wine despite their underage status. Now we're going to allow those same stores to sell liquor?

State liquor stores have a 94 compliance rating, one of the highest rates in the nation.

Each liquor clerk, in essence, is serving the role of liquor enforcement officer. That's not going to happen at convenience stores and mini-marts, Kimball argues. MORE...

Follow the $$$$: WA Initiative Campaigns

StopGreed.org:

The following charts depict the major contributors to the five corporate initiatives appearing on Washington State’s general election ballot this November.

As the illustrations show, more than seventy five percent of the money behind each initiative came directly from a publicly traded or privately held corporation. Four out of the five of the initiatives are mostly funded by just one or two named entities.

The instruments of direct democracy — put into place a hundred years ago to give citizens a way to combat the influence of robber barons and wealthy tycoons — are now being ironically used by corporations to trick us into giving up our sovereignty and handing over our common wealth to them. It’s a sorry state of affairs, but not one we have to accept. MORE...

Howie P.S.: Take a look at the big money backers of I-1053 (Eyman), I-1082 (Worker's Comp), I-1107 (Beverages), I-1100 (Liquor), I-1105 (Liquor).

WA "Study: Privatized booze sales could cost state $500 mil"

Chris Grygiel (seattlepi.com):

Two measures that would privatize liquor sales in Washington would leave state and local governments with a huge fiscal hangover, according to revenue estimates released Wednesday.

Initiative 1105, which is being pushed by beverage distributors, could decrease state tax revenues up to $520 million over five years and take up to a $210 million bite from local coffers over the same time period, according to the Office of Financial Management.

Meanwhile Initiative 1100, the booze privatization bill backed by Costco, would decrease state revenues up to $85 million through 2015 and cut into local tax sources up to $192 million, OFM says. MORE...

"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...

WA: "Big bucks behind booze initiatives"

Chris Grygiel (seattlepi.com):

First Costco committed $350,000 to try to get a measure that would privatize liquor sales in Washington on the November ballot.

Now two big beverage and spirits distibutors have kicked in a combined $400,000 to try to get a competing initiative before voters this fall.

With claims and counter claims flying from both sides, the booze battles are becoming as opaque as a Black Russian. MORE...

Howie P.S.: The comparisons to Sensible Washington's I-1068 campaign are striking.