One liquor initiative has signatures; second expects to
OLYMPIA – Washington state's 77-year control of liquor sales may be in doubt.
Sponsors of one ballot measure to turn the sale of all liquor over to private stores, Initiative 1100, say they will turn in nearly 350,000 signatures today cqWEDS, a number that practically guarantees the proposal will be on the Nov. 2 ballot.
The campaign manager for a separate measure to privatize liquor sales, Initiative 1105, says it too expects to have more than enough signatures to turn in by July 2, raising the prospect of two competing plans for voters to sort out this fall.
Getting the state out of the liquor business has been a familiar refrain in the Legislature for decades...
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...where it has been studied and debated, but never approved. With the
state facing a major shortfall this year and pressure to reduce state
employees and expenses, several plans again surfaced but none passed.
In
the two months since the Legislature concluded, however, corporate
sponsors have poured more than $1.5 million into the campaigns for the
two liquor initiatives.
I-1100 is fueled mostly by money from Costco, which also allowed
signatures to be gathered in its stores. Between cash donations and
in-kind contributions, the membership retail giant has given $842,000
to the campaign On Tuesday, campaign officials told the Secretary of
State they plan to turn in some 347,000 signatures at lunchtime today.
I-1105 is funded thus far by two other companies, Young’s Market Co.
and Odom Southern Holding, which have wholesale distribution or
warehouse operations handling wine and beer. Young’s has contributed
$530,000 and Odom $334,000.
It got a late start on gathering signatures because it wasn’t filed
until May 7, and had to wait to print petitions until a judge ruled on
a challenge to the ballot wording on June 9. I-1100 was filed April 16,
and got its final ballot language May 20.
I-1105 cmpaign manager Charla Neuman said Tuesday, they were certain to
turn in petitions, she just didn’t know when: “Our first goal is to
make sure we have enough signatures, above and beyond the
requirements.”
The two initiatives have similarly worded ballot titles, each starting
with an explanation that it’s a proposal to “close all state liquor
stores.” But there are significant differences, which help explain why
I-1100, considered more beneficial to retail operations, is backed by
retailing giant Costco and the Northwest Grocery Association, while
I-1105 is backed by wholesalers.
Among those differences: I-1100 allows retailers to go directly to
manufacturers to get their supplies, while I-1105 requires they go
through distributors; I-1105 charges retailers for licenses based on
the amount of liquor they sell, while I-1100 has the same fee for all
retailers; I-1100 essentially takes the state Liquor Control Board out
of the sale and distribution and lets local governments decide how many
stores to license but under I-1105, the board retains some authority to
license retailers.
Neuman agreed there is a risk voters will be confused by the two
initiatives: “We’re all going into uncharted territory together.”
Two other initiative campaigns say they also will turn in signatures by
the July 2 deadline. The Building Industry Association of Washington
told the Secretary of State it has more than 300,000 signatures on
I-1082, a proposal to add private carriers to the state’s system of
workers’ compensation plans. Sponsors of I-1107, a proposal funded by
more than $1.5 million from the American Beverage Association to repeal
recent taxes on candy, soda, bottled water and some processed foods,
report they expect to have 340,000 signatures by July 2.
All four campaigns are paying to gather signatures.