Another impediment removed……..
I’m Mike Fitzsimmons with commentary on 920-KXLY…….
You can’t blame the unions who represent the state’s current liquor store employees for trying. They are facing an end to their state employment and with it, an end to their benefits and an uncertain future. They sued to overturn Initiative 1183 , the citizen law that will take the state out of the liquor business. Yesterday, a Cowlitz County judge upheld the initiative, reversing his initial ruling of March 2nd, that initiative 1183 addresses two different subjects because it includes a provision for allocation of proceeds for public safety purposes.
Last week the judge stated that he would overturn 1183 unless he could determine whether voters would have approved the ballot issue had the part about public safety allocation not have been a part of it. When the judge issued that statement, I wondered how he was going to do that? What evidence could he examine that would lead to such a conclusion? The voters approved Initiative 1183. They didn’t pass it in parts or pieces. They passed it all at once. There was no reasonable way that separation of the contents could have been accomplished. Superior Court Judge Steven Warning sided with the state’s argument that public safety and liquor have a close relationship. The two issues are really only one. The judge really had only one choice in the matter.
He granted the state’s motion for summary judgment.
He granted the state’s motion for summary judgment.
The matter isn’t settled, however. The opponents of the initiative say they will appeal Judge Warning’s ruling to the state supreme court. While that is their right, I think the outcome will be the same and so, apparently, do state authorities, who are moving forward with the transition from state-run to privately-operated retail liquor stores. By June, you’ll be buying your booze at Costco or your local supermarket. After 78 years, Washington State is no longer going to be in the liquor business.
With commentary on 920 – KXLY, I’m Mike Fitzsimmons
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