US election of Nov 8, 2011

[Lamplighter]

Maybe this belongs in the "Blue Laws" thread,
but it's Washington state's measure on the sale of liquor.

Seattle Times
Nov 9, 2011

Voters kick state out of liquor business

Beginning June 1, grocery stores in Washington will begin selling liquor.
The state budgeting office figures the number of outlets selling
liquor will jump from 328 to 1,428.

Of the ballots tallied Tuesday night, about 60 percent favored Initiative 1183.
<snip>
The campaign was a battle of corporate interests,
with Costco contributing the vast majority of the money
for the pro-1183 campaign.

Issaquah-based Costco donated $22.5 million to the campaign for I-1183,
making it the largest single donor to a voter initiative in state history.
Only $18.5 million was spent, and campaign leaders said
the $4 million difference will be returned, presumably to Costco.

My wife says it's really about the Costco Corp stores being able
to sell it's own brand of booze.
BigV may have more to say or a different opinion.
.