This editorial will appear in Sunday’s print edition.
Time may be up on this state’s Prohibition-era liquor monopoly, but not just any privatization scheme will do.

Of the two liquor initiatives on November’s ballot, only one ends all state intervention in the liquor market plus has the added advantage of heading off an unholy fight over new liquor taxes.

Initiative 1100 is that measure. Voters who want to get the state out of the business of booze should approve it while voting no on its competing measure, Initiative 1105.

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TVW has posted the footage of the editorial board’s Tuesday meetings with supporters and opponents of initiatives 1098 (high-earners income tax), 1100 and 1105 (liquor privatization).

We consolidated our meeting on 1100 and 1105 since they concern the same subject; we wanted to be able to compare the two side-by-side. Even after an hour with the supporters, I’m still a bit confused about the extent to which they differ. We’ll be doing more research before we settle on which to support.

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Costco isn’t just supporting Initiative 1100 to get the state out of the liquor store business, reports the Associated Press. It will be actively gathering signatures at tables set up outside its 26 stores in the state. Costco employees who are registered voters will staff the tables, inviting customers to sign initiative petitions.

With the kind of foot traffic the average Costco gets, I suspect the required number of signatures (242,000) will be gathered in about 27 minutes.

If voters approve the initiative, Costco would be able to sell hard liquor along with the wine and beer it …

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