OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The Washington Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday over the constitutionality of a voter-approved initiative to privatize liquor sales and dismantle a state-run system that's been in place for decades.
A Cowlitz County judge in March upheld Initiative 1183, but opponents appealed that ruling directly to the Supreme Court.
At issue is whether the initiative violates state rules requiring measures to address only one subject, because it includes a provision to set aside $10 million for public safety.
The initiative takes effect June 1, and the Washington Liquor Control Board already has auctioned off the rights to sell liquor at many of its state-run stores and issued layoff notices to 1,200 employees.
Voters approved the initiative last fall to privatize liquor sales and dismantle Washington's state-run liquor system, which was formed in the 1930s in the aftermath of Prohibition. The measure, backed by retailing giant Costco, allows stores larger than 10,000 square feet to sell liquor, though it could allow smaller stores to sell liquor if there are no other large retail outlets in their area.
The Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention, the landlord to a state-owned liquor store in Cowlitz County and two Red Apple stores in Kitsap County filed suit to overturn the measure.
The unions whose members stand to lose their jobs if the initiative is implemented also filed suit in a similar lawsuit in King County Superior Court. That case was put on hold in January, pending the Cowlitz case.
The aggressive timeline imposed under the initiative meant state officials simply couldn't wait for the court to act, said Pat Kohler, Liquor Control Board director.
Liquor distributors were allowed to begin selling products directly to restaurants and other liquor license holders March 1. The state's last day for liquor sales is May 31, and the last liquor shipment to state stores is scheduled for May 18.
If the Supreme Court overturns the initiative, the first order of business would be to restock the dwindling liquor supplies in the state stores, Kohler said. Beyond that, the Liquor Control Board would have to reach out to the governor and lawmakers to determine next steps, she said.
"This is kind of like a cruise ship, and it's a little hard to turn it around quickly," Kohler said. "But the voters did speak pretty clearly that they wanted change."
Nearly 20 states control their retail or wholesale liquor business. Some, such as Iowa and West Virginia, have relinquished partial control in recent years, but Washington would be the first in that group to abandon the liquor business entirely.
A Cowlitz County judge in March upheld Initiative 1183, but opponents appealed that ruling directly to the Supreme Court.
At issue is whether the initiative violates state rules requiring measures to address only one subject, because it includes a provision to set aside $10 million for public safety.
The initiative takes effect June 1, and the Washington Liquor Control Board already has auctioned off the rights to sell liquor at many of its state-run stores and issued layoff notices to 1,200 employees.
Voters approved the initiative last fall to privatize liquor sales and dismantle Washington's state-run liquor system, which was formed in the 1930s in the aftermath of Prohibition. The measure, backed by retailing giant Costco, allows stores larger than 10,000 square feet to sell liquor, though it could allow smaller stores to sell liquor if there are no other large retail outlets in their area.
The Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention, the landlord to a state-owned liquor store in Cowlitz County and two Red Apple stores in Kitsap County filed suit to overturn the measure.
The unions whose members stand to lose their jobs if the initiative is implemented also filed suit in a similar lawsuit in King County Superior Court. That case was put on hold in January, pending the Cowlitz case.
The aggressive timeline imposed under the initiative meant state officials simply couldn't wait for the court to act, said Pat Kohler, Liquor Control Board director.
Liquor distributors were allowed to begin selling products directly to restaurants and other liquor license holders March 1. The state's last day for liquor sales is May 31, and the last liquor shipment to state stores is scheduled for May 18.
If the Supreme Court overturns the initiative, the first order of business would be to restock the dwindling liquor supplies in the state stores, Kohler said. Beyond that, the Liquor Control Board would have to reach out to the governor and lawmakers to determine next steps, she said.
"This is kind of like a cruise ship, and it's a little hard to turn it around quickly," Kohler said. "But the voters did speak pretty clearly that they wanted change."
Nearly 20 states control their retail or wholesale liquor business. Some, such as Iowa and West Virginia, have relinquished partial control in recent years, but Washington would be the first in that group to abandon the liquor business entirely.