During the 2009 gubernatorial campaign, Bob McDonnell said he wanted to investigate selling Virginia’s state liquor stores to private owners. Many of us went nuclear at the time but figured he would move on past that bad idea. Apparently we thought wrong. In fact, an article in the Washington Post slipped right past me on May 17.
From the WaPo, in its entirety:
Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration has been quietly meeting for months with members of the alcohol industry and others in the community who would be affected by his proposal to privatize liquor stores.
Eric Finkbeiner, the governor’s senior advisor for policy, has been talking informally with representatives from the Restaurant and Hospitality Association, Diageo Beverages, Miller Coors, Associated Distributors, Retail Merchants Association of Virginia, Virginia Wine Wholesalers, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Beer Wholesalers Association, Total Wine, Virginia Wineries Association, Wine Institute, Sazerac (which owns Bowman Distilleries in Virginia), Virginia Retail Merchants Association, MADD, public safety organizations and faith-based groups.
McDonnell recently formed a commission on government reform and restructuring, which will consider, among other proposals how the state could sell the state’s 350 liquor stores, which he pledged to do on the campaign trail last year.
Finkbeiner and his working group will bring possible ideas to the commission, which is charged with providing initial recommendations to McDonnell by July 16, and writing a final report by Dec. 1.
McDonnell estimates the sale of the ABC stores could bring in as much as $500 million for much-needed road improvements, but his critics argue that any one-time proceeds would be offset by the permanent loss of $100 million in annual revenue that goes to other state services.
Last week, at a public forum focused to kick off the government reform effort, McDonnell said he would not support holding a referedum to decide whether the ABC stores should be privatized.
“For 70 years, we’ve distributed beer and wine in every 7-Eleven, every Food Lion. But we’ve controlled the distribution of spirits,” he told the crowd of more than 100 people. “From a free market stand point, it doesn’t make sense to continue to control only one part of the distribution.”
McDonnell will call the General Assembly back to Richmond this fall for a special session to approve his recommendations if he can build support for some of them. <
Virginia has a long history of having state stores that dates back to the end of prohibition in 1933. The history and accompanying pictures can be found at the following link on the ABC website.
Additionally, Virginia makes money off the state stores–lots of money and that money goes in to other programs. See the 2009 annual report. Download here. (pdf)
What is McDonnell’s obsession with privatizing our state ABC stores? Any private industry will have one objective–making money. Virginia regulates the use of alcohol and its primary objective is not financial. McDonnell will run in to a big fight if he continues with this tradition-breaking stupidity.
I second the notion in #66.. ATF being a convinience store rather than a govt agency.
I read that S&W issued a .380 in honor of the Texas Governor. Nice. Friend of mine mentioned that he added a XD40 Compact to his collection and LOVES it. He’s thinking about buying ‘The Judge’ as his next piece. I’m still trying to get permission from the Queen to get a Super Shorty (12-gauge SBS) for open carry outside of the home. I think it’d go well with khaki pants and my dockers.
Nothing beats Captain Morgans Spiced Rum. Broke my diet consuming an entire bottle in CA while in a hot tub. I was proud of myself for making it back to my room. 🙂
1995 – Virginia was the first ACC team to beat FSU (33-28 at Scott Stadium)
after the Seminoles had gone 29-0 in league play and were ranked #2 in
the country.
Downed hundreds of “Cuba Libres” in my youth with Miami family and friends,
to no avail. The SOB Castro is still in power, even as he slowly slips towards
a long prayed for death.
@ MoM, apparently a date that shall live in infamy.
What was the first year that UVA played FSU?
I wouldn’t hate them as badly as I do were it not for that horrible chant they do. ARGGHHHHH
This discussion could branch off into the massive amount of moonshining
that took place in Prince William County. “Going down to the Run” in
the 1920’s meant visiting one of the estimated three dozen stills that
lined the Occoquan near what is now Lake Jackson.
Plus there are numerous stories of innocent people being shot at when
they accidently wondered too close to a still – not unlike what happens to
cross-country hikers today near illegal pot fields in our parks.
See……the Whiskey Rebellion DIDN’T fail.
Now we just need more micro-distillers. Bring back the traditions. Everyone wants ethanol power. Let’s give it to them! Ethanol for the people! Heck, just stop poisoning it and you could get really, really, really cheap corn liquor.
We are agreed then, VA needs to free our alcohol markets from the current state-run monoply. And the reason is – as a matter of principle – monopolies for retail consumer goods are not reflective of a free people and the people of Virginia are Free.
We are also agreed that the Hokie Nation rules on and off the field.
Directions to Hokie Nation
South till you smell it
West till you step in it
Good one, Poor Richard. Now, try traveling some of those back roads deep into the hllls west of the Shenandoah.
Moon — Sorry to hear that you don’t like the FSU chant. I hear that, along with the horse and rider and the fan gear that goes with the name, all the stuff has been given the imprimatur of the Seminole Nation. I think the tribe may get a cut of the sales take. Not a bad deal, especially when the team is winning.
We don’t ALL agree. It seems to cut right down R vs non R lines.
I don’t hate the Seminole Chant for any politically correct reasons. I hate it because it is obnoxious.
Glad to see the state rivelry is still going strong.
FSU = Gator Bait!
snicker. How about turtle food or sword spearing material?
Wait until next season — now that Tebow is gone.
Good Gosh, 113 posts on a thread about booze. You know what that means? TOGA PARTY!!!!!!