of the LDS variety. Same for the Idaho tax code, municipal governance (no home-rule), and educational doctrines (seminaries outside every high school & jr. high).

I agree. Let's privatize. Also, your statement, "Comprehensive reform is much more rational than the current piece-meal solutions coming out of the legislature." applies to all manner of things in the state. Property taxes springs to mind. The trouble is that comprehensive rather than piece-meal requires leadership and the willingness to try something new.

The idea of a state owned liquor store is a idea which should have been eliminated long ago. In a free market society who wants the state to decide what brands and what quantities should be sold. Im sure we are paying a higher price than we would if there was competition thats the american way isnt it. Now I dont drink hard liquor but I do purchase wines to use in cooking or for celebrations and wonder who and how decides what I can buy. With the Politically correct nannies out there how long will it be before they decide what and how much we can eat. You can already see that train coming in towns across the country.

I remember growing up in Boise, I didn't know what a LDS was. I sure know now. Religion in politics. Both go hand in hand with them. Please go back to eastern Idaho or Utah so I don't have to wish for more Californians to move to Boise to even out the playing field. Nothing personal towards LDS, just think they need to keep their faith out of politics. You know, seperation between church and state.

bureaucracy... it's better to control something through ownership, right? But....

OTOH, in other states as soon as the state figures out they can make a ton more $$ by privatizing... it happens.

Professor L? You must know somebody who could do such a feasibility study, eh? (Probably even fundable...)

No doubt that liquor should be privatized. Sadly, when I worked in Washington's legislature, I watched a very determined State Representative introduce a bill to privatize liquor sales there, for six years in a row - to no avail. So I would guess that it's the same problem here. Sure, lots of people in the legislature would like to see this happen, but in the limited time our legislators have to do anything, is this the kind of thing that rises to the top of anyone's "to-do" list? It isn't salient to the legislators, because it isn't really salient to any of their constituencies.

Maybe if Albertsons would come to the legislature and ask to sell booze we'd get somewhere . . .

who owns the warehouses where the liquor is stored? I remember a couple years ago, the state was renegotiating a contract with the owner to expand his facilities. How much is that costing the state?
Why can't we do like other states and sell in the grocery stores? (See above, booze would be stored in the grocery store warehouse, thus cost savings to state). California puts a 'stamp' over the cap/cork to show the tax has been paid. Same goes for cigarettes.
Why do we need state employees to sell booze? I know, it is state run outlets, but what about contracting out? I just request they be as friendly as the current employee's. I enjoy visiting with them when I have to buy my 'tonic' once a year.
Just wondering...

for the warehouse as part of a three-year expansion project.

Liquor sales are contracted out in smaller communities where sales don't justify a store. They are called, not surprisingly, contract stores. :)

Yes, this is blatant. It is not only socialism run amuck, but also the establishment of a religious view that alcohol is a sin, and must be taxed and controlled.

all good heathens, atheists and agnostics tend to agree about that idea.

run the state house, liquor stores, & everything else?

in room? Don't hit me, I can walk.

Seems like I had something along the lines of privatizing liquor stores on this blog before, different thread. Why should the state pay employees plus benefits to sell booze & taxpayers then pay for prisons, police, courts, & a detox center? Let private business run liquor stores & those who make all the profit in alcohol sales pay for prisons & treatment.

If Otter's best man, administrator of the liquor commission has to justify his job with more employees/expense instead of getting the job done the most economically/profitable way possible, maybe he should be the first to go?

If Otter needs money for roads all he has to do is look around, listen to people rather than accuse them of failing his poor plans, cut unneccesary expense, & the money will be there. There are always the hidden fees.

The paper just printed two articles on hidden fees. One stating every adult is paying $942 a year in hidden fees & the other involving Wasden & 25 other states getting partial return of hidden fees. Read the paper Gus. Two adults in one family lose almost $2K to hidden fees & the Gov thinks raising vehicle taxes 600% is the solution for roads? Get the money from hidden fees & people will have $ left to spend on the economy.

A little to complicated to understand? It's already happening so it must not be too tough.
Without raising taxes 600%!

Indeed that's wrong. How can they even think about something like this? I don't understand them? Don't they live on this planet? They look like they'd need some drug rehab. Jesus...

Responding to it is probably not of much use.