McDonnell plan on liquor stores off by millions

[mahatmakanejeeves]

McDonnell plan on liquor stores off by millions

By Anita Kumar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 24, 2010

RICHMOND - Gov. Robert F. McDonnell's original proposal to privatize the state's 76-year liquor monopoly may have overstated by tens of millions of dollars the amount of money Virginia could make from selling the entire system, according to a legislative study released Tuesday.

The report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found that in many instances, the Republican governor's staff was too rosy in its estimates, but in others it simply made mathematical errors.

For example, auditors found, the state could receive less than half of the $160 million McDonnell expected from selling wholesale licenses and as much as $81 million less from auctioning retail licenses. And the price of distilled spirits in Virginia could rise.

State Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax), one of the most vocal critics of the governor's plan, said the report shows McDonnell has "lost all credibility as far as his estimates are concerned."

"He just really needs to let it go," Saslaw said. "It's not happening."

[demigoddess]

1. republicans were trying to privatize the state liquor stores here

in washington state also, but it got turned down on the ballot. Thank heaven!! we have a nice system here, with access to anything you want, no teens buying liquor, and no drunks out in front of the stores.

[Blue_Tires]

2. no shock here...

it just seemed like an answer to a question no one asked...