The state and retail business

The Wilder Commission recommended it back in 2002.

The folks here at the VA Cost Cutting blog have talked about it over the years as well (see here and here).

And again this year, Senator Mark Obenshain is introducing legislation that calls for it.

What is it, you ask?

We're talking about getting Virginia out of the retail business of selling alcohol, of course.

Now even the folks over at the News Leader in Staunton are voicing their support.

In their editorial they write:

It's time for Virginia to get out of the booze business.

State Sen. Mark Obenschain, R-Harrisonburg, says the state could make more than $1 billion — including about $700 million in new revenue — by privatizing the business now operated through Alcohol Beverage Control.

It's an idea that makes sense. The stores, the overhead, the payroll, the inventory - all of that would go away under a proposal by Obenschain, turning all but the regulatory part of liquor sales over to private companies.

With the penny-pinching we already see going on across the board, this proposal actually brings money in.