Judge Upholds Washington Privatization

Just two weeks ago Cowlitz County Judge Stephen Warning made a ruling that left the fate of Initiative 1183 in question. But in a surprising move yesterday he reversed his March 2 judgment that Washington's privatization initiative addressed two different subjects, liquor and public safety, and sided with the defendants by ruling that I-1183 is constitutional. Attorneys for the defendants in the case, including Costco and the state, argued that public safety is tied to alcohol, so they both fall under the same single subject. After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge reversed his earlier decision and granted the state's motion for summary judgment.

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