The liquor business is booming, despite--or perhaps because of--the recession impacting every other sector of Washington's economy. Gregoire's '09-'11 budget attempts to capitalize on the boom, using Washington's convenient state-run liquor store set-up by requesting that ten more liquor stores open across the state. In theory, this would mean more cash for a state government under such a financial squeeze that social and health care programs are being slashed right and left. But, as the P-I points out, the budget specifications are dredging up the old debate about the state's involvement in liquor sales. Here we go, again. More information for you while you make up your mind: more ›