PROBING THE “COST OF DOING BUSINESS”
We wrote extensively earlier this year about a so-called “free market” liquor bill masquerading as a crony capitalist handout – decrying both the legislation and the well-heeled special interests supporting it.
In one of those stories, we noted how the company pushing the law – Maryland-based Total Wine and More – was reportedly factoring in fines associated with violations of existing law as part of its business model.
The “cost of doing business,” if you will.
As we’ve said from the beginning of this debate, we don’t believe government should be in the liquor regulation business – period. In fact if it were up to us, there would be no government limits on the number of wine licenses certain companies could receive – nor would there be any mandates on which products manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers could produce, distribute or sell.
Not surprisingly, no one associated with this legislative battle agrees with us …
But here’s another question: What’s the point of having laws on the books if certain corporate interests believe they can violate them habitually? And if it is in fact demonstrably profitable for them to continue violating them habitually?
Good questions …
Anyway, in an effort to determine the “cost of doing business” related to one of these scams, we recently sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Rick Reames, the director of the S.C. Department of Revenue (SCDOR). Our FOIA seeks documents related to a recent settlement that we’ve been made aware of …
Stay tuned. We look forward to reporting on what we uncover …
7 comments
This sounds like the kind of business deal Trump would get behind, so long as he owned the permits.
Similar to the mortgage business. Usually the bank loses money in a foreclosure, but if they can sell the mortgage, they will give loans to anybody.
Reames will ignore this Will.
You mean that a $100 fine isn’t compelling enough?
:)
I went the FOIA request route one time in SC on a legal issue and it nearly broke me.Oh the games they can play.
Luckily for you the first of the month was right around the corner though, right?
It’s hard to keep track of all the areas Will thinks should be unregulated, but methinks he may be an anarchist at heart.