OLYMPIA -- Initiative 1100, the first of two proposals to knock the state out of the liquor business, is for sure on the general election ballot.

Not that there was really muhc doubt after they turned in an estimated 396,000 signatures on their petitions.

Elections workers doing a spot check of signatures last week said it had more than enough valid signatures, and Secretary of State Sam Reed gave I-1100 the official greenlight this afternoon. Staff began checking signatures for I-1082, which would allow private insurance companies access to the workers comp system.

I-1100 is the state out of the booze-biz proposal backed by retailers because it allows them to deal directly with distilleries for their supplies. I-1105, which requires retailers to deal with wholesalers or distributors, will have its signatures checked in a week or so.

In all, six initiatives are thought to be in line to join the three referenda already on the ballot.

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