Va. Lawmaker Revives Bill to Revamp Alcohol Board

A state lawmaker is reviving a proposal to replace the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board with a state authority run by people with business experience.

Media outlets report that Del. David Albo's bill would replace the three-member board appointed by the governor with a five-member citizen board nominated by the governor and approved by the legislature. It also would eliminate the six-figure annual salaries for the prized appointments. Members of the new board would work part time for $50 a day.

Albo says the idea is the take the politics out of the state's liquor monopoly.

The Fairfax County Republican offered the same proposal three years ago as an alternative to Gov. Bob McDonnell's unsuccessful bid to privatize the state liquor monopoly. The bill never made it out of committee.