When Government Protects Businesses, Businesses Become Corrupt

The people fighting sensible liquor reform laws in New Jersey are the ones with the most to lose:

[T]he reforms in New Jersey have been met with protests from liquor retailers and wholesalers, who worry that new ways to buy alcohol threatens their livelihood.

. . .

The booze battles have caused an uptick in political spending from the industry. Lobbyists representing the beer and wine industry spent $640,500 in New Jersey last year, up by 15% from the $556,900 spent in 2010, according to an analysis of state Election Law Enforcement Commission records. The industry also made $500,325 in contributions to individual lawmakers and state political committees last year, the records show.

The largest chunk of the lobbying money was spent by associations representing liquor retailers and wholesalers.