Privatize Pa. Liquor Stores, Corbett Will Propose
Gov. Tom Corbett will announce plans to privatize Pennsylvania's state store system
The big issue of whether to privatize Pennsylvania's liquor stores will take center stage today as Gov. Tom Corbett announces plans to sell them off.
Corbett will call for liquor store licenses to be auctioned off, according to multiple sources.
Sales of beer and wine could be opened up to various retailers including drug stores and big-box department stores.
Related story: Pa.'s Prohibition Era May Finally End
The Republican governor is expected to announce his plan at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Pittsburgh. This move comes on the heels of plans to privatize the PA Lottery -- another controversial move.
Pennsylvania has about 620 state stores.
Union groups have argued that more than 4,500 jobs will be lost if the state system is privatized, but Republicans have countered by saying that the 1,600 private sector stores will create additional opportunities for jobs — including union jobs.
Liquor store unions gave $140,000 in campaign donations to state-level candidates last year, according to a Pa. Independent report.
Corbett has supported privatization since he took office in 2011.
Polls have consistently shown a majority of Pennsylvanians are in favor of privatizing the liquor system, but the state monopoly set up in the wake of Prohibition has remained stubborn despite numerous attempts to end it, including efforts by the past two Republican administrations in Harrisburg during the 1980s and 1990s, accoring to a Pa. Independent report.
Gene Barr, president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, was one of several people invited to the governor’s office recently to weigh in on the liquor plan. He said Pennsylvania needs rethink how alcohol is sold.
The final plan should include more retail locations, including grocery stores and convenience stores, he said.
“Our view is that simply changing the person behind the counter isn’t good enough,” Barr told the Pa. Independent.
Heather
12:27 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
REALLY...Pennsylvanians aren't thinking about the impact of jobs in the state if this happens. Not only the state store employees but the 3500 individually owned beer distributors that will loose their businesses when Wal-Mart's take over. Yes....those beer distributors can also sell liquor IF the have enough square footage AND have the money to purchase the license and renewal fee of $150,000 every year....can't compete with Wal-Mart's!!!
Starship Trooper
7:47 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Paid for and approved by Wendell Young III
Moron Above-Me
12:51 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Were thinking about the common sense application that liquor and beer should be available more frequently, as it is in the rest of the entire damn country. Time to move on!
Robert Grouse
1:24 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The state should not be in the business of selling liquor. This is left-over from the end prohibition, when the then governor said something like "it will difficult and expensive" to buy liquor in PA. With borders on three other, highly competitive states, PA is giving up the sales tax revenue from all of the beverages bought outside and brought home. Not to mention the limitations on PA citizens who do not get the wine selections available elsewhere. Just sell the stores; they will be back open in 24 hours, under private (and better) management and with a better selection. And go ahead with opening up grocery store sales of wine and beer; how civilized!