Pennsylvania Lawmakers Will Tackle Liquor Privitization Later This Spring
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The spokesman for the state House majority leader says the chamber will likely tackle the issue of privatizing liquor sales later this spring.
The Pennsylvania Senate Wednesday passed a bill that would allow for direct shipment to homes from wine producers in the United States. But the bill goes to the House, which is unlikely to take it up. That's because Stephen Miskin, spokesman for Allegheny County Republican Mike Turzai, the majority leader, says the House will instead tackle a broader privatization bill, likely in May or June.
"Actually, direct shipments of wine is part of the privatization bill. And we definitely agree that the sale of wine and liquor in Pennsylvania needs to be modernized. But in reality, the only way to do that is privatization."
Turzai originally proposed a bill that would eliminate the state store system. That bill was watered down in committee last December. Miskin says a new amendment drafted in conjunction with the Corbett administration will be considered, one that will involve full or partial elimination of the state store system.
