Vote On Liquor Privatization Could Happen Later This Month

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The state House majority leader says his chamber will vote later this month or early April on legislation that would change the way liquor is sold in Pennsylvania. The question now is, what will that legislation look like?

Governor Corbett and Allegheny County Republican Mike Turzai, the House majority leader, both favor closing state stores and getting the Commonwealth completely out of the business of selling booze. But some legislative leaders have indicated they're more interested in simply making the sale of adult beverages easier for consumers, such as expanding beer and wine sales to grocery stores.

On Wednesday, Turzai would not say whether he would take a hard line in advocating for complete privatization, cryptically suggesting there might be some wiggle room on that point.

"Once the private sector gets the opportunity to sell wine and spirits, the state stores – over time – they're not going to be able to compete."

Turzai says in that scenario, state stores would be phased out by market competition, even if that's not mandated by law.