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Pa. Lawmaker Wants To Sell Liquor Stores By May

HARRISBURG (CBS) - The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House says he's hoping for action on his proposal to sell off state liquor stores by the end of May.

Appearing at a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon in Harrisburg Monday, Allegheny County Republican Mike Turzai, the House majority leader, said as part of the budget process – which he hopes will be done by May 31st – he wants action on legislation to sell liquor stores, even though he acknowledges any sale is not about bringing in revenue for this difficult budget cycle.

"In the end the bill is not being put on the table solely for fiscal reasons," Turzai says. "In the end, we want to make it clear that we want government to be involved in its core government functions and that what we do not need to be doing, we let the private sector do."

Turzai says government should "show by example" its desire to grow the private sector. The leader also drew laughter when he quipped that there will be no "predetermined" winners of liquor store licenses, which he proposes to auction off… unlike, he says, the gambling legislation.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio

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