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Pa. Republican Has Reservations About Liquor Store Privatization

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The privatization of Pennsylvania liquor stores has hit a bump in the road as a key state senator says the issue is not a top priority for him when lawmakers return in the fall.

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Sen. Joe Scarnati (credit: KYW's Tony Romeo)

Joe Scarnati – the top Republican in the state Senate – says he's got more than a few reservations about the matter.

"I've got a major issue with wanting to see how the rural area is going to fare in all these ideas and plans," Scarnati said. "And, look, if I were selling a business—I don't care if it's the liquor business or selling my own business – before you sell a business, you get the best bottom line you can. And I'm not so sure that we in Pennsylvania have yet got the best bottom line out of our liquor system that we can."

Scarnati believes a better approach would be to continue modernizing the state store system first, but stopped short of saying whether he would advocate for that position in the Republican caucus that he leads.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio

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