Pa. Liquor Store Privatization Is Dead For Time Being
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The Pennsylvania House majority leader now says efforts to pass legislation that would privatize the sale of wine and liquor in the Commonwealth is on hold until at least the fall.
The high water mark for the liquor privatization effort was Monday of last week, when the House debated majority leader Mike Turzai's proposal for about three hours, in anticipation of a vote.
But debate never resumed (see related story), and now Turzai says he and Governor Tom Corbett have agreed to put on the brakes.
"The governor's asked me to hold off, to let him and the administration do some additional work over the summer," Turzai told KYW Newsradio today. "And look, we're a team. We've got to get focused on the budget. And we have to be focused on some of the key things that he's outlined in terms of job creation and education reform."
When asked if the governor has offered any possible changes to the liquor privatization proposal in an effort to garner more support, Turzai said they didn't get into specifics. But he added that Corbett has does have some good ideas.
When asked if he had the votes for his proposal at any point over the last few weeks, Turzai said he was "very close."
Read the recent KYW Regional Affairs Council special report, "State Store Standoff!"
