Union groups target plan to sell Pa. liquor stores

Union groups are beginning to mobilize against a plan to sell  Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores. Incoming Republican leaders say privatizing Pennsylvania’s 600-plus stores is an early priority, and predict the sale would generate more than $2 billion.Wendell Young, who heads the United Federation of Commercial Workers’ Pennsylvania chapter, said Friday their numbers are wrong.”I think it’s a hard sell to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania to say that we know we can go to $2 billion. They know they can’t. There’s not a shred of evidence,” he said.”Do the math. Take our your own calculator. Go talk to people in other states and ask what they pay for licenses. Nobody gets that kind of money,” Young continued. “Why’s Pennsylvania going to be any different?Young said lawmakers would also be giving up future tax revenue by selling the state-owned system, as well as jeopardizing the jobs of liquor store employees.Incoming Majority Leader Mike Turzai said, under his plan,  liquor sales would still generate $500 million in taxes each year.