Pa. House votes — again — to phase out liquor stores
in 2010, Jay Petrie of Solebury Pennsylvania, shops at a state wine and liquor store in New Hope. By a vote of 114-87, the Pennsylvania House has passed a proposal to take apart the state's liquor system, though the measure is not expected to advance. (AP file photo)
By a vote of 114-87, the Pennsylvania House has passed a proposal to take apart the state’s liquor system, though the measure is heading to an unenthusiastic Senate and a governor who opposes it.
The measure would phase out most state-owned wine and spirit stores and put the state in charge of selling licenses to private retail and wholesale vendors.
House debate went for hours Thursday on the merits of the bill – despite the fact that it’s headed for almost certain changes in the Senate.
“I don’t anticipate that they’re just going to pass our bill and send it to the governor,” said GOP House Majority Leader Dave Reed. “I’m sure they’re going to have priorities of their own. That’s part of the legislative process. That’s OK. This is where we’re at on liquor, and this is where we’re going to start the discussion.”
Gov. Tom Wolf prefers modernization – efforts to make the system more consumer-friendly, and more profitable as a result.
“I ran against privatization,” Wolf told reporters on Tuesday. “If it reaches my desk in the present form, I will veto it.”
A similar privatization measure passed in the House two years ago, but support in the Senate fizzled and went flat. The Senate GOP says the proposal isn’t its top priority.
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