Lawmakers to vote on alcohol privatisation

Pennsylvania lawmakers will vote today on a proposal to sell the majority of the state’s liquor store systems, which could see the loss of around 4,000 jobs.

Pennsylvania liquor privatisation proposals have moved forward to a House floor vote

On Monday the state’s House Liquor Control Committee voted 15 to 10 in favour of advancing the Republican-supported bill called House Bill 466, and if approved again today will see the legislation move to the Senate for consideration.

The bill is akin to one that passed to the House in 2013, but died in the Senate during the last legislative session.

“At the end of the day, this is a private retail and wholesale business that, in every other state except one, is managed by the private sector,” said Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester, the committee chairman, as reported by Leigh Valley Live.

“We don’t have state grocery stores. We don’t have state gas stations.

The move would mean the creation of 1,200 licenses for retail business to sell wine and spirits, creating opportunities for beer distributors to buy them.

Job losses

Just 100 out of 600 government-owned and operated stores would remain in operation, but employees have been assured they would receive help in finding new employment.

Democrats, who collectively voted against the bill in 2013, raised questions about whether such a move would jeopardise revenue that could be generated from the current measure, and used to subsidise state budget cuts this year.

Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, was curious to know what the estimated value of the state’s existing stores is.

“Are we truly maximising the value, are we giving the taxpayers back the money they put into the system?” he said.

However, committee member Rep. Justin Simmons, R-Leigh/Northampton, supported the measure and said in a statement: “The time has come to dispose of a relic of the past known as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and move Pennsylvania into the 21^st century.

“Our constituents are being punished by this antiquated system, which was created in 1933 with the goal of making liquor sales as inconvenient and expensive as possible.

“Not much has changed since then. All the vast majority of state residents want is more freedom in purchasing a perfectly legal product, like they have in 48 other states.”