There is good news and bad news in this first week of the new year when it comes to my personal crusade to get Pennsylvania out of the booze business.
It appears as if there will be a serious move in the state Legislature to sell off Pennsylvania’s 750 state stores and put the sale of wine and spirits into the hands of private enterprise.
Rep. Mike Turzai, a Republican from Allegheny County, is spearheading this move. And with Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, along with a new Republican governor in Tom Corbett who has gone on the record as opposing any new tax hikes, the $2 billion in revenue that could be generated by selling the state stores will be hard to turn down.
The bad news?
Well, if you’re like me, and long for the ability to cruise down a couple of aisles in your local supermarket and grab beer, wine and spirits all in one shot, then take all of them out of one checkout, well, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
That, apparently, is not what Turzai has in mind. He is not looking to make wholesale changes in the system, such as making beer readily available in supermarkets or convenience stores.
He’s afraid any move to make Pennsylvania a little more like other states in terms of a user-friendly system of selling alcohol would only bog down the chance of his legislation.
In other words, you’re still going to be looking at three trips, one for a six-pack of beer, another for a case, and one more for a bottle of wine or alcohol.
The only difference is that you won’t go to a state store, but rather a private store.
I guess that’s progress, Pennsylvania style.
It appears as if there will be a serious move in the state Legislature to sell off Pennsylvania’s 750 state stores and put the sale of wine and spirits into the hands of private enterprise.
Rep. Mike Turzai, a Republican from Allegheny County, is spearheading this move. And with Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, along with a new Republican governor in Tom Corbett who has gone on the record as opposing any new tax hikes, the $2 billion in revenue that could be generated by selling the state stores will be hard to turn down.
The bad news?
Well, if you’re like me, and long for the ability to cruise down a couple of aisles in your local supermarket and grab beer, wine and spirits all in one shot, then take all of them out of one checkout, well, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
That, apparently, is not what Turzai has in mind. He is not looking to make wholesale changes in the system, such as making beer readily available in supermarkets or convenience stores.
He’s afraid any move to make Pennsylvania a little more like other states in terms of a user-friendly system of selling alcohol would only bog down the chance of his legislation.
In other words, you’re still going to be looking at three trips, one for a six-pack of beer, another for a case, and one more for a bottle of wine or alcohol.
The only difference is that you won’t go to a state store, but rather a private store.
I guess that’s progress, Pennsylvania style.
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