March Madness III: We’re about to see just how much will Gov. Tom Corbett and others pushing the idea of privatizing sales of alcohol in this state actually have.
A state House panel could vote to start moving the state down the path toward getting out of the booze business. The House Liquor Control Committee will hold its initial hearing on Corbett’s plan to sell off the 600 state stores and auction off licenses to private operators.
It also could vote on an amendment being offered by Delco state Rep. Tom Killion, R-168, and others that would push the ball toward privatization, but in a more gradual way.
Me? You know where I stand. I’m with the governor. Yes, you read that right. I stand with Tom Corbett on this issue. I want the system blown up. Only in my case it has nothing to do with revenue. I’m simply talking convenience, being able to buy wine, beer and liquor in one spot, preferably in the local supermarket, at the same time. Or maybe the luxury of ducking into my local Wawa on the way home to buy a six-pack of beer.
Killion’s bill would make for a more gradual phase-out of state stores, closing only those that sell less than 50 percent of the alcohol sold in a county. When the number of state stores dwindle to less than 100, they would bring down the curtain on state sales.
The most vocal proponent of privatization in the Legislature, Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, wants to bring the measure to a vote in the full House by the end of the month.
They will face heated opposition from some Democrats as well as the powerful United Food and Commercial Workers union that represents those state store workers.
Corbett has added a new wrinkle to the debate, saying he would siphone off $1 billion for education funding from the sale of 1,200 liquor licenses.
Corbett has put his name on this project, taking the forefront pushing the plan in appearances from one end of the state to the other. It’s also no secret that the governor badly needs a win as he stares at a re-election campaign with some of the lowest approval ratings in recent memory.
Push has come to shove in the great liquor debate. Corbett controls both chambers in the Legislature. This whole thing might hinge on whether he can control those in his own party, some of whom are now openly questioning his leadership, and aren’t big fans of privatization to boot.
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