PA Liquor Store Privatization May Be Skunked (UPDATE)
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MyBeer Buzz
After debating into the evening hours on Monday, the PA house adjourned with no discussion and with no vote on privatization on Tuesday. Details from Philly.com:
The House adjourned with no discussion, let alone a vote, on the much-talked-about proposal to get the state out of the wine and liquor business. This after debating the issue for more than three hours Monday, with the expectation that discussions would resume Tuesday — leaving many to question whether the measure was dying for lack of support.
The proposal’s key sponsor, House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny), could not be reached for comment after the House adjourned. Earlier in the day, Turzai spokesman Steve Miskin insisted that the measure had enough votes to move forward.
"I would not declare privatization dead, just based on the fact that we know Mike Turzai and his energy levels and his commitment to this issue," said Rep. Mike Vereb (R., Montgomery).
But it was unclear late Tuesday whether the chamber would tackle the issue again this week, or even this month.
And the political climate inside the Capitol does not look promising for privatization as the clock winds down to the legislature’s summer break. The agenda is increasingly dominated by negotiations on a state budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, along with related issues that threaten to push the liquor debate to the sidelines.
Even if Turzai’s proposal squeaks through the House, another big hurdle awaits down the hall: the Senate, where President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) has signaled there will be no discussion on privatization until at least fall. And on Tuesday, Sen. Charles McIlhinney Jr. (R., Bucks) complicated the picture by announcing a separate bill to create a special license to increase the number of private retailers selling wine and spirits.
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