By Kevin Zwick & Peter L. DeCoursey
Staff Reporters
Capitolwire
HARRISBURG (June 29) – After days of vote wrangling among Senate GOP ranks, a sweeping liquor privatization amendment was approved on party-lines early Saturday morning, positioning a final vote on one of Gov. Tom Corbett’s key legislative goals.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, said the Senate GOP leadership-crafted amendment will make “historic changes to how alcohol is sold in Pennsylvania.”
Senate GOP leaders told their caucus Friday evening that passing their liquor amendment would show state House leaders the Senate could pass a liquor amendment that moved toward the goals of the governor and House GOP leaders.
And it would pressure the House leaders to move towards the Senate when they amend a transportation bill Saturday, Senate GOP leaders told their caucus.
A Democratic “modernization” amendment was voted down 24-26. Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery, whom GOP leaders spent most of the day wooing and who ultimately supported the successful Pileggi amendment, was the only Republican to vote for the rejected modernization amendment.
The chamber suspended the 11 p.m. rule and approved the Senate GOP amendment after 1 a.m. The amendment was adopted to House Bill 790 and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee, scheduled to meet later on Saturday.
Senate Democrats objected to the amendment that would eventually close state-controlled liquor stores, which employ about 5,000 union members. They also voiced concern over the potential social ills caused by a proliferation of alcohol.
“We’re not in our caucus calling for temperance…that era has ended,” said Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester, after pointing to a stained glass window in the Senate with a “temperance” banner above it. “Temperance means we have to be temperate in our behavior as it affects drinking.”
Gov. Tom Corbett, in a statement, thanked the Senate for approving the amendment.
“I look forward to their passing a final bill. Together, working with the House and Senate, we will deliver real reform to the people of Pennsylvania,” the governor said.
Wendell Young of the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1776, represents thousands of state store workers.
While several GOP senators said state stores may survive under the Pileggi plan, Young said: “If you look at the math involved, it’s hard to see any scenario where our Wine & Spirit stores would last that long. And it would be the same for the second and third generation beer distributors. They won’t survive long.”
He said the vote was an attempt to get the House GOP to move a transportation bill, but added “throwing 5,000 people out of work for a bad, inadequate transportation bill is not the answer. I think this was political horsetrading.”
Under Pileggi’s amendment, beer distributors could sell wine and spirits. Restaurant licensees, which include some supermarkets and convenience stores that already sell beer, would be allowed to sell beer and wine.
Food markets can purchase an “R” license, if they meet certain size and food sales requirements. Food markets more than three-quarters of a mile from a distributor licensee can apply for an exemption from the 30 seats required for such an establishment. The proposal also lifts the prohibition on selling alcohol at gas stations.
The proposal includes a mechanism for shutting down the state-controlled liquor stores when privately run beer distributors selling wine and liquor outnumber them two to one in a county.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board would be able to lease the wholesale operation for a period not more than 10 years, so long as the lease would increase annual profits to the commonwealth.
Pennsylvania breweries would be able to sell their product at farmers markets, and a small brewers tax credit would be reinstated.
-30-
I haven’t read the bill yet but it seems PA is getting out the the liquor business. I doubt we will see a gin mill on every corner as the progressives have said over the past couple of months. Now, if we can get the progressives out of the way perhaps Corbett can deal with the marijuana legalization issue.
EDITOR: Fat chance!