Booze You Can Use

House Democrats Say Jobs Are More Important Than Selling Off Liquor Stores

Photo: Courtesy of Marlo Marketing

House Democrats are putting jobs in front of turning a quick buck as Gov. Tom Corbett and fiscally-fixated Republicans rattle sabers in the run up to their war on Pennsylvania’s liquor stores, WHYY’s Newsworks reports. In deliberations yesterday in Philly, House reps. heard arguments for and against stripping the LCB of its retail arm and selling off liquor licenses to the private sector. While Corbett and company maintain selling the state’s liquor stores will generate millions that could be applied to the state’s looming budget deficit, critics — the majority of whom are Democrats — contend the proposed sale’s windfall will be short-lived, and will force hundreds of public workers into the unemployment line.

Wendell Young, the head of the union that represents Wine & Spirit Shop employees testified that the state stores generate half a billion dollars in profits for the state annually, and noted that its performance is better than any private enterprise in Pennsylvania. Republicans stand by their claims that private liquor stores will give consumers a wider variety of products at lower prices. Still no matter how low the price, all that cheap booze won’t make up for the hundreds of workers who will be left without jobs.
House Dems hold hearing on plan to sell liquor stores [Newsworks]

Earlier: Lawmakers Get Ready to Rumble Over the Pros and Cons of Liquor Privatization

House Democrats Say Jobs Are More Important Than Selling Off Liquor Stores