New Pennsylvania Liquor Bill Goes to Full House
The Pennsylvania House’s Liquor Control Committee debated Gov. Corbett’s liquor privatization bill earlier this week in a session that went several hours, was almost postponed and eventually led to the passage of the bill by a vote of 14-10. It now goes to the full House of Representatives, and Rep. Mike Turzai, a long-time proponent of liquor privatization...
Continue ReadingPoll Shows People Still Opposed to Liquor Board as Corbett Logs More Face Time
It’s full speed ahead for Pennsylvania’s liquor privatization advocates. Yesterday, the conservative Commonwealth Foundation released a poll they commissioned through public opinion research group Fairbank, Maslin, Maulin, Metz and Associates — a firm, it was correctly pointed out by CF, with a majority Democrat client list — and found the same results...
Continue Reading
Rep. Sims on Liquor Privatization: “This is the System We’re Stuck With”
During his Tuesday budget address, Gov. Tom Corbett reiterated his proposal to privatize Pennsylvania’s liquor monopoly and funnel the cash infusion thus produced straight to the school system. “I can think of no better use for the proceeds created by getting us out of a business we should never have been in than to put those dollars toward the essential...
Continue Reading
Corbett Wants to Sell Off State Booze Monopoly For Convenience, Schools
Gov. Corbett on liquor sales: "We shouldn't do it halfway." On Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Tom Corbett and several Republican legislators held a press conference in Pittsburgh to announce a new plan to get the Pennsylvania government out of the liquor business—fully, and for good. The conference began with Lt. Gov. Cowley, who noted Wednesday’s...
Continue Reading
Amid Legislative Failure, Corbett to Introduce Liquor Privatization
All the way back in August 2011, a source told Philadelphia Weekly that if the Rep. Mike Turzai’s (R-Allegheny) liquor privatization bill failed, Gov. Corbett would strike at the Legislature and introduce his own legislation. Who would have thought it’d actually come to that? On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Corbett will announce his very own liquor privatization...
Continue Reading
Liquor Bill Dead–For Now
Don’t say you didn’t see this coming: State Rep. Mike Turzai said this morning that the liquor privatization bill is dead—for now. “It’s clear that people are supportive of privatization. it’s common sense,” Turzai said, according to this Morning Call report. “Consumers are expecting it. But to get to the sweet spot to be able...
Continue Reading
Another Liquor Privatization Plan Mashed Together in Harrisburg
Remember liquor privatization? It was this thing in the Pennsylvania State House that was supposed to get the government out of the liquor business. But instead, when all was said and done, it looked more like a blueprint to complicate the system a bit more, if that were possible. But complication is complicated. And creating a coalition in the House and Senate...
Continue Reading
Pennsylvania House Honors Yuengling Brewing Company
Don’t say they’re wasting all their time on Year of the Bible resolutions, Voter ID bills and anti-abortion measures! Because finally, the Pennsylvania House has put forth something we can all agree on: It’s H.R. 567, which honors and congratulates Pennsylvania brewing company, D.G. Yuengling & Son, for being awesome. After Anheuser sold out...
Continue Reading
Liquor Privatization Bill Approved in Committee – But There are Problems
The state House Liquor Control Committee this morning approved House Bill 11, the liquor privatization bill authored by Majority Leader Mike Turzai, and it will now go to the full House for a vote. This marks the first time since 1933, when the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board was established, a “privatization” bill has made it out of committee, let alone...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Sunday Beer Hours Extended
The Pennsylvania Legislature voted yesterday to extend Sunday beer hours, in spite of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s “You’re gonna get raped” ad campaign. The way it was, you were only allowed to shop from noon until 5 p.m. Now, assuming Gov. Corbett spills some ink, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The PLCB doesn’t sell beer, though it does license beer distributors....
Continue Reading


