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Fate of Liquor Privatization Lies with Senate

March 26, 2013

Contact your state Senators and ask them to follow through on the House’s historic March 21 vote to get the state out of the wholesale and retail liquor business. You can find your legislator. If you would prefer to have a letter generated and sent to your Senator, click here – though the most effective communication is often a phone call to your Senator’s district office.

“Selling alcohol is not a core function of state government,” said PMA Executive Director David N. Taylor. “Getting Pennsylvania out of the booze business will send a message that positive change is possible in Harrisburg and that even the most entrenched self-serving interests cannot thwart the public will forever..”

Senate Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) said that he looked forward to the Senate deliberation of the liquor bill, HB 790, but also cautioned the Senate would not act as quickly as the House.

The March 21 House vote was the first time ever a liquor privatization bill passed either chamber since the Liquor Control Board was established in 1933 with the end of Prohibition. HB 790 is a modified version of the Governor’s original plan but it would still phase out the 600 state liquor stores.