The Pennsylvania State Senate on a straight party-line vote, passed what could become a major reform of how beer, wine and liquor is sold in Pennsylvania, giving new life to one of Gov. Tom Corbett's major campaign pledges.
The 27-23 vote - cast at 1:20 a.m. Saturday - would start to back Pennsylvania out of the retail wine and liquor business, and sets the stage for a lease of its wholesale monopoly if it is determined that it would not harm the state financially.
Beer distributors would be able to become one-stop shops for all forms of alcohol; beer and wine could be sold from restaurants and supermarkets with in-store cafes, and take-out beer could be sold from some convenience stores without eat-in areas.
From Governor Corbett:
(Harrisburg, PA) – Governor Tom Corbett today released the following statement regarding House Bill 790:
“Pennsylvanians deserve consumer choice and convenience. This year, we have worked together to make tremendous strides in achieving landmark progress for Pennsylvania consumers.
“Early Saturday morning, the Senate worked diligently to amend House Bill 790. As passed in the House and as amended by the Senate, House Bill 790 is a historic liquor bill that will forever reform the liquor system in Pennsylvania and deliver much needed choice and convenience to Pennsylvania consumers.
“I would like to personally thank Chairman McIlhinney and Chairman Taylor, the leadership teams and their staff, for all of their tremendous work in getting the bill to this point. I, along with Pennsylvania consumers, greatly appreciate their efforts. We are on the verge of historic reforms – we are so close and we must not stopnow.
“I urge the members of the Senate to pass House Bill 790 as amended and send it to the House for concurrence today. I am asking the House to then immediately take action and concur on the bill as is and get it to my desk. I will proudly sign this bill into law. This bill as amended is a historic step and we must not lose this opportunity to deliver a reform the people of Pennsylvania want and deserve.”
UPDATE form Pennlive:
Earlier today, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, said that the sense of his caucus was that they would not send a liquor bill that Pileggi had meticulously built support for without a good transportation bill in hand from the House. And the Senate wanted assurances that the House would send the liquor plan to Corbett’s desk.
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