In Pa. House, a Fresh Push for Liquor Privatization

A fresh push to privatize the state’s liquor store system is brewing in the Pennsylvania House, NewsWorks reports.

Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed told NewsWorks that his chamber may revive a privatization bill that passed the House and failed the Senate two years ago.  The Senate’s Republican majority has gotten larger and more conservative since then.

“I think liquor privatization is probably, is at the forefront right now solely based upon the fact that if you look at the major public policy items out there, it’s the only one that’s actually passed one of the chambers,” Reed said. “So from a House perspective, it’s already teed up. We’ve had the discussion, we’ve just got to have a little bit more discussion to put it back on the table.”

“Neither the Senate GOP nor Governor Tom Wolf’s administration is warm to liquor privatization,” NewsWorks adds. “But some say their competing priorities may necessitate a big, package deal.”