Corbett's latest scam - privatization of liquor stores

[Pat Riot]

PSEA head Mike Crossey nailed it: "Linking liquor store privatization to school funding is just another way of holding students hostage to the governor's political agenda."

A million people will only read the headlines. Long-held grudges about the state store system will leave them feeling satisfied about the decision. They'll miss the part about it being a one-time deal in which school districts can't use the money for ongoing operational costs, but only for four purposes set by Corbett, one of which seems to be a pro-NRA line of crap.

Gotta hand it to that greasy weasel (with apology to actual weasels) - he sure knows how to kill two birds with one stone. Just like when he worsened the public school funding problem in the first place, he's union busting, spinning his image, and setting up his cronies to make tons of profit.

AG Kane, please hurry up!

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/01/corbetts_liquor_privatization.html

[mike_c]

1. "Long-held grudges about the state store system...."

Pennsylvania has the weirdest state liquor store system I have ever seen, seriously. And pizza restaurants everywhere with two tables, one oven, and 10,000 sq ft of walk-in cooler space for six-pack beer sales. I'm not sure the law actually requires that the oven be turned on or that the clerk know how to make pizza if he/she can ring up beer sales.

I can't comment on the OP because I'm not familiar with this latest wrinkle in the saga of PA liquor sales weirdness, but it's hard to imagine anything making it worse.

[MH1]

7. There's liquor, then there's beer. It's the beer distribution that is weird.

There's NOTHING wrong with the state liquor store system, from my point of view as a consumer with ready access to stores in 3 other states.

The BEER distributor system is utterly bizarre and does need to be changed. But I think there is a union (UFCW?) backing the current system so Dems don't want to tackle it. (I think. I might be mistaken on that but I remember that as my reason for expecting it not to change.)

If they privatize the LIQUOR stores: you will see more stores in areas like mine (and we don't need more than we have now), and fewer in some rural areas. Also, the state will lose some ability to control access, but more importantly they will lose a revenue stream.

I dunno how they can claim that privatizing the liquor stores would be a financial win for the state. Maybe in the short term, but I always thought that it was a money maker over the long term. Maybe pension costs are not always added in correctly?

But anyway, between this and the massive gambling expansion Corbett wants to impose on us, he seems to be trying to turn this state into a cesspool. What's next, stop cities from being able to use zoning to restrict "adult" businesses and crap?

What makes me really wonder is how any evangelical Christians could bring themselves to vote for this scumbag.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. I suggest that you go to a NJ liquor store near the PA border

You will find a lot of cars in the parking lot with PA plates.

[meow2u3]

2. The real purpose of privatizing liquor stores is to bust the union nt

[Proud Public Servant]

3. Two things

1) As has already been stated, Pennsylvania has an incredible, batshit-crazy liquor system. It artificially inflates the price of liquor, especially beer, and still subscribes to colonial-era blue laws regarding Sunday sales. It also makes it impossible to participate in things like beer-of-the-month and wine-of-the-month clubs. Liquor store cashiers certainly benefit from the state owning liquor stores, since they get government worker benefits; and restaurants and bars certainly benefit, since they can sell six packs to go at outrageous prices. But ordinary people in the state are completely shafted by this arcane and archaic system.

2) The plan to have schools reap the benefit of liquor store privatization has been around since at least the mid-90s; can't remember if it was Casey or Ridge who first floated it. Corbett's loathsome, but this isn't his idea, and maybe not ever his party's idea.

[MH1]

8. The Sunday blue law stuff no longer applies. At least not to state stores near me.

I have two state stores within my usual stomping grounds and both have Sunday hours. That is a relatively new change (a few years ago I think).

[happyslug]

10. The High Prices reflect the high state taxes NOT over head costs

Pennsylvania has some of the highest taxes on Alcohol in the Nation, and that is reflected in the price. People complain about the high price and blame HOW Liquor is sold without understanding that the main difference is the high tax rate.

For example PA tax on Liquor is $6.94 per gallon

West Virginia only charges $1.85. Maryland, $1.50. New York $6.44, New Jersey $5.50, Delaware $5.46. Thus a lot of Pennsylvanian go to Maryland and West Virginia to save money, but the big difference is the tax rate NOT anything else. New York, New Jersey and Delaware also have lower taxes then Pennsylvania but not the multi-dollar difference between Pennsylvania and West Virginia and Maryland.

http://taxfoundation.org/article/state-sales-gasoline-cigarette-and-alcohol-tax-rates-state-2000-2010

One of the reason for the High Alcohol tax is the "Temporary Tax" to pay for the damages due to the 1936 St Patrick's day flood. It was passed right after the flood to pay for the repairs needed but has NEVER been repealed.

[Pat Riot]

4. I'm not saying the state store system isn't f'ed up.

Some of you are missing my point. Corbett got lots of criticism for cutting funding for public schools; now he's fixing that image while union-busting.

[blue neen]

5. Bingo.

Tom Corbett loves union busting. Just ask the Pennsylvania Lottery employees.

What he has done to the public education system in PA is criminal.

...and, as you mentioned in the OP-----what's taking Kathleen Kane so long to get the Sandusky investigation going?

[MH1]

9. I have no problem with the state LIQUOR stores. The beer distributor stuff is what's batshit crazy.

In my experience, many states control (or have controlled) liquor sales similar to how it works in PA. There's nothing wrong with the basic concept and function. Law abiding, normal people like me can easily buy reasonable amounts of liquor. (Somewhat analogous to how most sane people think gun laws should work.) Are prices inflated? I have no idea, but also have no problem paying a "sin tax" on something that is pleasurable but generally at least a little harmful and certainly isn't a necessity.

The beer system here is counterproductive, because a person like me has no real choice but to buy beer a case at a time. Which means I have to drink a lot of it in a short time, in order to make room in my fridge for anything else. Or not buy it at all. I am not going to pay bottle prices for a six pack. Forget that shit. So when I do buy it, it is for mass consumption rather than a beer now and then after work. Which is more likely to lead to problem drinking?

[Mopar151]

6. And then there are "fire halls"

where, according to my source, you can get beer to go, but only if the container is open.... and what is a "house bar"?

[JPZenger]

11. State Store Privatization is the one type of privatization most PA. residents favor

We can argue about the way it should occur. However, keep in mind that the vast majority of PA. residents do favor selling off the State Store system. The world has not ended in other states where you can buy wine in grocery stores.

Linking the revenue to public schools was politically shrewd of Corbett, and it appears to be only way we will ever get more money out of him to adequately fund public schools.