Malt Beverage Distributors Association (MBDA) First Vice President Frank Pistella released the following statement after sending a letter to Governor Tom Wolf and the chairman and members of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).
“Today the MBDA sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf and the members of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board expressing our extreme disappointment with the Governor’s support for beer sales at gas stations despite the fact that an appeal is being considered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court,” Pistella said. “Governor Wolf never made mention that the appeal even existed. So either the Governor is unaware of the appeal’s existence or he doesn’t even care what the Supreme Court may decide.
“His attempt to tamper with the administrative process, using incomplete information, on the day before an independent vote is being taken by the PLCB is irresponsible. Notably, one of the pending applications before the PLCB today is from a Sheetz gas station, which is also the very entity at the heart of the appeal before the Supreme Court.
“This is now the second occasion that Governor Wolf has entered into agreements that impact our members without consulting with MBDA representatives. In the past, when governors have made similar deals they always reach out to the groups affected to discuss this issue and we are disappointed we weren’t contacted.”
“The hardworking small business owners who make up the MBDA are only seeking a fair hearing on the facts regarding this matter and it is disappointing that Governor Wolf is attempting to put his thumb down on the scales of justice to assist large corporations seeking to run Pennsylvania small businesses out of business.”