There is clearly not a lot of enthusiasm among even some Republican legislators to revive the debate on Governor Corbett’s so-called “privatization” effort – an attempt by the Republican governor to allow convenience and grocery stores to easily obtain liquor licenses and sell beer along with, perhaps, wine and spirits. But it still too early to say this effort is “dead”.
The private sector forces who want to sell beer along with wine and spirits are still pushing, and while we know this is really not about “privatization”, they are continuing to urge the General Assembly to write new laws so they can be far more aggressive in the beer business. This is clearly an unabashed attack on us and our industry.
At this point, however, we are all waiting for the General Assembly to return on September 23, and to see what direction the leadership plans to take.