Harrisburg, March 21, 2013 — Senate Democratic Law and Justice Chair Jim Ferlo (D-Pittsburgh) and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today released statements expressing their opposition to the passage of the wine and spirits privatization plan in the Pa House of Representatives.
“Governor Corbett and House Republicans are giving away an important public asset in their ideological thirst for privatization,” Ferlo said. “Their plan will destroy consumer choices, reasonable prices, family sustaining jobs, and it will cause social disruption in our communities.”
Expressing disappointment on behalf of his constituents, Ferlo questioned the motives in the privatization plan.
“Through today’s vote for wine and spirits privatization, Republican leadership in the governor’s office and the state House continued its assault on the middle class, showing no hesitation in eliminating family-sustaining, middle class employment in favor of giving their rich allies a chance to sell alcohol and pocket the profits.”
Ferlo strongly maintains that a better approach is his modernization bill; legislation that has gained 26 bipartisan co-sponsors. The bill would allow for more appropriate pricing, flexibility in hiring, acquisition of in-demand products and direct shipment of wine, while also providing for package reform in beer sales.
Senator Costa has long maintained the lack of need for privatizing the Liquor Control Board operations.
“I am very disappointed by the passage of the liquor privatization legislation by the House,” Costa said. “Instead of privatizing we should be modernizing the wine and spirits system. We should not be ceding the control of alcohol to companies that are driven by profit and not control.”
Costa expressed his deep concern about the loss of thousands of jobs to hard working Pennsylvanians, amidst the potential, significant loss of revenue for the commonwealth.
“The republican scheme to rely on one-time revenues while cutting thousands of family-sustaining jobs opens a door to fiscal instability that we will never be able to close. The House vote today puts hundreds of millions of dollars in the balance, and thousands of dedicated employees are caught in the middle of this debate.”
Costa asserted that divesting our current system for one that offers no future guarantees is a gamble that no one should be willing to make.
“This is the wrong time to allow a massive expansion of access to alcohol without proper safeguards,” continued Costa. “The liquor plan that passed the House is purposely confusing and convoluted and its passage was driven by special interests and political expediency.
“Gov. Corbett’s liquor expansion plan takes Pennsylvania in the wrong direction,” Costa said.
For more information on Senator Ferlo’s Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and beer sales modernization bill, visit http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20130&cosponId=12007
CONTACT:
Stacey Witalec| Press Secretary
Senator Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Caucus
535 Main Capitol | Harrisburg, Pa 17120
Phone:(717)772-2368 | Cell:(717)877-2997
www.senatorcosta.com