Harrisburg, March 14, 2013 – Today, Senator Jim Ferlo announced that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) and beer sales modernization bill he is poised to introduce has reached 25 bipartisan co-sponsors. Senator Ferlo (D-Pittsburgh) circulated a co-sponsorship memo last week to all Senators with details on his proposal. The first two co-sponsors of the bill were Republican Senators.
“This sends a clear message that privatization is a non-starter in the State Senate and DOA,” Ferlo said. “Governor Corbett’s proposal and any other attempt to privatize the liquor sales in the Commonwealth face an insurmountable obstacle in the upper chamber of the Legislature,” added Ferlo.
The initiatives in the bill include promoting Pennsylvania’s small businesses, such as restaurants, taverns, distributors, breweries, and wineries, and further protecting family sustaining, middle-class jobs. Senator Ferlo’s legislation would take a multi-pronged approach to improving the PLCB’s operations in Pennsylvania by allowing it to operate more like a successful retail business through competitive pricing, streamlined hiring, and improved marketing. The proposal also includes reforms to how beer is sold at distributors and taverns, and would permit shipping wine directly to consumers.
“While privatization negotiations in the House have had a decidedly partisan tone, I look forward to continuing to work with Senate Republicans in order to pass legislation that has support from both sides of the aisle. I believe we need to protect this revenue-generating asset and continue to ensure that the General Fund receives as much income as possible to provide government services,” Ferlo went on to say.
The Senator said that other Republican Senators have expressed support for the proposal, but have not signed onto the legislation. The bill continues to collect co-sponsors and will be introduced in the coming weeks.
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SENATOR JIM FERLO
PHONE: (412) 621-3006 or (412) 952-3364
jferlo@pasenate.com
CONTACT: Anne Huber
PHONE: (717) 787-6123
ahuber@pasenate.com