PA Governor Makes Last Push for Liquor Privatization

Private stores? Unheard of!

HARRISBURG — With 17 days left until the state budget deadline, Gov. Tom Corbett is in the home stretch trying to clinch one of his top priorities — liquor privatization.

But opponents aren't letting that happen without a fight.

The next three weeks promise to culminate a decades-long emotional debate one way or the other, a debate that intertwines policy, morals, money and consumer freedom.

Since January, Corbett has called for ending the state-owned wine and liquor stores, and creating a private licensing system for the sale of alcohol. Also since January, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 and Democrats statewide have raised vocal opposition.