Pennsylvania: Private group to advocate for privatizing Pennsylvania liquor stores

Source: PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

By Brad Bumsted

Friday, January 18, 2013

A fledgling coalition of citizens, businesses and groups supporting liquor privatization will announce next week a push for the state store divestiture plan GOP Gov. Tom Corbett soon will unveil, a leading advocate said today.

What's been missing in the debate is the public's voice - reflected in poll after poll - showing support for getting rid of the state stores, said Charlie Gerow, a Harrisburg-based Republican consultant. All lawmakers hear from now are special interests opposed to selling the state stores - primarily unions supporting state store clerks, he said.

A Philadelphia Inquirer poll in October showed 61 percent of Pennsylvanians favor sale of the state stores.

"This is to give the issue the citizens' push it's been lacking," Gerow said. He declined to name people who will be part of the coalition. Gerow is not under government contract on the issue.

Legislation to allow the state to sell the liquor stores could not get through the House last year despite support from House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods. Turzai repeatedly tried to line up the votes. At that point, Corbett was not pushing it.

"I believe we're going to see liquor privatization in 2013," Gerow said. "I equally believe Gov. Corbett's leadership is essential to that happening."

Corbett said during his 2010 campaign that he supported liquor store sales. Pennsylvania is one of only two states, the other being Utah, that controls wholesale and retail liquor sales. But other issues consumed Corbett's agenda, starting with a $4 billion state deficit in 2011. He said in November he would push and lobby for a liquor bill this year. "I don't back away," he said.

"You will see something on liquor stores and on transportation (funding) before the budget address," Corbett told reporters Thursday after an event promoting his contract to privatize state lottery management. "Stay tuned," he said, when asked for details.

Gerow was involved in privatization efforts under two previous Republican governors, Tom Ridge and Dick Thornburgh. He said he believes, "The third time will be the charm." He is doing initial work setting up the coalition voluntarily but does not rule out working for proponents as a communication consultant and strategist.