PENNSYLVANIA State Senate OKs bill for Sunday liquor sales

The state liquor control board sought approval of the two-year pilot project.
HARRISBURG (AP) -- Sunday alcohol sales would be allowed at up to 10 percent of the 650 state-owned liquor stores in Pennsylvania under a bill approved by the state Senate late Wednesday night.
The provision allowing the Sunday sales for a two-year test period was contained in an amendment to a state liquor code bill that was sent to the House of Representatives. The amendment was approved 26-23 before the bill passed 28-21.
The House approved its own version of the pilot project Monday that was sought by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The Senate did not act on that bill, however, but added its own version to the liquor code bill.
"It really is a continuation of the modernization of the state stores in Pennsylvania," said Sen. Joe Conti, R-Bucks, who proposed the amendment. "It's an effort to offer to the people of Pennsylvania enhanced service on Sundays."
Opposition
Opponents of the provision failed to pass two amendments, one effectively killing the project and the other prohibiting Sunday sales in Philadelphia. The amendments were offered by Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia.
"I don't know of one constituent who has called me and said, 'I need the state stores open on Sundays,"' said Sen. Gibson E. Armstrong, R-Lancaster. "The one thing we don't need in Pennsylvania is more consumption of alcohol. I think it's a bad amendment."
Senators also rejected a proposal by Sen. Robert J. Mellow, D-Lackawanna, the Senate minority leader, to place lottery machines in each of the state liquor stores.