Pa. gov.: Turzai liquor bill 'the place to start'

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Tom Corbett says he still favors the privatization of liquor and wine sales in Pennsylvania, but that limits are needed on the number of stores to be licensed.

Corbett today made public a long-awaited consultant’s report laying out two alternatives for privatization — a structured process in which retail licenses are sold at an auction or an open-market approach in which any qualified applicant could buy a license.

The consultant — The PFM Group — says the sales of wholesale and retail licenses alone could raise as much as $1.6 billion.

A privatization bill sponsored by House Majority Leader Mike Turzai embraces the structured, auction approach to awarding licenses.

Corbett called the Allegheny County Republican’s bill “the place to start” in the privatization debate.