Pa. Gov. Corbett promises liquor proceeds to schools

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett today unveiled an ambitious proposal to get Pennsylvania out of the liquor and wine business by replacing hundreds of state-owned stores with twice as many private outlets and allowing beer and wine to be sold at a wide range of stores.

“I want Pennsylvanians to enjoy the same convenience that virtually every other American today has,” said Corbett, who unveiled his proposal at a news conference halfway across the state from the Capitol, where its fate will be decided.

Corbett said the plan would generate an additional $1 billion in revenue over several years. He said the money would be used to create a proposed block-grant program to help finance certain public school projects.

Most of the revenue, a projected $575 million, would come from the sale of wholesale liquor licenses.