Pa. Senate heads toward floor debate on liquor

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Republican senators plan to take their disagreements over legislation to liberalize Pennsylvania’s laws on wine, liquor and beer sales to the chamber’s floor Thursday, amid signs of growing desperation among Republican majority leaders to reach a consensus on issues that are important to Gov. Tom Corbett.

Republicans, who control the Senate, spent four-plus hours behind closed doors today, but they left without any clear idea about what exactly will win a majority of the 50-member chamber, senators said.

Normally, the Senate’s Republican leaders do not bring a bill to the chamber’s floor unless the Republican majority approves of it and they are assured that it will pass. But Senate Republicans are split over legislation on wine, liquor and beer sales that is being sought by House Republicans and Corbett.