RSS FEEDS
Recent Research
DECEMBER 22, 2011 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD
Why Gov. Corbett Didn't Get His Christmas Wish List
For Christmas this year, Gov. Tom Corbett hoped the legislature would gift wrap three things he could tie a bow on: An education reform package that included school vouchers, state liquor store privatization and legislation addressing gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
DECEMBER 12, 2011 | Commentary by DAWN MELING
PLCB Must End Costly Mission Conflict
In high school, I threw the javelin in track and field, badly wanting to be recruited by a college athletics program. My dad would joke that he never had to worry about high school boys and unwanted attention towards me because I could out bench press almost every guy in my school. And that was my attitude too - nothing to worry abou
DECEMBER 9, 2011 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
PLCB Called on to Stop Wine and Spirits Advertising
The Commonwealth Foundation called for an immediate halt today by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board of taxpayer-funded advertising that promotes the sale of wine and spirits by the government-run monopoly.
Recent Blog Posts
DECEMBER 13, 2011
Pennsylvania Pols Pass Potent Potables Perestroika
Today, the Pennsylvania House amended HB 11 and then sent it on to the full house for consideration. The first amendment guts any privatization of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The state would still run retail stores and operate wholesale operations for both wine and spirits.
The amended bill would allow narrow competition with the PLCB in wine, but spirits would remain a PLCB monopoly. Under the new bill:
- Beer distributors could get an enhanced license for a $50,000 one-time fee and $15,000 annual fee to sell wine. Grocery stores currently allowed to sell beer would also be eligible, as would some additional grocery stores that keep alcohol sales in a separate contained area.
- Bars and hotels could sell a few bottles of wine for off-premises consumption.
- New wine wholesalers could enter Pennsylvania and compete with the PLCB, for the mere price of $100 million dollars.
- The PLCB would have more flexibility with Sunday hours and sales, offering coupons, flexibility in pricing, and even avoiding state law for procurement by government agencies (allowing for more no-bid contracts and the like). This was all part of the PLCB's "Alternatives to Privatization" that would allow it to "act more like a private business."
For more on the revamped bill, see stories from the Patriot News, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and the Post-Gazette.
While this move might give consumers a bit more flexibility in buying wine, it fails to address the conflict of interests in a government agency buying ads both to encourage liquor sales then others suggesting drinking too much will get you raped. It does nothing to address the government monopoly over spirits, and maintains the government business which has made blunder after blunder costing taxpayers...and, oh, by the way, ended last fiscal year $30 million in the hole.
Lawmakers don't need to allow a government agency to act like a private business, they need to realize that government in the booze business is a lose business.
With the bill now going to the house floor, there are expected to be many additional amendments for discussion, and lawmakers will have the opportunity to restore the legislation to its original intent.
posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 03:15 PM | 0 comment
DECEMBER 13, 2011
WTF! Why the Failure?
In a move requiring mental gymnastics that would make even Nadia Comaneci pack it in, some Pennsylvania House members are praising an "historic" liquor privatization bill that cleared the House Liquor Committee this morning.
Trouble is: It does nothing to privatize the stores.
In fact, the PLCB would still operate state stores, which would remain the only places in Pennsylvania where consumers can purchase liquor. The amended bill also allows beer distributers to sell wine on a very limited basis.
So let's review what is left in place if this bill goes through:
Monopoly? Check.
Conflict of interest? Check.
Bootlegging? Check.
Government waste and control? Check.
Taxpayer-paid advertising? Check.
Freedom? Bounced check.
While true the House may continue to amend the bill while on the floor, we remain skeptical that the needs of taxpayers and consumers will be held in higher regard than those of special interests.
Not only would the current bill fail to undo the public monopoly, but it would further convolute an existing private monopoly, thus delivering a death blow to those seeking true liquor liberty.
Until that great day when we let freedom drink, stay thirsty comrades.
posted by JAY OSTRICH | 01:45 PM | 0 comment
DECEMBER 8, 2011
PLCB Rape Ad Illustrates Conflict of Interest
Like a pyromaniac preaching fire prevention, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is at war with itself in a costly conflict of interest that sees the agency wasting tax dollars. On one end of the market, it recklessly spends millions of tax dollars advertising and promoting alcohol sales in a MONOPOLY. On the other end of the market, it spends millions more in advertising campaigns to educate the consumers on the dangers of alcohol.
Does this make any sense? Pennsylvanians don't think so, and a new controversial ad campaign using your tax dollars, which some critics say blames the victims for rape, has brought this painful conflict to light. CF Senior Policy Analyst Priya Abraham and Policy Analyst Liz Stelle discuss the damages.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 04:20 PM | 0 comment
