Booze Bosses Busted?

The unethical behavior of top Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board executives, including “CEO” Joe Conti, has landed the Kings of Cabernet under investigation by the state Ethics Commission. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Angela Couloumbis writes,

Ethics Commission officials have interviewed at least five employees of the LCB, most of them in the last week, about the allegations contained in a confidential report completed in March by the Inspector General’s Office and forwarded to Corbett administration officials.

The report, a copy of which was obtained by The Inquirer, described LCB chief executive officer Joe Conti, board member Patrick J. “P.J.” Stapleton III, and marketing director James Short as having accepted gifts and favors in 2011, including wine and tickets to sporting events and golf tournaments.

From unethical behavior, to wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on a failed inventory system, to a shocking and distasteful ad campaign that implied intoxicated rape victims were to blame for their rape, the PLCB continually demonstrates that government in the booze business is a lose business.

It’s time legislators listen to the vast majority of Pennsylvanians thirsty for better selection and prices and privatize the state liquor stores. To learn more, visit freemydrink.com.