Scarnati and PLCB Privatization (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: pharmacies, tax, live in)

[pman]

LCB's in-house wines get best shelf positions, records show | TribLIVE Mobile

[greg42]

Boy that's terrible. To me it's not appropriate for the state monopoly store to have a house brand.

[Ohiogirl81]

But ... but .... It's OK because it brings in revenue for the state. [/sarcasm]

[trackstar13]

Maybe someday they will privatize the PLCB brands and sell them at the grocery stores. Woo hoo [/sarcasm]

[sskink]

As a scotch drinker, the one that's bugged me the most is:

Lagavulin 16yo Astor Wines (NYC) $59.99

Lagavulin 16yo PLCB $79.99

The 18% Johnstown Flood Tax would turn that $59.99 into $70.78. Still $9.21 less than what the PLCB charges.

So much for "our massive buying power allows us to negotiate the best prices."

I grew up in CT and as an adult lived in CT, NY, MA and Metro DC. DUI rates in PA are similar and death rates from DUIs are higher in PA. The Feds publish stats on this which are readily available online.

TBOMK, there are no caps on the # of liquor stores in CT, NY or MA in terms of either number or size. I don't know why either would be a consideration in a PA privatization bill. The idea should be to allow the free market to reign and things will fall into place, even though it might not work ideally in the first couple of years. Washington completely screwed the pooch on their privatization by putting limits on the size of stores and adding additional layers of taxes. Prices actually went up, but it's recognized that the privatization bill that passed was bad legislation designed by special interests. So PA would have to do better.

This piece from Reason Foundation is still one of the better articles I've read on the subject.

Further regarding the JFT, Sen. Alloway (out by York somewhere) introduced some legislation last month to localize more of the revenue generated from the JFT instead of having it go the general fund. It won't happen, but at least some pols are recognizing how absurd the tax distribution is.

[jimmyev]

Originally Posted by sskink

I grew up in CT and as an adult lived in CT, NY, MA and Metro DC. DUI rates in PA are similar and death rates from DUIs are higher in PA. The Feds publish stats on this which are readily available online.

The only factor that affects DUI rates is the accessibility and frequency of public transportation. That's why DUI fatality rates in rural areas are 10 to 20 times the rates in urban areas; and why the rates in large cities like Chicago are so much lower than similar-sized, but transit-impaired cities like Houston and Dallas.

Anyways, all the politicians' reasons justifying liquor stores and beer distributors - the line of reasoning that makes Pennsylvanians seem like a bunch of raging alcoholics incapable of purchasing wine and beer like almost all other Americans - are lies. It all comes down to the union and the jobs. So the only way to allow wine and beer to be sold in grocery stores is to give those damned liquor store employees and beer distributors something to replace it. That's the major reason why marijuana should be legalized in Pennsylvania. The beer distributors could distribute it to the former liquor stores, and the former liquor stores could sell it. But then what to do with the local law enforcement, judges, prosecutors and prison guards when 30% of their work disappears...

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by sskink

Washington completely screwed the pooch on their privatization by putting limits on the size of stores and adding additional layers of taxes. Prices actually went up, but it's recognized that the privatization bill that passed was bad legislation designed by special interests. So PA would have to do better.

Pennsylvania is the special interest capital of the world. Do you really see it doing better?

Originally Posted by jimmyev

It all comes down to the union and the jobs.

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

But then what to do with the local law enforcement, judges, prosecutors and prison guards when 30% of their work disappears...

They'd have to get their kickbacks elsewhere ... Oooh, did I just say that?

[pman]

Gov. Tom Corbett to renew push for state liquor store privatization | PennLive.com

[pman]

News - philly.com

[thecoalman]

The longer version can be found here:

Departing LCB chief Conti will return to his post on 'emergency' basis

HARRISBURG - Though Gov. Corbett has made no secret of his desire to abolish the chief executive officer's post at the Liquor Control Board, the oft-maligned agency clearly doesn't agree. It is not only temporarily bringing back its departing CEO, but it will pay him $80 an hour.


The taxpayers will, that is.


Such is the arrangement between the LCB and Joseph Conti, who made it known a week ago that his last day as chief executive officer would be next Friday. Under the agreement, Conti is to return Feb. 19 for up to 95 days, at $80.16 an hour.


He is being brought back under a provision in the state retirement code that permits former employees to return on an emergency basis while still collecting pensions.

I understand the reason for the provision for emergency workers but this obviously a blatant abuse of that.