Governor Corbett Unveils Plan to Privatize Wine/Liquor Sales

Scranton, Lackawanna County - It is not a new idea but plans to privatize liquor sales in Pennsylvania is once again in the spotlight.

Governor Tom Corbett unveiled a plan Wednesday afternoon to modernize the system.

He is not the first governor to propose the idea but people opposed to the measure say it could cost roughly 5,000 union jobs.

The worker's union vows to fight the move saying the current system is profitable and does not have any debt.

Governor Corbett wants to shut down the state's 600 state-owned liquor stores and sell off 1,200 licenses.

"I'm a private sector type of advocate so I'd let the private sector do the job," Santo Quatra of Scranton said.

Governor Corbett says his idea will open the door of wine and liquor being sold in grocery stores, pharmacies or even beer distributors.

"It would be more convenient even though I don't buy all that much of it but when I do, it would be more convenient to do it in a grocery store," Lucille O'Malley of Scranton said.

While the idea of privatization is not new many people in Scranton called the governor's idea "bold."

Some like the system as it is.

"One thing that I do like about the present system is that enforcement is very strict and that is a good thing," Doug Roberts of Scranton said.

If approved, Governor Corbett says the state would bring in an estimated $1 billion over the next four years and that money would be used for education.

"We do need money for education. There's a lot of programs, especially for special needs in the Scranton area, we need funding for a lot of programs," Quatra said.

"That sounds good. That sounds like it would be going to a good place," O'Malley said.

The governor's idea moves onto the state legislature where the battlelines will no doubt be drawn.

Governor Corbett says 48 other states have a better system to sell alcohol, pointing to Utah as the only state that still has the same laws.