Once again Pennsylvania Republican legislators are trying to fix a problem that isn’t a problem. State Representative Natalie Mihalek wants to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to get rid of the Liquor Control Board, because “Private industry will do better.”
The Liquor Control Board reported sales of $2.3 billion in the fiscal year 2021. It is making money for the state. Mihalek said she was a working mother of three who had trouble with the “ever-changing rules on the locations and limits for buying alcohol.” Maybe she gets drunk and forgets where the State Store is located; I don’t have any problems remembering where mine is.
She also said “I am a grown adult. I can make decisions for myself.” I assume her next bill will be to legalize heroin and meth.
I’ll let you in on a secret. Pennsylvania Republicans are planning to put more and more items on the ballot as constitutional amendments. It is relatively easy to pass an amendment–all it takes is money and misleading ads. The dismantling of state stores is an easy one–money will roll in from the liquor lobby and it will pass. The results will be a cut in state revenue, liquor stores on every corner like New Jersey, an increase in teen drinking, and more alcoholism.
The quotes from Rep. Mihalek are found in Ford Turner, “Proposal would end strate control of liquor sales,” Morning Call, (Dec. 17, 2021`), p. 7.
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