In “dueling tweets” today, Pennsylvania House Republicans and House Democrats expressed their respective support and opposition to a Republican bill that would privatize the sale of liquor in Pennsylvania.
Isn't it time for Pennsylvania to get out of the booze business! Don't you think Pennsylvania government should be serving the people, but not serving them alcohol. A governor and his public sector union allies have been blocking the effort to privatize. #LetThePeopleDecide
— PA House Republicans 🇺🇸 (@PAHouseGOP) January 24, 2022
A Whiff of Politics in the Air
Republicans have introduced HB-2272, which calls for a constitutional amendment that would ultimately end the state’s monopoly on the sale of liquor in Pennsylvania. In order for an amendment to become law, it has to pass in two consecutive sessions, in both the State Senate and the State House (simple majorities). Then it has to be approved in a statewide referendum (also by a simple majority).
Republicans could have privatized liquor sales without amending the constitution – during the four years when Pennsylvania had a Republican governor and Republicans were in control of the State Senate and State House (2011-2015).
But when they had to power to put an end to the state liquor monopoly, there was less of a perceived urgency than there is now, an election year, when they are trying to flip the governor’s mansion from Blue to Red.