Feb. 26, 2015
HARRISBURG – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted in favor of
House Bill 466, legislation to privatize the sale of wine and spirits in the Commonwealth. Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne), who supported this measure, issued the following statement after the vote:
“This measure would generate at least $1.1 billion in up front revenues, and $38.2 million in recurring permit and renewal fees that could benefit the state in several meaningful ways. Additionally, there would be no change to the current taxes imposed on alcohol sales in Pennsylvania under this plan.
“Our state government serves the people of this Commonwealth through several core functions, and selling alcohol, and promoting the sale of that same alcohol, should not be one of them. This bill gets the state out of the booze business and allows businesses to negotiate with private wholesalers.
“This bill is an important first step in getting Pennsylvania out of the wholesale and retail booze business. As we move forward, I believe we should look at the licensing and fees associated with the bill, as I have concerns about the distribution of licenses and the fee structure. However, this was a necessary bill to generate much-needed revenue in our state without raising people’s taxes. This is a responsible measure to move our government forward and establish some much-needed reform in our entire system.”
House Bill 466 has been sent to the Senate for its consideration. More information, including details about license costs and availability, is available at
www.PAHouseGOP.com.
Representative Aaron Kaufer
120th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
KCorbin@pahousegop.com
RepKaufer.com /
Facebook.com/RepKaufer