Politics & Government

Corbett's Liquor Privatization Plan to Fund Education: What Do You Think?

The governor says $1 billion in funding will be used to create the "Passport for Learning Block Grant" to created greater flexibility in schools.

On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Corbett announced plans to privatize the liquor system in Pennsylvania and committed $1 billion in proceeds from the process to education funding.

The governor said the money will be used to create the Passport for Learning Block Grant, which will provide flexibility to schools and allow public educators, not Harrisburg, decide what students need.

The grant will focus on four priority areas: school safety, enhanced early education programs, individualized learning and science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses and programs.

Find out what's happening in North Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Our proposal is part of my commitment to changing Harrisburg, streamlining
government and moving Pennsylvania forward,” Corbett said. “Our plan gives
consumers what they want by increasing choice and convenience, and helps to
secure our future by adding $1 billion in funding toward the education of our
children, without raising any taxes.”

The $1 billion in revenue will come from the three to four year process of selling the LCB: $575 million from the wholesale license process, $224 million from the wine and spirits retail auction process, $107 million from the wine/beer license
application process and $112.5 million in the enhanced beer distributor application process.

Find out what's happening in North Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Pennsylvania and Utah are the only two states in the country who have fully state-controlled liquor systems,” Corbett said. “Our plan sells both the wholesale and retail arms of the state-run liquor business.”

Currently, there are about 600 state stores in Pennsylvania. The governor’s plan allows for 1,200 wine and spirits stores. During the previous decade, the state stores’ expenses have grown faster than their revenues, Corbett said.

He said his plan will offer Pennsylvania consumers greatly increased convenience and choice because they will be able to buy the products they desire in a simpler, more accessible and more rational way.

Pennsylvania currently has fewer alcohol retail establishments per resident than the average state. This proposal would allow the number of establishments to be naturally driven by the market, as it is in other states, Corbett said.

The governor’s plan also calls for significantly enhanced fines for selling to minors and visibly intoxicated patrons, with penalty ranges increasing from $1,000 to $5,000 to $5,000 to $10,000.

The additional money from license surcharges and increased fines will be designated for enforcement efforts of the Pennsylvania State Police and Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, which will see a 22 percent funding increase under this plan.

Corbett also proposes a 75 percent funding increase for alcohol treatment and prevention efforts.

We want to know what you think? Is Corbett's plan to privatize the liquor system the right move? What do you think of the plan to fund education programs with the proceeds? Leave your opinion in the comments section below.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook

Check out some of today's other top stories here .


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here