PA Governor Nixes Independent Retailers. Rhode Island Nixes Taxes

July 10, 2015 – The long-suffering Pennsylvania consumer will continue to shop at government run liquor stores even though both houses of the State Legislature voted to end the monopoly of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and allow the industry to privatize. Governor Tom Wolf vetoed the legislation claiming that “higher prices and less selection” would be the result of privatization.

The Gov. and his fellow Democrats warned that “prices would rise as private businesses sought profit.” Yep, that’s how it works for sure.  Look at all those car dealers cutting each other’s throats by raising prices.  The state makes a boatload of revenue from the PLCB stores, but that’s different.  They call it “revenue” not “profit” and they never really tell anyone about all the hidden taxes.  So what’s behind the veto?  Governor Wolf didn’t ‘fess up but dues paying union jobs is one reason almost certainly.  The union spent a lot of money to get him reelected.

So Pennsylvanians will pay more and have less selection.  But if they live close to Delaware or New Jersey, they can shop there, and they do.

Up in Rhode Island, the Legislature is more enlightened.  They did away with the seven percent wine and spirits tax for good. Beer is not included in the tax exemption. Rhode Islanders were slipping across the border to Massachusetts where there isn’t any tax. State Representative and Liquor Store owner, Jan Malik, said the new permanent law helps level the playing field and already sales have increased by 13.9 percent this year in his state.