Wine and Spirits Council Applauds Wolf on Privatization Veto

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., July 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The UFCW PA Wine and Spirits Council and the 3,500 Pennsylvanians who work in Pennsylvania's Wine and Spirits stores applaud Governor Tom Wolf's veto of the reckless legislation to dismantle the PLCB.

"Governor Wolf made the responsible decision. As a businessman, the governor recognized that this legislation made absolutely no sense. It was a sham bill driven by narrow special interests," said UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell W. Young. "It's time to focus on modernizing this asset and moving our Commonwealth forward. It's time to stop these pointless political games."

Privatization would only increase our structural budget deficit, by eliminating valuable revenue the PLCB generates each and every year for the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. The PLCB last year contributed more than $565 million to the state treasury.

A study by Public Financial Management, Inc. (PFM), commissioned by former Gov. Tom Corbett, found that privatization would result in at least $1.4 billion in transition costs over five years. PFM also found that the state would have to identify $408 million in new revenue annually to make privatization fiscally neutral.

"This is just bad public policy and even worse math," said UFCW Local 23 President Anthony M. Helfer. "This veto was absolutely necessary and in the best interests of every Pennsylvania taxpayer."

Modernization of the Wine and Spirits stores will help generate an additional $185 million in new revenue to the state. Modernization proposals include opening more stores on Sunday, increasing store hours, moving stores inside or next to grocery stores and provide for better pricing for Pennsylvania consumers.

Young also commended Gov. Wolf for vetoing the GOP budget plan earlier this week and urged him to veto the punitive pension legislation that was crafted and backed by GOP leaders.

"The GOP budget plan that was sent to the Governor does not address the concerns of Pennsylvanians," said Young. "Voters want education funding, property tax relief and a reasonable tax on the Marcellus Shale industry. The GOP budget fails to address these important issues, instead focuses on an issue one percent of Pennsylvanians care about."

Governor Wolf's budget proposal is a comprehensive plan that benefits all Pennsylvanians and will work to move our state forward. Governor Wolf's plan meets the expectations of what the voters asked him and elected him to do.

SOURCE UFCW PA Wine and Spirits Council