CAP: Victory for Consumer Choice

A Significant Victory for Consumer Choice, Convenience and Taxpayers

March 22, 2013:

The passage of HB 790 is a significant victory for consumers and taxpayers in Pennsylvania.

The members of the General Assembly who voted for final passage of the bill should be commended.

Big Government special interests pulled out all the stops to derail this privatization effort. Our state store current system outlasted communist Russia (and is equally appealing).

Yesterday’s vote in the House brings Pennsylvania one step closer to getting government out of the booze business.

The final vote was 105 to 90*. It was mostly a party line vote. However, the following five Republicans joined all House Democrats to oppose the legislation:

Rep. Paul Clymer (Bucks County)
Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (Bucks County)
Rep. Frank Farry (Bucks County)
Rep. Mark Gillen (Berks County)
Rep. Thomas Murt (Montgomery County)

The next challenge will be to overcome the Republican voices in the Senate calling to "modernize" the state store system.

Thank you for all of the phone calls, emails and social network posts you made in support of HB 790.

Without your help, it would not have made it over the finish line.

*Note: Six legislators were excused from the vote:

Rep. Nick Miccarelli (R-Delaware County)
Rep. Dom Costa (D-Allegheny County)
Rep. Tina Davis (D-Bucks County)
Rep. Gary Haluska (D-Cambria County)
Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia County)
Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny County)