Jun. 30, 2015
House makes historic votes to resolve key statewide issues
HARRISBURG — Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin) today released the following statement following House votes on two statewide issues tied to the Commonwealth’s budget.
Senate Bill 1 aims to address Pennsylvania’s growing pension crisis.
House Bill 466 would divest the wholesale and retail operations of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB):
“Today we took historic steps toward addressing two of the cost drivers that are consuming more and more of our state’s budget, crowding out funding that could otherwise be available for important programs such as education, human services and veterans’ affairs.”
Pension Reform
“Senate Bill 1 is the first step in correcting Pennsylvania’s pension crisis or, at least, in stopping the bleeding. It’s not a cure-all, but it brings public employee retirement plans in line with those available to most people in the private sector and eliminates the chance we will ever be in this dire situation again.
“The bill we voted on today honors the commitments made to current retirees and workers, and reduces the financial burden on our schools and taxpayers moving forward. We can’t afford to allow this massive financial crisis to continue for the sake of our children and grandchildren. By moving future employees to a hybrid defined contribution/cash balance plan, the bill stops the creation of new unfunded liabilities associated with adding new members to the current plan.”
Liquor Divestment
“Government has many responsibilities, but selling wine and spirits and promoting their use should not be part of those responsibilities. Pennsylvania is one of just two states in the country that maintains full control of the wholesale and retail sale of wine and spirits, and it’s time we give Pennsylvania consumers what residents in 48 other states already have – consumer choice and convenience.
“The House Liquor Control Committee, of which I am a member, has spent years looking into the impacts, has heard from hundreds of stakeholders and has looked to other states for models in developing an effective plan. The culmination of that work is the responsible legislation we sent to the governor’s desk today, which will end this monopoly once and for all, in a consumer-friendly way without taking revenues away from the state.”