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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Dwight Evans |
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Evans: Delay of House Bill 11 is good news for job holders
HARRISBURG, June 19 – State Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Phila., said today's action by House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, to withdraw consideration of House Bill 11 is a "win for 5,000 family-sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania."
Turzai announced today he would put off consideration of his liquor-privatization proposal until the fall.
Evans has gone head-to-head with Turzai on this legislation since last year, when Turzai first announced his intent to introduce it. "His scheme is bad for consumers, it is bad for taxpayers and it is bad for workers," Evans said.
"This legislation is not historic, nor is it good policy," Evans said. "This legislation is flawed. I am pleased Leader Turzai has put a pause to his drive to sell the state liquor system at this time. I realize he will come back with another version – and we shall see how well prepared that legislation is and whether the specifics are more amenable to what Pennsylvania's taxpayers and consumers want.
"Most people I talk to want a modernized system but they do not want the state to relinquish control over the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages," Evans said. "The Turzai proposal was much more likely to lead to higher prices, less availability and much less convenience.
"My most consistent concern has been for the 5,000 families who would have lost family-sustaining jobs," Evans said.
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