Pa. House advances liquor privatization bill

The Pennsylvania House on Thursday approved a liquor privatization bill by a 105-90 margin. Credit: Getty Images

The Pennsylvania House on Thursday approved a liquor privatization bill by a 105-90 margin.

The bill now moves to the state Senate, where observers expect a much stiffer test for the Republican-backed plan to move wine and liquor sales from state-run stores to private businessess.

It was widely anticipated the bill would be approved Thursday after House Democrats withdrew a number of amendments many believed would lead to a floor fight the day prior.

The plan would phase out Pennsylvania’s 600 state-run liquor stores.

In addition to taking the sale of wine and liquor from public to private, the bill would permit the sale of wine in grocery stores.

Utah is the only other state with government-run liquor sales.