Montgomery and Bucks County State Senator Bob Mensch says he supports privatizing the state liquor stores, but legislation to do that is stalled. He says the primary sponsor is rewriting his bill to do something for the smaller outlets, but he’s not sure that’s necessary because most of them are not making money.

“Most of the state stores in the more remote areas run at a deficit.  I’m not sure that a for-profit business will want to serve there either, but the market should decide that.  I don’t think the taxpayers should be bearing that cost.”

Montgomery County State Representative Bob Godshall says he supports privatization too, but it’s not a high priority in the House.

“There are so many pressing things that we have to deal with, but I agree with what the senator said.  Who’s going to pay a million bucks to put a store in Wellsboro or Towanda?”

Godshall says he also agrees that the taxpayers should not be picking up the cost of making wine and spirits available in remote parts of Pennsylvania.