Another Round In Pa. Wine Shipment Debate
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa., (CBS) -- A state Senate committee has again advanced legislation that would allow for direct shipments to Pennsylvania consumers from out-of-state wineries.
State lawmakers have played footsie with the issue for more than a decade since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can't give preferential treatment to in-state wineries. And Bucks County Republican Chuck McIlhinney, chairman of the state Senate Law and Justice Committee, says the matter of direct shipments from out-of-state wineries is holding up work on legislation to more broadly address the sale of alcoholic beverages in Pennsylvania.
"Privatization bills that have been floating around do not address it at all… and I think you need to put this to rest before we can move ahead and start talking about what we're going to do with our state stores. To have a privatized state store and still not have a direct shipping program in place is somewhat ridiculous."
The bill passed the House in May and since it was amended by McIlhinney's committee, it will have to go back to the House if it passes the full Senate.