Pa. State Rep. Vereb: Wolf Turning Down Free Beer Is 'Un-American'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Vereb, from Montgomery County, told Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT that Yuengling products have been banned from any of incoming Governor Tom Wolf's inaugural celebrations.
Vereb explained that the Pennsylvania brewer is being blacked out of the inaugural ball.
"With these balls that the Governors all have, Rendell and going back, obviously what happens is food and beverages are usually donated...It's a very big event for Pennsylvania when any Governor gets inaugurated. What we found out last night is that there will be beer at this event, but there is a specific restriction and request to not have Yuengling product there."
Vereb thinks is political payback for decisions Yuengling has made in the past.
"Somebody, there's a bureaucrat in this transition team that does not like Dick Yuengling because of his stance that he took in defending Governor Corbett on right to work a few years back. Yuengling employs Pennsylvanians. It's America's oldest brewery. It's the economic driver in Pottsville, not to mention that whole region…He takes care of his employees. He's not unionized, and frankly, neither is Tom Wolf's cabinet company."
However, Vereb does not believe to prohibit Yuengling products from the inaugural ball came directly from Tom Wolf.
"I really can't say that Governor-Elect Wolf is definitely knowledgeable about what's going on. I really believe it's bureaucracy at work. Who turns down free beer? It's un-American. If we're getting down to this level, and some people were critical of me even, raising the issue. I think it's a major issue. This is a brewery that has expanded, a brewery that takes care of employees."