tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591881213265091346.post8917162050838099889..comments2024-03-13T11:10:25.333-04:00Comments on Why The PLCB Should Be Abolished: Retail Booze Privatization: why HB11 doesn't cut itLew Brysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591881213265091346.post-25452028590060313942011-11-07T08:52:54.113-05:002011-11-07T08:52:54.113-05:00Rich, on the monopoly...how close do you live to a...Rich, on the monopoly...how close do you live to a border over which are good liquor stores? I'm in NJ in 15 minutes, for instance. What's weird, though, is that even though there are only 620 State Stores in the whole of PA, there are FOUR within ten minutes of my house. And I still like to go to NJ instead. <br /><br />But really, the taxes sucking are the whole point about the monopoly. The monopoly is why they can get away with the taxes sucking. But as I say again and again: high excise taxes (on booze, smokes, whatever) are simply a government subsidy for smuggling...Lew Brysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591881213265091346.post-78547127245751367082011-11-07T08:23:21.414-05:002011-11-07T08:23:21.414-05:00As far as the police-enforced monopoly is concerne...As far as the police-enforced monopoly is concerned, I could care less. I agree that in principal it is wrong, but I also feel that currently, people scoff at it. Not to mention that under a properly crafted privitization effort, it shouldn't be a big issue because it should open up better competition in the state.<br /><br />The taxes suck. This is a huge deal breaker for me. They need to figure out the tax issues to make it affordable or again they will shoot themselves in the foot and drive even more business out of the state, then noone will want to buy here and they will be forced to enforce the border laws.<br /><br />The license structure is limited in order to drive up the "bidding" on licenses. It's all an economics game to make the bill look good financially. Personally, I don't think the number of licenses should be limited and there should be a fixed cost on the license, set by the state. If you want to open up shop, you simply buy a license from the state and they are obligated to sell it to you. I think the bid system is crazy. Honestly, in this day and age, who cares how many licenses there are out there?Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06900534233446433658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591881213265091346.post-64103442593310627442011-11-06T09:39:43.591-05:002011-11-06T09:39:43.591-05:00Don't forget about the absurdity of the curren...Don't forget about the absurdity of the current licensing system; a liquor license in Williamsport will cost you $100,000, if you can find one for sale, zero dollars of which goes to the state/taxpayers. The sate will get around $700, for the transfer fee. Why was this system ever started? Why can a license be bought and sold like a commodity? Why are there quotas on how many can be issued? How will businesses be able to afford them if they're auctioned off to the highest bidder, as HB11 proposes? Why not just issue a license, like any other, that comes directly from the state, and disappears when it's no longer valid? This system must be changed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com