Governor Corbett pushes budget plan before business leaders

File Photo by Scott Detrow/witf

(Harrisburg) -- Governor Corbett is defending his proposal to finance a school block grant program with a one-time, billion-dollar windfall from his politically explosive plan to privatize the sale of wine and liquor in Pennsylvania.

Corbett touted the proposed Passport for Learning block grant program twice earlier today — once before a business gathering at a Harrisburg hotel and again at a Capitol news conference where he was flanked by about 50 supporters.

An estimated $1 billion for the program would be raised over four years from the sale of liquor, wine and beer licenses.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative think tank, has released a poll showing Pennsylvania voters support ending the state monopoly on the sale of liquor and wine by a 3-to-2 margin.