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News Regional & State News Both sides in liquor privatization debate cherry pick data, lawmaker says
Tuesday, 16 August 2011 12:52

Both sides in liquor privatization debate cherry pick data, lawmaker says

Written by  Mary Wilson

(Harrisburg) -- One state House lawmaker says it’s hard enough to figure out if privatizing the state’s liquor stores would make consumers pay more for their drinks or not. But, Republican Representative Mark Mustio of Allegheny County says people on both sides of the issue can cherry pick data -- because some products would be more costly under a privatized system and others would be cheaper. He says that’s what happened at the latest hearing on privatization, where the head of the Liquor Control Board testified. "The LCB chairman indicated that, in a testimony there, that 70 percent of the items are less expensive in Pennsylvania. Well certainly that means that 30 percent of them aren’t. You know, so you can pick and choose to make your argument and that’s my point, basically," Mustio says. Mustio says conflicting data aside, one part of the privatization plan is a clear problem: the proposal to tax wine and liquor based on the product’s volume and alcohol content. The lawmaker says it would be punitive for high-volume products - like boxed wine.

Last modified on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 13:12

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