A state Senate committee begins hearings Monday on the future of the Wine and Spirits stores.
A Senate Law and Justice Committee informational meeting will consider the case for liquor privatization.
Privatizing the sale of wine and liquor could become one of the top legislative agenda items in Pennsylvania this year.
Gov. Corbett supports the idea.
Proponents say selling the Wine and Spirits Stores could raise an estimated $2 billion for the state. That's based on a plan to sell 850 retail and wholesale licenses at an average of $2.3 million.
Critics argue comparable licenses elsewhere in the nation are considerably lower. New Jersey's average license sells for less than $250,000.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's (PLCB) unionized employees, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), are mounting a campaign to stop the plan to dismantle Pa's. liquor sales operaion.
Politics
Privatization has been a priority for Republican governors for several decades. But it has never been able to win majority support in the Legislature.
