# PA budget crisis; does this mean we're going dry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 8, 2007, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931 "2007-07-08T02:19:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/1 "2007-07-08T02:19:06Z")
Pennsylvania has no budget as of last week so our government is “shutting down” Monday. All non-essential state employees will be put on furlough until it’s resolved. Apparently PA’s five casinos may also be forced to close because of the lack of government inspectors (just like in New Jersey last year). Unlike New Jersey in Pennsylvania the government owns and operates _every single liquor store_ in the _entire commonwealth_. Wholesale as well as retail (it’s also the _only_ place to buy spirits or non-Pennsylvanian wine). So are liquor stores considered an essential service along the lines of the state police, prisons, civil defence, hospitals, etc? Or will this idiocy force PA to go dry? Does it matter that the Liquor Control Board is one of the few government agencies that actually turn a profit (& a pretty big one at that)? New Jersey shut down it’s lottery commision (another rare government agency that turns a profit). ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/2 "2007-07-08T03:04:33Z")
Isn’t “non-essential state employee” redundant in PA? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanders)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/3 "2007-07-08T03:30:20Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] So are liquor stores considered an essential service along the lines of the state police, prisons, civil defence, hospitals, etc? Or will this idiocy force PA to go dry? [/QUOTE] Won’t the beer distributors still be open? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/4 "2007-07-08T03:31:38Z")
Can’t you just drive to the next state over? (and for what it is worth, I think your liquer laws are crazy. The laws here definitely are) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/5 "2007-07-08T04:29:08Z")
I live in PA, and I think the liquor laws here are crazy too. I can certainly drive to the next state over. I live 3 miles from the state line. PA is a big state, though. I imagine folks closer to the center of the state won’t be so willing to drive to the state line just to buy booze. For those who are worried about a mini-prohibition, it’s not an issue. > [@](#): > > The state game commission, lottery and liquor control board employees will continue to work and be paid because those programs are not part of the general appropriation in the state budget, said Nick Hays, the liquor control board’s press secretary. > > “Our stores will be open regular hours and staffed as normal. All offices will also remain open,” Hays said. > > Beer distributors will also be unaffected. The liquor control board regulates them but beer distributors are private businesses, Hays said. From here: [http://www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-12/118369476](http://www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-12/118369476) ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/6 "2007-07-08T13:45:17Z")
There was a write-up in The Patriot News (Hbg.'s paper) this morning about this. From what I recall…Liquor stores are considered “self sustaining” or something along that fact and won’t close. (I guess since they pretty much pay for themselves.) Same with the lottery. Casinos though will be closed, as well as all State Museums and PennDot (Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation) for drivers license stuff and tag registration. (Although consumers can register their vehicles online.) As far as the state owning all the liquor stores, that is so assinine and since this isn’t the Pit, I won’t even comment. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/7 "2007-07-08T13:49:28Z")
I like a state that has its priorities straight. :rolleyes: Robin ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/8 "2007-07-08T14:03:45Z")
If this continues all week, I just might add some cargo to **BiblioCat** ’s packing (and bring stuff for anybody else who wants it) – here in the next commonwealth down, beer and wine are sold in grocery stores. Contact me on the MADS email list. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/9 "2007-07-08T16:31:28Z")
[QUOTE=Captain\_C] Can’t you just drive to the next state over? (and for what it is worth, I think your liquer laws are crazy. The laws here definitely are) [/QUOTE] What’s wrong with Michigan’ liquor laws? You can’t buy alcohol before noon on Sundays, but aside from that I’ve never run into any problems. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/10 "2007-07-08T17:02:47Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] Isn’t “non-essential state employee” redundant in PA? 😉 [/QUOTE] 😛 ---
**Author:** ![HelenTroy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helentroy/32/86_2.png) [@HelenTroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenTroy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/11 "2007-07-08T17:07:49Z")
Yeah, I work for the state and I’m considered non-essential. Thank goodness the liquor stores will still be open, but we who deal with child safety will be on the streets come Monday. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/12 "2007-07-08T17:20:37Z")
[QUOTE=HelenTroy] Yeah, I work for the state and I’m considered non-essential. Thank goodness the liquor stores will still be open, but we who deal with child safety will be on the streets come Monday. [/QUOTE] Welfare’s considered essential, so we’re working next week. I think the liquor stores are open because they’re funded by a different budget than the main state one. ---
**Author:** ![HelenTroy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helentroy/32/86_2.png) [@HelenTroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenTroy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/13 "2007-07-08T17:24:44Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Welfare’s considered essential, so we’re working next week. I think the liquor stores are open because they’re funded by a different budget than the main state one. [/QUOTE] Not in my section. Part of my job is dealing with the back end of ChildLine databases, along with a bunch of other stuff. Everyone in my unit received our furlough notices. When we left on Friday we still hadn’t heard who was going to be on call if something when down with those systems. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/14 "2007-07-08T17:51:25Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] Isn’t “non-essential state employee” redundant in PA? 😉 [/QUOTE] What’s yellow and sleeps 4? A PennDOT truck. ba-dum-CHI! ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/15 "2007-07-09T00:15:00Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] What’s yellow and sleeps 4? A PennDOT truck. ba-dum-CHI! [/QUOTE] Pfft! The crew cab work trucks will easily accomodate 6. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/16 "2007-07-09T00:25:35Z")
I hope this doesn’t last long. ☹ I suppose, they were afraid of the riots if the liquor stores were closed? _half kidding_ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/17 "2007-07-09T03:19:15Z")
OTOH, if failing to pass a budget would result in shutting down the flow of liquor, they would already have passed a budget through 2010. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/18 "2007-07-09T03:22:21Z")
The guys at work were talking about this. They said there is a state-run marina up around Erie. People would be allowed to go _on_ their boats, but they couldn’t take them out on the lake. Also you couldn’t put a boat in or take it out of the water. I smell a riot right there… ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/19 "2007-07-09T03:35:59Z")
Perhaps the budget would be easier to balance if we didn’t have one of the largest legislatures in the nation. I propose ‘rock, hammer, scissors’, starting with the seniormost congresscritter until the cost of guvmint drops to an acceptable level, or we’ve fired all but a few dozen. Either way, the electorate wins. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931/20 "2007-07-09T03:43:33Z")
On the positive side, there is a new faculty contract for the State System of Higher Education, so at least there won’t be a faculty strike. Robin [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-budget-crisis-does-this-mean-were-going-dry/410931.md?page=2)