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House revives bill allowing Sunday alcohol sales
House Committee unanimously passed law allowing Sunday beer sales at Gwinnett's baseball stadium, tack on legislation for Sunday alcohol sales
By JAMES SALZER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/12/08
The bill to allow package sales of alcohol on Sundays in Georgia was revived Wednesday afternoon when it was attached to Senate legislation allowing Sunday beer sales at Gwinnett County's new baseball stadium.
The amended bill passed the House Regulated Industries Committee unanimously, despite opposition from preachers, who told lawmakers that more alcohol would mean more social problems.
State Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford), the author of the Gwinnett stadium bill, urged the committee not to tack the Sunday sales measure onto her legislation. Unterman said Gov. Sonny Perdue has told her he would veto any legislation that would allow for local communities to vote on Sunday alcohol sales.
Last year, Perdue hinted at such a veto when the issue was first raised, and Senate leaders stalled the proposal.
However, Rep. Allen Freeman (R-Macon), a member of the House committee, said Unterman was being hypocritical by urging lawmakers to approve Sunday beer sales at the Gwinnett stadium but opposing Sunday sales at grocery and convenience stores across the state.
"You want me to support you, but you don't want to support me," Freeman said. "The hypocrisy of what you just said is unbelievable to me."
Under the measure, officials in local communities that already allow alcoholic beverage sales would be able to call for a referendum to decide if Sunday package sales in stores should be allowed.
The measure now probably heads to the House floor for a vote.
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Governor adamantly opposes Sunday package liquor sales
But Perdue is OK with sale of alcohol in Gwinnett baseball stadium on Sunday
By JAMES SALZER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/13/08
Gov. Sonny Perdue reiterated in the strongest terms yet this afternoon that he opposes the idea of allowing Georgians a vote on Sunday package sales of beer, wine and liquor.
Perdue was asked about the issue the day after a House committee tacked the Sunday sales bill onto legislation allowing Sunday beer sales at Gwinnett County's new baseball stadium.
The governor, a Christian conservative who doesn't drink, said he had hoped the House would approve the Gwinnett County bill without the Sunday package store measure attached.
"I haven't supported this (package sales) in the past ... and frankly, I am very concerned that it puts Gwinnett County's business in jeopardy if the House takes it up," he said. "I think it's the wrong thing to do at the wrong time to do it."
When asked by reporters if it was hypocritical to support legislation allowing Sunday sales at the stadium but not at grocery and convenience stores, Perdue responded that the Gwinnett bill was "for a specific purpose."
He said "six days is plenty" to allow liquor sales in Georgia. "We need a little relief on Sunday," he added.
The measure still needs the approval of the House and the Senate before the Legislative session ends.
Perdue would not say if he would veto a bill that includes both the Gwinnett measure and Sunday package sales. That's not unusual because, in general, the governor doesn't say in advance if he'll sign or veto legislation passed by the General Assembly.
VETOED! Bet money on it.
VETOED! Bet money on it.