Big crash snarls I-20 WB on east side »

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.

[post a comment below]

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.