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Richardson promises to override Perdue's veto of Sunday alcohol sales in stores
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/14/08
House Speaker Glenn Richardson vowed Friday to push legislation to legalize Sunday sales of alcohol in stores.
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And if Governor Sonny Perdue vetoes the bill, Richardson (R-Hiram) promised to override the governor's action when the Legislature returns in January.
Perdue hasn't explicitly said he'll veto the Sunday alcohol sales bill currently in the House. But he has consistently opposed efforts to expand alcohol sales on moral grounds. On Thursday he said that "six days is plenty" to allow liquor sales in Georgia.
The original version of the bill only allowed Sunday alcohol sales in a new minor league ball park in Gwinnett County, but a House committee amended it to legalize package sales statewide.
During an interview Friday morning, Richardson said, "I find it very critical that on the one hand, the governor says he'll approve Sunday sales at a ball game in Gwinnett County, but won't approve Sunday sales at a convenience store in Paulding County. It would be one thing if you had a moral position that there should be no sales on Sunday, but once you say you're okay with Sunday sales at a Braves game or Sunday sales in limousine, which is what [Perdue] said, I don't know how you have a moral ground.
"It's almost like quicksand ground," Richardson said.
Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said the governor preferred to "stick to policy" in discussing the issue.
"[Perdue] believes Georgians understand the difference between an economic development project [with] Sunday sales in a specific location for a specific purpose such as the Gwinnett ballpark and opening up statewide across the board [alcohol] sales,"Brantley said.
If the bill passes the House and is vetoed by Perdue, Richardson, said he'd call for an override vote in January.
"The governor does not get the final vote," Richardson said. "The General Assembly does."
Richardson also criticized the governor for his blistering criticism of a bill heavily promoted by the House speaker to wipe out property taxes on cars.
The governor on Thursday compared the repeatedly revised legislation "to the Wright Brothers jumping off at Kitty Hawk and designing the airplane on the way down."
Richardson called that remark "blatantly wrong."
"We've been working on tax reform for several years now, and he has not joined us at the table to try to come up with a solution to give long term tax relief to Georgians, Richardson said.
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Comments
By mikr
Mar 18, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
after this fails this session. i am taking my stack of quotes by the gov. and reps. that sited religious reasons and i will be taking each one of them to court separately. they are violating the u.s. constitution. i have plenty of money to do this on my own, but be on the watch for a website to raise money for the task.
By mikr
Mar 18, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
after this fails this session. i am taking my stack of quotes by the gov. and reps. that sited religious reasons and i will be taking each one of them to court separately. they are violating the u.s. contitution. i have plenty of money to do this on my own, but be on the watch for a website to raise money for the task.
By jeff
Mar 17, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
For all you republicans out there who are surprised and/or ashamed of this state and its governor....don't be.
This is the way the republican party is headed...waaayy far to the religous right.
The neo-conservative republicans, lead by loudmouth hate mongering bible beaters like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Michael Medved and of course Senator Rich Santorum, Justice Antonin Scalia, good 'ol Dubya and loads of gay bashing extremists...... have taken over the republican party and turned it into a theocracy.
So why would you be surprised?
You voted for and/or supported these ascerbic, anti-liberty bigots.
By jeff
Mar 17, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
Governor Purdue and other religious extremists have ZERO right to force their personal religious beliefs onto others via public policy. ZERO.
The arrogant gaul of religious people never ceases to amaze.
By Sunset on Sunny
Mar 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
How did we get to legalizing prostituion and drugs when the issue here is being denied the right to vote on Sunday alchohol sales.
But now that you bring it up. Yes, I would like to vote on prostitution and the legalization of drugs. The way we've been waging these wars hasn't worked and has cost us taxpayers billions of dollars, might be time for a new approach!
By larry dickman
Mar 17, 2008 1:49 AM | Link to this
when are you poor schmucks going to stop allowing yourselves to be stepped on by the lack of public process in georgia?
in normal states, the initiative process with a minimum of signatures will get a measure on the ballot.
your bible-thumping governor does not think you have the right to vote, how about you vote him out of office next time
By Greg
Mar 15, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Does ANYONE here support Sonny on this, or is he on his own???
I am sick and tired of Sonny pushing his strict Baptist (or whatever he is) values on MILLIONS of Americans here in Georgia. This should be illegal. If I wanted that kind of control over my life, I'd move to Venezuela or Cuba. It's time for Sonny to get off his high horse and realize he represents a small minority of racist "Christian" good 'ol boys in central Georgia who drive confederate-badged F-150s. Georgians - shame on us for electing this SOB - how could we ever elect such a hick with a name like 'Sonny'. Like almost everyone else here, I'm ashamed that I cannot even vote on this issue.
By GaCitizen
Mar 15, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
As far as voting on prostitution and drug dealing, they aren't legal the other six days of the week or on Sundays at a ball park. It's not the same issue.
Nothing is going to change, it's just going to be more convenient especially for those who do all their shopping on Sundays. Look at the states that have Sunday sales. The bottom didn't drop out and they didn't revert back to no Sunday sales. It is our right to vote on the issue, especially since the governor who was voted in can't seem to get this issue right.
By joyaman
Mar 15, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
Don't Stand for this Condescending Crap
As I recall, we elect a Governor of this state, not an Uncle or Pastor. I'll continue to seek moral guidance at chruch and from family elders.
We, the voters are capable of deciding what to buy and when to buy it without any governmental Get the heck out of my grocery store, my refrigerator and my chrurch Gov. Purdue - you have no business there.
By Mustang Man
Mar 15, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Preacher Mike, Sonny, Et al....
WE ARE NOT VOTING ON LEGALIZING PROSTITUTION!!! And, if even if we were, and the PEOPLE (not just one person) voted for it then SO BE IT! Sonny Perdue has said he would veto the referendum that would allow the people to vote on this issue and voice their opinions. How does that serve the citizens of the state of Georgia? It does not - it serves a specific narrow-minded special interest group and that isn't what "by the people, for the people" meant!! It's OK for the Georgia Dome and Turner Field and bars, etc. to serve alcohol on Sunday but not stores? This is not a spiritual issue - it's an economic one and to pretend otherwise to mollify the religious right is hypocritical at best. I am a CHristian and I think this backwards way of thinking does far more to hurt the Christian image than help it. Wake up and join the other 47 states for crying out load and, yes, this is not a southern issue! It's a GEORGIA issue!
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