DEL.ICIO.USGEORGIA LEGISLATURE
Economy could revitalize Sunday alcohol fight
Associated Press
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Georgia’s slumping economy could breathe new life into an effort to permit alcohol sales on Sunday in the state, supporters said.
State Sen. Seth Harp said he will reintroduce the Sunday sales measure in the legislative session set to begin Jan. 12.
BEN GRAY/AJC
State Sen. Seth Harp said he will reintroduce the Sunday alcohol sales measure in the legislative session set to begin Jan. 12.
“I can think of millions of reasons why it would be attractive this year,” the Republican from Midland said, referring to the millions of dollars in additional tax revenues supporters estimate Sunday sales would yield in Georgia.
That argument could prove persuasive in a year where the state is grappling with a budget deficit that could top $2 billion.
The state excise tax on alcoholic beverages is one of the few taxes where revenues have continued to climb even as the economy has worsened.
For the fiscal year that began July 1, the alcohol excise tax that stores pay to wholesalers rose by 1.8 percent even as most other revenue sources plummeted.
The Sunday sales measure has failed to win approval for the past two years in the Georgia Legislature. Gov. Sonny Perdue, a teetotaler and Christian conservative, has said he opposes allowing stores to sell alcohol on the Sabbath.
Grocery and convenience stores have been pushing for the change, saying their customers are clamoring for it.
Georgia is one of only three states that ban stores from selling any kind of alcohol on Sundays. The other two are Connecticut and Indiana.
The bill would give local governments the option on whether to permit Sunday alcohol sales. Voters in those areas would then have to approve the change at the ballot box.
Opponents promised a vigorous fight against the proposal again this year.
Jim Beck, executive director of the Georgia Christian Coalition, said he was unmoved by the fiscal argument.
“Would the senator be willing to legalize prostitution and tax that, too?” Beck asked. “I think there are greater issues at stake here than just a quick buck.”
There was no precise figure on how much additional sales tax revenue Sunday sales would bring in, because it would depend on which communities opt in.
But a spokesman for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said that allowing liquor sales statewide would bring up to $4.8 million in increased taxes.
An official with Publix, one of Georgia’s largest supermarket chains, said the sale of beer and wine at grocery stores on Sunday would result in $1.4 million in extra excise taxes and at least $3.3 million in new sales tax revenue.
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Comments
By gofu
Jan 18, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this
If you want to impose your beliefs on others, you damn well better make sure you're in the moral majority.
If people don't support a law in one district, yet vehemently support it in another, it's a district by district case..... as is obvious by these comments, the law SHOULD be put to each district and not the entire state.
The other option is we declare a state religion and do things like stop the sales of alcohol altogether, along with television, excessive internet usage, board games, books with little to no literary value, toys, and housing that costs more than around 150,000.
Each of those objects implies living in excess which is considered immoral as per the bible.
By Stunna
Jan 16, 2009 4:06 AM | Link to this
Just because it is for sale dosen't mean you have to buy it! If you don't consume alcohol your not going to purchase it any day of the week! Let grown ups make grown up decisions. PASS THE DAMN LAW SONNY!
By greypoopon
Dec 23, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
Wasn't the big ruckus in the market when Jesus went amok about selling on the Sabbath? Not just alcohol, but selling anything. As a child I remember nothing being open on the Sabbath. It was a day of rest and reflection. I think everything should be closed on Sunday.
By Billy
Dec 20, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
No to Sunday alcohol sales.
NO NO NO
By BigPoppa
Dec 19, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
Again, where in the book does it mention the "Sabbath" as Sunday? Oh, I wonder where the "SUN" comes from in Sunday......Why, oh why, is it not Sonday if is the Son's day? Read more closely that book which ye stand on to look down upon others and ye shall be better served....
By Sirlun
Dec 19, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
LibertariansAreIdiots,
What's the crime rate in Mississippi? If gambling has had such a negative affect on States,cities and communities (as you stated) why then didn't the very conservative Governor of Mississippi and former Bush appointee Haley Barber and the ultra conservative U.S Senator Trent Lott ask the people of Mississippi to repeal or abolish the laws that allows gambling in Mississippi?
Mississippi is as Red a state and is even more conservative than Georgia but when Hurricane Katrina wrecked havoc on the casino industry ,on the Gulf coast, the very first thing Haley Barber and Trent Lott proposed was to not only rebuild those casino's but also repeal the moratorium that kept them (casino's) from being built totally on land. Now these measures were enabled and enacted from a rebel flag flying, bible thumping state!!!
Fortunately, for them, What the citizenry in Mississippi know and what Georgians need to find out is that without casino/hotel gambling (which brings in top notch entertainment, free flowing revenue and great food) there would be no earthly reason to go to or stop in Mississippi unless you have family there or you are passing thru (going to New Orleans).
Those casino's have given Mississippi a modern day facelift that the state has needed for decades. Now when most people think about going to Mississippi thoughts of casino/gambling and relaxation have mostly replaced the feeling of fear and racism that once totally plagued the state. Without those casino's (their politicians know this oh so well) Mississippi might as well slip back into oblivion. Casino/hotel gambling is their cash cow, their life blood and they are not going to allow anything (Hurricanes) or anyone (people who think like you) to stop that lucrative milk from flowing into their state coffers.
I understand not everyone in Georgia is going to want or accept this proposal and that's fine. As I stated before this is a large state, largest east of the Mississippi and I join David when he says that those who don't want it can go anywhere they want and not be bothered with it. That's your choice!
By the way have you ever been to Deadwood? If so then you would know why there would be an increase in crime. There is nothing there (in North Dakota ).There are few jobs (especially now) and luckily (for them) not that many people either, so they cannibalize on each other.
Have a great weekend.
By June Gader
Dec 19, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
It's all about mixing Church and State, y'all.
No alcohol sales on Sunday is a genuine Church
Blue Law--and puts the Church above the State.
Should not have been allowed to happen--and
should be changed. Now.
By LibertariansAreIdiots
Dec 19, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Doug, U.S. News and World Report did a comparison of crime rates in cities with gambling versus those that do not. The crime rates were significantly higher in the places that allowed gambling. Atlantic City showed a jump in crime when gambling was legalized. The city went from 50th in the nation in per capita crime to first. In Deadwood, there were significant increases in crime and violence when gambling was legalized. Another researcher has pointed out that the crime that is attributable to compulsive gamblers is often underreported. This includes bad checks, embezzlement, check forgery and fraud. The crime rate is usually for street crimes, which aren't typically attributed to compulsive gamblers. As noted in the economic section, Australia legalized a number of casinos. As such it offers a kind of a laboratory to see the results of expanded legal gaming. There was a noted increase in minor crimes, including vandalism and property damage by casino patrons.
By David A. Staples
Dec 19, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
LibertariansAreIdiots... thanks, but since I grew up in the metro area, I think I'll just stay here. Being that I'm 28, I had no say in the creation of the current alcohol prohibition laws. But I and everyone else my age should have a say in it now. If you'd like to live in an alcohol free, gambling free, sin free world, why don't you move to Amish country? I'm sure we can find a horse and buggy to get you there.
As for the casino, look at the crime rate around the casino in Cherokee, NC... when you find that it's almost nonexistent, how then do you plan to counter the crime argument?
By LibertariansAreIdiots
Dec 19, 2008 7:10 AM | Link to this
David, you do not have the "Right" to buy anything. Sorry, I am not sure where in the Constitution you think that you do. Gerry, Atlanta is not "ALL" of their constituents. There is a lot more to Georgia. Sirlun, I hope that they build the casino right across the street from your house and you have to deal with the increase in crime and violence that will come with it. Jay, Nyquil is 10% by volume of a 6oz bottle. You must be mixing your with something. First all of you idiots claim that there is some separation of church and state that does not exits. Then you claim that your religion says that you can buy on Sunday and want to escape religious persecution. You can, it is called Delta.
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