Atlanta Weather

| Traffic

Search
Political Insider

The game behind today’s Sunday sales vote

1:08 pm March 14, 2011, by jgalloway

By now you know that the dormant issue of Sunday package sales of alcohol has raised its head in the Senate. A key test vote will come up this afternoon, but it won’t be on the subject itself.

The best sports analogy here may be beach volleyball. Chess is another possible parallel, of course, but it’s a beautiful day, and outdoor thoughts get priority.

In volleyball, each side has three hits to get a ball across the net. By and large, the first two are set-up shots devoted to positioning the final spike.

SB 150 is an innocuous, Democratic bill sponsored by state Sen. Ron Ramsey of Decatur to permit municipalities to allow sales of alcoholic beverages on golf courses. But it opens up the same section of the Georgia Code as SB 10, the Sunday sales bill, and so can serve as a vehicle for a Sunday sales amendment.

Which will not happen today. Today’s vote is a display of strength only, we’re told. Sunday sales forces will have to show that they can fend off an attempt by opponents to seal the bill off from any amendments – a process known as “engrossment.”

A majority vote is required, which will probably be recorded. Then comes the vote for passage. If successful, the bill goes to the House unmarred.

That gives Sunday sales supporters a chance to present the Senate Republican caucus with a choice – just in time for Tuesday’s Senate Rules Committee debate on whether SB 10 will go forward.

The deal?

Either let SB 10 move to the Senate floor, for a reasoned public debate on Sunday sales. Or have the House, at its cruel leisure, force a Senate vote on the matter by attaching the Sunday sales language to the golf course legislation, and sending SB 150 back to the chamber of origin. The Senate would then be obliged to accept it or reject it.

Either way, the debate happens.

Updated at 1:20 p.m.: The Associated Press reports that New Jersey motorcycle dealers are rejoicing that they can now sell bikes on Sundays. Who knew they couldn’t?

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.

  • Print

38 comments Add your comment

cs

March 14th, 2011
1:29 pm

I am more concerned and absolutely opposed with the Republicans wanting to give all the tax breaks and other welfare to businesses than I am Sunday alcohol sales. The GOP may bring South Ga back to democrats by all these corporate welfare proposals.

Tired of BS

March 14th, 2011
1:35 pm

The liquor lobbyist do not want Sunday sales passed because it would mean those early morning tee times would no take place. It’s the industry itself trying to kill this bill folks.

henry t

March 14th, 2011
1:38 pm

Examples of guts in politics: Scott Walker (Wisconsin), John Kasich (Ohio), Chris Christie (NJ). Example of lack of spine: Georgia legislature on issue of Sunday sales.

Aquagirl

March 14th, 2011
1:39 pm

All this insanity over what should be a no-brainer vote. A small group of businesses and wingnuts, using churches as a tax-free cache of votes, are trying to demonstrate they control our lives.

If the Republican dominated assembly doesn’t pass this bill any further crap about smaller government is a total joke. It’s only a phrase pulled out when it’s needed to keep them in power. And the dummies who vote for them fall for it every time.

wtf GA

March 14th, 2011
1:45 pm

You can already by beer at the golf courses on Sunday. It’s just like a restaurant or bar. The rules are so screwed up even the law makers don’t know what they are. Every muni has different rules and hours. Make one rule for the entire state and let the locals decide to sell or not.

Jamie Dempsey

March 14th, 2011
1:46 pm

Jim- have some more insight, but this sums it up fairly well: In essence, it appears SB10, as a stand-alone, is going to the floor Wed. Am looking for people to be there to look Senators in the eyes as they prepare to vote. More info here:

http://www.peachpundit.com/2011/03/14/its-alive-its-alive/

romegaguy

March 14th, 2011
2:42 pm

Jesus never sold a motorcycle on a Sunday. Check it out

Laughing At Republicans

March 14th, 2011
2:45 pm

I still want to know what was and still is behind the logic of the law which doesn’t allow sales in restaurants on Sunday prior to 12:30 p.m. Is that supposed to make me go to church first and then go party? My friends from Europe howled at that when we took them to the airport and want a bloody mary before their departure. How backward we are.

Mike

March 14th, 2011
2:50 pm

If they don’t let us vote, we should revolt.

Centrist

March 14th, 2011
2:56 pm

I think constituents (except the religious right and the media) aren’t worked up over this issue. There are much more important things going on in the legislative session, but this is just more fun to keep front and center.

Bud

March 14th, 2011
2:58 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_laws

GaBlue

March 14th, 2011
3:03 pm

Yes, there certainly are more important things going on in the legislative session, and the people of Georgia are completely oblivious to them as well! Most cannot even tell you who represents them, let alone who owns, I mean, funds their campaigns and how those “representatives” vote. They’re too busy squawking about how much they despise the President and the “libruls” to have clue number one about what’s going on in their own local and state governments.

jim

March 14th, 2011
3:38 pm

if no alcohol on sunday, no lottery.

The Ghost of Lester Maddox

March 14th, 2011
3:38 pm

Well thank God the Gold Dome boys are keeping Sunday safe for Jesus here in Georgia. That’s a load off my mind.

Hell, what will those heathen drinkers try next? Making Chic Fil A open on Sunday? Selling alcohol on Sunday….what’s this world coming to?

td

March 14th, 2011
4:33 pm

Some of you people just amaze me. You would think it is the end of the world or you are going to die if you can not go out on Sunday and buy a drink. You do realize that this is the first sign of alcoholism?

I have heard the arguments about this about this is a convenience issue but then you are own here saying that this measure is going to increase business. You can not have it both ways, you either want to be able to be able to pick up everything on Sunday or you are just want to be able to drink more. Which is it?

Since I am assumming from the majority on these blogs that drinking will increase, what is going to be the states cost for the increase in DUI, child abuse and spending more money on alcohol instead of paying your bills?

From some of the posters I can see that you are willing to spend more money on alcohol but you are the same ones claiming that you can not afford the HOPE changes. I guess we know where your money is going and where your priorities are at. If you would have spent a little less time partying and little more time studying then you would not be in the place to choose between beer and being smart.

DJ Sniper

March 14th, 2011
4:42 pm

Now I’ve heard it all. TD actually believes that support for Sunday sales is a sign of alcoholism. Dude, the issue here is plain and simple: Those of us who support Sunday sales simply want the opportunity to get out and vote on the issue. Furthermore, we are sick and tired of the liquor store lobbies and the Christian conservatives blocking this issue coming to a vote. It makes no sense at all.

You know what else makes no sense? The idea that Sunday sales will lead to an increse in drunk driving. You do realize that there’s already a great deal of drunk driving on Sundays now, due to the fact that people have to go to bars and restaurants if they want to drink and don’t have any at home. Those people will be more inclined to purchase the alcohol and take it home with them. Despite what you may think, people are NOT going to purchase alcohol on Sundays and immediately start drinking right there in the parking lot.

Last, but not least, I will ask the question I’ve always asked: What’s the difference between buying liquor from a bar or restaurant and buying it from a package or grocery store. Bottom line: alcohol is being sold on Sundays.

me

March 14th, 2011
4:55 pm

Sunday sales of alcohol won’t create more child abuse or alcoholism. Any alcoholic will tell you that they ALWAYS purchase Sunday alcohol in advance….so the chronic drinker who drinks enough to hit a kid ALREADY has a Sunday stash on hand. It is the casual drinker who will be incentivized by the availability of alcohol on Sundays. In an economy like this we need every tax dollar we can get.

rem

March 14th, 2011
5:11 pm

My dad said: Drinkers will drink.

I am not sure what the issue is. Anyone can stock up during the week or go to a resturant on Sunday and drink.

Liquor and beer is always avialable. I guess the other 49 states that have legalized liquor and beer on Sunday’s are just spending their time on Sunday chasing down drunks. Somehow if that were the case, I would assume that those states would change back to no liqour or beer on Sundays.

td

March 14th, 2011
5:21 pm

DJ Sniper

March 14th, 2011
4:42 pm

I want to vote on a great deal of issues. Putting back the state flag, going to the fair tax and cutting out all income taxes but I am not making it the biggest issue in the world.

If more people are going to drink more due to Sunday sales then you will have consequences. Mark my words today on this blog and come back to me 3 years for now if this passes and then say I am lying: The reported cases of domestic and child abuse will increase, the cases of drunk driving will increase and we will have an increase in divorces related to alcohol abuse.

All of these statistics went up dramatically during the past 20 years every time the availability of alcohol was increased (counties went from dry to wet).

richard

March 14th, 2011
5:32 pm

well maybe we should just make alcohol illegal altogether then. then nobody will ever drink. just imagine how much crime would go down.

No Dog in this Hunt

March 14th, 2011
5:39 pm

Richard: We’re testing the idea with certain drugs. Just check the prisons.

DW

March 14th, 2011
5:41 pm

td = total d0uch!

DW

March 14th, 2011
5:46 pm

TD you are the most misinformed, backwoods idiot to ever pick up a keyboard. How the hell can you justify the idiocy of imposing your f-d up religious beliefs on everyone else you disgusting zealot?

td

March 14th, 2011
5:52 pm

DW

March 14th, 2011
5:41 pm

I see my best fan is back. Please forgive my young friend. He/She was not educated to the point of being able to form a cognitive sentence and had such poor parent(s) that all he/she can do is call people names on blogs that he/she does not agree with.

I will continue to pray for you my young friend that God will bless you with a brain one day and show you some manners. Until that time please go back to work because my septic tank needs a good cleaning.

JoeV

March 14th, 2011
5:58 pm

Hey td,

I’m praying to the Flying Spaghetti Monster that you get a disease for which the only cure is alcohol!

I kid, I kid.

But really, stop messing with my right to buy a LEGAL product 7 days a week!

Bobby Weaver

March 14th, 2011
6:38 pm

So, it would appear the Republican Caucus in the Georgia Senate is more afraid of angry golfers than angry evangelicals. Or did key members of the Caucus suddenly re-discover the virtues of small government, local control and personal freedom after they faced the prospect of being denied the opportunity to purchase an adult beverage on a public golf course on the first Sunday in 2012?

Freedom Fighting Veteran

March 14th, 2011
7:21 pm

@TD

So by your “logic” the state should ban hamburgers and swimming pools on Sunday along with alcohol and gathering sticks (Numbers 15:32-36).

Hamburgers sales on Sunday certainly must increase the scourge of obesity, heart disease, and hypertension that plague our state. If swimming was banned on Sunday I’ll bet you dollars to donuts (dooh… another scourge) drowning would go down. They should all suffer the same fate dealt out to the man caught gathering sticks on the Sabbath – Moses and his congregation shall stone him.

I will pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster for you. That you will get over being a flagott, will stop trying to impose your dogma on others, and that you may be touched by his noodly appendage.

Old Grandad

March 14th, 2011
7:32 pm

I’m no Democrat but Sen. Ron Ramsey, D-Decatur, is my new hero.

Coalition > Liquor Lobby

March 14th, 2011
10:59 pm

If Ga politicians cave in and start allowing sunday liquor sales, the Coalition will put out thousands of votes against them in the next campaign! Sunday should not be a day for buying liquor. Ga should follow the bible and ban all alcohol sales on Sunday including restaurants. I’m tired of all this drinking on Sunday!

Neil

March 14th, 2011
11:25 pm

I have a great idea. Let’s ban churches being open on Sunday. If people spent more time at home drinking, there would be less of this God abuse.

richard

March 15th, 2011
12:03 am

@ Coalition > Liquor Lobby

No day should be a day for forcing your religious beliefs on others.

Engineer

March 15th, 2011
9:02 am

@TD: I guess that sudden explosion in crime (specifically speakeasies, the mafia, and moonshine runners) during the prohibition era doesn’t count in your mind.

BlueDem1

March 15th, 2011
9:16 am

I am a liberal Democrat who does not drink, and I am appalled that the Republicans are dragging their feet in not allowing alcohol sales on Sundays. Talk about “big government”!!

Sunday liqour sales will give a huge boost to Georgia’s revenue which will help bring down our state budget deficit. This bill is common sense legislation, which throws out an old, outdated statute, needs to be passed immediately.

Freedoms Fried

March 15th, 2011
10:01 am

It’s about freedom and the free market – restricting the day and time that any legal business can sell any legal products to legal adults is the first step on the slippery slope to something other than the America that I love!

Actually, I don’t even think this should be put to a vote at the local level because the possibility that it could be defeated by people who do not respect the principles of our freedom-loving country are just too sad to contemplate.

This issue constantly reminds me of the old joke about why Baptists won’t have sex standing up – because somebody might think they are dancing!

Dulcinea

March 15th, 2011
2:50 pm

Whatever happened to freedon of choice? This is America, people!

If you don’t drink or don’t approve of alcohol sales on Sundays, no one is forcing you to buy alcohol on Sundays, or any other day for that matter. What I object to is people who want to make that choice for me. If I want to buy beer on Sunday, that should be MY choice to make, not anyone else’s.

3rd Annual Crossover Day Live Blog « SWGA Politics

March 15th, 2011
4:41 pm

[...] after passing through a Republican Caucus vote yesterday. Yesterday’s vote on SB 150 was, per Jim Galloway, supposed to be a show of force, and it came through with a 43-9 vote – all nine nays were [...]

Mike

March 16th, 2011
11:11 am

This shows just how weak and ineffective our current Republican legislature is. They can’t make such a simple decision about allowing us to vote on Sunday sales, however they can WASTE time with birther bills, bills to close abortion clinics, bills to prevent implanting computer chips in people; I did see buried in the AJC recently that there would be NO transportation bill this year. This explains why I NEVER vote ‘Republicant’.

Beer me (on sunday)

March 16th, 2011
3:09 pm

This one is to Georgia and alcohol on sundays!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOM_UuQzc0