Dear Legislator:
Onbehalf of the National Taxpayers Union’s (NTU’s) nearly 8,300 members inGeorgia, I urge you to support Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), which would empowercounties, if authorized by popular referendums, to permit sales of distilledspirits on Sundays.
Georgians arelooking to their elected officials to promote economic prosperity, which isassured by keeping taxes low, maintaining manageable expenditures, and doingaway with burdensome regulations. With a major effort to reform Georgia’s taxcode underway, and recent Senate passage of an NTU-backed, constitutional taxand expenditure limitation, it only makes sense for the General Assembly toalso examine regulatory policies to determine whether they are effective andstill necessary today.
Although “BlueLaws” were widespread in America during the early 20th century, oneby one the states recognized that such strictures ought to be adapted toreflect the more interconnected 21st century economy. Currently, 36states, including Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, and Virginia, allow some form ofSunday sales of distilled spirits. Since 2002 alone, 14 states have joinedthese ranks. The time has come to let Georgia communities decide whether or notthey wish to have seven-day-a-week sales of distilled spirits.
Sunday saleswill give Georgia consumers and visitors added convenience for shopping, andwill also provide benefits for the economy and the state. Increased sales meansincreased economic activity, which translates into more jobs in the retailindustry and more revenue for the state without the need to raise taxes. Withstate unemployment hovering around 10 percent and budget deficits in excess of$1 billion, these benefits should not be ignored. Nonetheless, SB 10 iscarefully drafted so that counties and their citizens can decide the issuebased on their own preferences.
Georgia’s taxpayers are countingon you to look after their long-term interests. You can do so by giving themthe choice to modify the prohibition on Sunday sales of distilled spirits. SB10 passed the State and Local Government Committee by a vote of 5-1. A similarbill, House Bill 69, passed the House Regulated Industries Committeeunanimously on February 9, 2011. The next logical steps are for the entireGeneral Assembly to vote “yes” on SB 10.
Sincerely,
John Stephenson
State Government Affairs Manager