endorsements

American Legislative Exchange Council

• SB 137 [Local Option Sunday Sales] is sound economic policy and is across the board consistent with the Jeffersonian principles upon which ALEC is based.

Athens Banner-Herald Editorial Board

• A state law that would allow local voters to decide whether they want Sunday sales in their communities would be respectful of the conservative view on the issue, doing nothing more than imposing the eminently reasonable requirement that people holding those views make their case to the wider community

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editorial Board

• Nothing is more intrusive than dictating to people what they can do and when.  Many Georgians may very well reserve Sunday as a day of rest, when they don't fish, shop or drink.  But others may use the day to run errands, to invite friends over for a beer or, if they're a politician, to even campaign.

Former U.S. Representative Bob Barr

• This gulf between talk of less government restriction on personal freedom and the reality of government control, is evident in public comments by the Republican Senate leadership, the lieutenant governor and Governor Sonny Perdue, refusing to even allow formal consideration of referenda on Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages in grocery and convenience stores.

Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Joe Fleming

• For the chamber, this is such an easy issue. It's about competition with other states, fairness within the industry and local options for voters.

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Editorial Board

• Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland, thinks it's time to take the regulation of Sunday beer and wine sales out of the Statehouse and send it home. A bipartisan bevy of co-sponsors, including six Senate committee leaders, agree with him.  So do we.

Macon Telegraph Columnist Phil Dodson

•  It comes down to this. It doesn't make sense to sell alcohol for consumption in restaurants but then tell the public it cannot buy it for home consumption.

Republican Liberty Caucus Legislative Committee

• Its free market aspects are clear and passage of this measure should be a no-brainer for a party that believes in the free market.

Rome News-Tribune Editorial Board

• It’s time to clean this mess up once and for all…. Given Georgia’s checkered and confused history on this matter, [Sunday sales legislation] must be considered a step forward and deserves approval.

Savannah Morning News Editorial Board

• Letting people take control of their own lives is one of the hallmarks of a free society. Lawmakers should agree.  Giving local control to local people is a good rule of thumb in most cases - especially this one, because beer and wine consumption is a personal choice

Georgia Young Republicans

• ...local governmental control and deregulation are and always will be Republican goals and ideals.