Lt.
Gov. Casey Cagle, a possible Republican candidate for governor in 2010,
now says he is willing to let the state Senate vote on Sunday package
store sales of liquor.
Cagle, the Senate's president, made the statement in a letter to
Georgians who contacted his office about legislation that would let
voters decide whether to allow Sunday sales. Just under 2,000 letters
were sent out in the last week.
Cagle has been viewed as a stumbling block on the issue. The Senate has stalled Sunday sales legislation the past two General Assembly sessions.
"As a Georgian with strong religious beliefs, I oppose Sunday sales
of alcohol for individual religious reasons," Cagle wrote. "However, I
recognize we live in a democracy where the wishes of the majority must
be respected."
Later in the letter, he wrote, "While I would vote against such a
change at the ballot box, I do not believe the Legislature should deny
the voters a chance to make a choice for themselves and their
community."
Previously, Cagle spokeswoman Jaillene Hunter blamed the Senate's inaction on a lack of public interest.
"There simply has not been any kind of broad expression of support
for a vote on Sunday sales this year from Senate members or from the
citizens of our state," she said.
More than 50,000 people signed an online petition during the 2008 session supporting Sunday sales.
While the Sunday package store bill never got a committee hearing
this session, Cagle allowed two votes on bills aimed at giving Gwinnett
County the right to sell beer on Sundays at its new baseball stadium.
When asked about Cagle's letter, Hunter said, "The lieutenant
governor will allow a floor vote on a Sunday sales referendum if the
members of the Senate wish to do so. If there is not support from the
membership of the Senate, he does not plan to force the issue."
Jim Tudor, a lobbyist for the convenience store industry, which
supports Sunday sales, said he hopes the measure will get a vote next
year. "We certainly believe Georgians should have that right [to vote]
and look forward to working with the lieutenant governor in the
upcoming session so that Georgians get it," he said.
