February 28, 2011

Dear Legislator,

I write in strong support of SB 10 and HB 69, legislation allowing for local option
referenda to permit Sunday sales of alcohol. With Georgia facing significant budgetary
challenges, the legislature should be looking at every option to help balance the budget in a
manner that does not raise taxes on already heavily burdened Georgia families and employers.
Eliminating the prohibition on Sunday sales of alcohol would generate millions in revenue for
the state without raising taxes. Yet regardless of where one stands on the issue, it’s important
that local communities be given the freedom to decide for themselves whether to permit the sale
of alcohol on Sundays, as is the case with most other matters pertaining to alcohol sales.

Though SB 10 and HB 69 have overwhelming bipartisan support among Georgia legislators,

voters, and the Governor, this legislation is currently being held up at the behest of a small
handful of senators. I urge that you reject to these opaque, behind-closed-doors efforts to
prevent a transparent and public debate on this much needed legislation, which recently passed
out of committees in both chambers with sweeping majorities.

The small handful of senators that seek to preserve the status quo by blocking an open debate
on the matter of Sunday sales referenda are effectively supporting greater government regulation
and unnecessary intervention in the private economy – which Georgia voters issued a
resounding rebuke of last November. Worse, opponents of SB 10 & HB 69 are opposing
common sense legislation that would reduce the threat of tax increases on Georgia families and
employers.

Although Prohibition was repealed over 75 years ago, Georgia is one of the few remaining states
that continues to block the sale of alcohol on Sunday. This ill-advised ban costs the state
millions annually in lost tax revenue. Permitting localities to lift the ban on Sunday alcohol sales
is good policy and is certainly a preferable alternative to higher taxes. States that passed
legislation to permit Sunday sales in recent years have seen a positive impact on state coffers,
increasing revenue by 5% - 7% on average, while realizing no negative social impact.

It’s time for communities to decide for themselves on the matter of Sunday sales and to end this
statewide ban, which forces private businesses to needlessly turn customers away on what is now
the second busiest shopping day of the week. Lawmakers, many of whom were recently elected
to office on a platform of limited government and increased economic and personal freedom,
should support the rights of citizens to decide what is best for themselves and their
communities.

Thus, I urge you to bring SB 10 & HB 69 to the floor for a vote. Let’s have an open debate on
this legislation, which would empower citizens and eliminate an unnecessary impediment to
private sector growth and job creation. Please contact ATR’s Director of State Affairs Patrick
Gleason at pgleason@atr.org with any questions.

Onward,

Grover Norquist