Despite public sentiment, Sundays likely to stay dry for now | ajc.com

Chris Farris, chairman of the Liberty Caucus, sees Sunday sales as a free-market issue that matches basic Republican principles.

“Its not only a no-brainer for the caucus, it should really be a non-brainer for a Legislature that is controlled by a party that supposedly espouses the free market,” Farris said.

While several members of his caucus who oppose the bill are counted among the Senate leadership, Farris said it appears that Perdue — a religious conservative who doesnt drink — is the stumbling block. Perdue all but threatened to veto the bill, saying Georgians should show better “time management” if they want to purchase alcoholic beverages by buying them on other days of the week.

“The Senate saw no reason to pass a bill the governor was going to veto and irritate one faction of the [Republican] party without getting any benefit for the other faction, the free-market side,” Farris said.

Still, he said hes not giving up.

“My hope is it will get a hearing in committee this year,” Farris said. “The RLC is going to press for that.”