The measure has already passed the Senate, so it now moves to Gov. Nathan Deal, who has said he will sign it.
Gordon County’s delegates were split on the issue, Rep. John Meadows, R-Calhoun, voted “yes” and Rep. Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper, voted “no.”
“I think you have to look at where you’re from and see what your people say they want,” Jasperse said. “It’s not anti-business; it’s just one of these cultural pride things.”
Support was mixed around Northwest Georgia. Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, voted “yes,” while State Reps. Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville, Barbara Massey Reece, D-Menlo, and Rick Crawford, D-Cedartown, voted against the bill.
“I will certainly not block the opportunity for anyone else to have the right to vote, regardless of my personal feelings,” Dempsey said. “It’s an issue of local control.”
Crawford said his constituents who contacted him “were very much against it.” Reece and Coomer said they weighed both sides and ultimately came down against it.
“It just goes back to my basic upbringing and beliefs,” Reece said. “One of the Ten Commandments is to remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.”
On the Senate side, Sens. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton, and Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, all voted “yes” when the bill came before the Senate last month.
Georgia, Connecticut and Indiana are the only states that still ban Sunday alcohol sales in stores.
Also last week, lawmakers adopted an $18.3 billion budget that increases health insurance premiums for state employees and slashes funding for the state’s college system.
The House gave its final approval to the 2012 spending plan by a 143-32 vote. The state Senate approved the blueprint later on a 48-6 vote.
Budget writers also set aside $4 million for a special session to be held over the summer to redraw congressional and legislative district lines to conform to U.S. Census data.
The budget — covering the fiscal year that begins July 1 — now heads to the governor for his signature.
Thursday was the final day of the 2011 legislative session.
And seriously, how many of you who are against this complain about how much big government is infringing on our freedoms? I'm willing to bet that most of you do. A bit hypocritical, ya think?
And since when is Sunday the Sabbath for everyone? What about those people who don't believe? Why thrust your beliefs onto them? What about people who worship on Saturday? Should they not be able to push a bill through Congress that bans alcohol sales on Saturdays? This Sunday ban is unconstitutional and you all know it. It endorses Christianity above all other religions. If there was a bill that that made it mandatory for women to wear a burka on Muslim Sabbath, you'd be all over it. But because this is a law that is in favor of your religion, you're all in favor of it.
Hypocrites. The lot of ya.
Lets prove we aren't such pathetic rednecks to vote this in! Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy!!!!!!!!