Fresh Loaf

A firestorm erupted last year over a proposal by state Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland, to merge Savannah State University and Albany State University — two historically black colleges and universities — with nearby state schools to save money. The idea (which also would’ve required the Georgia Board of Regents’ approval) didn’t fly.

That hasn’t stopped Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Poythress from resuscitating the debate (or at least trying to) in a new video. Were the proposal resurrected — say maybe during a legislative session when the former general is in the governor’s office — Poythress says he’d kill it.

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On Monday, state Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland, tried to revive a bill that would allow cities and counties to vote whether they wanted to purchase alcohol in stores on Sundays. It was shot down.

Courtesy of the Senate Press Office, here’s video of the lawmaker’s valiant effort. UPDATE: Well, the freedom haters are sabotaging my attempts to embed the video. Here’s the link. UPDATE, PART II: Thanks to the excellent Michael in the Senate Press Office, we have video! Get ready to shed a tear.

Harp told lawmakers that a poll taken in one of Georgia’s most religious counties found more than 60 percent of respondents supported Sunday sales. In metro Atlanta, he said, support for the measure was more than 90 percent — a statistic which I think is hilarious.

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In 5,000 years, when a humanoid alien race sifts through the wasteland we ultimately created here on Earth, they will reach into the rubble of what once was the Georgia Capitol and find one piece of paper that, despite the ravages of time and the post-apocalyptic elements, will be preserved. It will be unripped. It will shine from under ash. It will have been the finest moment in this edifice’s history.

It will read:

Eureka! On Monday, state Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland — along with three co-sponsors — pre-filed a bill that, if passed and signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, would allow Georgia cities and counties to vote whether alcohol could be sold on the Sabbath inside their boundaries.

If you’ve long wanted to purchase booze on Sunday — be it for cooking, sporting events or to self-medicate — this is the bill you want to watch. And if you’ve ever just wanted to have a voice in the issue, it’s that too. Andre at Peach Pundit writes more on the possible political dynamics.

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In the long-ago days of my youth, I thought the two safest investments during a terrible economic time would be booze and newspapers. Everyone wanted to find a job (classifieds!) and everyone wanted to numb the pain when they couldn’t find one (Booze!). Turns out I was half right — the newspapers are hurting, but alcohol is doing great!

And state Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland, says he’s got an idea to help get the state out of the red and its citizens closer to rehab. The lawmaker told the Associated Press yesterday he will re-introduce legislation that would allow Georgians to buy spirits on the Sabbath and the state to earn some extra tax revenue on the spirits.

Which means it’s time for more political theater.

(more…)

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