Date Published: May 31, 2006   

Senate refuses to exempt blue laws on Christmas Eve

By SEANNA ADCOX
Associated Press Writer

Senators refused Wednesday to exempt retailers from the state's blue laws on Christmas Eve, which falls on a Sunday this year.

"If there is any day they should apply it should be on Christmas Eve," said Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau. "That's a day when parents can be with their children and folks can try to prepare for a nice family holiday."

The House added the exemption to a bill approved by the Senate in March that allows accommodations taxes to pay for emergency services. The amended bill cleared the House last week.

Requiring retailers in counties where voters haven't suspended blue laws to open after 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve puts them at a disadvantage on one of the biggest shopping days of the year, said Rep. Ted Pitts, R-Lexington, who proposed the amendment.

It also hurts the state, because retailers won't collect as much sales tax, and residents will cross the state line to shop elsewhere, Pitts said.

Because the Columbiana Centre mall in the suburbs of Columbia spans two counties, stores that lie in Richland County can open Christmas Eve morning, but stores in Lexington County can't without the statewide exemption, Pitts said.

The exemption would not apply to alcohol sales, Pitts said.

Richland and Greenville counties, along with the counties along the coast are the only ones in the state that don't have to follow blue laws.

Grooms said he wasn't debating whether the state should have blue laws at all. But if it does, he said, they should definitely apply on Christmas Eve, "the day before we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. ... That's why we have blue laws. It's ludicrous to have blue laws on 51 other Sundays and not Christmas Eve."

When a senator asked Grooms how Jesus felt about the Sabbath, Grooms responded, "I can't speak for Jesus right now."

But, he added, "I want momma at home with her kids on Christmas Eve."

Members of the House and Senate will attempt to reach an agreement on the bill Thursday, the last scheduled day of session.