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Published December 23, 2023, 1:45 p.m. ET
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said he would go to “war” with New York state if Albany lawmakers pass a bill forcing some Empire State Chick-fil-As to serve seven days week to operate.
The famous southern chicken chain has long been closed on Sundays, in keeping with the religious beliefs of its original Christian founder, S. Truett Cathy.
“This is war,” Graham posted on X in response to an article about the bill. “If this continues, I will introduce legislation that would withhold federal funding from any city or state that requires @ChickfilA to remain open on Sunday.”
“The founders of Chick-fil-A made an early decision to close on Sunday, consistent with their faith. Any administration's attempt to reverse this decision is antithetical to who we are as Americans. Chick-fil-A is a great company with thousands of locations that provide the public with a quality product and care for their employees. New York is off base and their actions will not go unanswered,” Graham added.
The New York State Assembly bill filed last week would require Chick-fil-A and other food vendors operating at State Thruway Authority rest stops to be open seven days a week.
The fast food chain was named in the justification for the bill.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham vows “war” on New York over a new bill targeting Chik-Fil-A. LindseyGrahamSC/X
Chik-Fil-A is traditionally closed on Sundays — something a New York bill wants to change. AP
“While there is nothing wrong with a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, traveler service areas are an inappropriate location for such a restaurant. Public service areas should use their space to provide the greatest possible benefit to the public,” the bill states.
Manhattan Rep. Tony Simone, who sponsored the bill, said he had nothing to do with the chicken chain — and was only thinking about the good of the state.
“You know, we get hungry when we travel. Maybe we don't like our brother-in-law's or sister-in-law's cooking and we want to treat ourselves to a snack on Christmas Eve,” Simone told ABC8. “To find any of the restaurants on the Thruway closed is simply not in the public interest.”
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