COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – A black state senator is pushing a bill that would require South Carolina cities and counties to give their workers a paid day off for Confederate Memorial Day or lose millions in state funds.
Democratic Sen. Robert Ford’s bill won initial approval from a Senate subcommittee Tuesday. It would force county and municipal governments to follow the schedule of holidays used by the state, which gives workers 12 paid days off, including May 10 to honor Confederate war dead. Mississippi and Alabama also recognize Confederate Memorial Day.
“Every municipality and every citizen of South Carolina, should be, well, forced to respect these two days and learn what they can about those two particular parts of our history,” Ford said Tuesday.
Large and small counties would put up more cash to cover holidays they don’t now recognize, largely for law enforcement and emergency worker overtime, municipal and county association lobbyists said. Only 10 of the state’s 46 counties recognize Confederate Memorial Day and only 27 observe the more benign Presidents’ Day. Greenville County, one of the state’s wealthiest and most populous counties, doesn’t offer the Confederate holiday. The Judiciary Committee said the county would spend $156,900 to add each holiday to its calendar. Much smaller Laurens County would spend $37,080.
Ford dismissed the costs.
Because when the economy is tanking, it’s always a good idea to give Gov’t employees more paid holidays…sheesh.
WTF?
Hellooooo, the confeds LOST. SHADDAP, LOSAHS!
No reparations for him!
Let the racism charges start!
I’ll wait.
Regardless of the racial and/or social issues associated with this, do State employees really need yet another paid holiday?
In wacky California, State employees get 14 paid holidays (not counting vacation days). The average private sector worker gets about 8 days with many getting only 5 days (Christmas, New Years, 2 for Thanksgiving, and the 4th of July).
With the economy the way it is, who could possibly justify an additional paid holiday for any government worker!
If it’s already a state holiday, it makes sense that government workers should get the day off. Why make such excuses. I think you wouldn’t be objecting about economy tanking and more paid holidays if this were Labor Day or July 4th or MLK Day…
This might be a funny thread to follow.from upstate SC forums.
http://forums.goupstate.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8661098265/m/7991011838
This state senator needs a lesson in what they call “timing.”
Like a chicken pushing for a monument to Col. Saunders.
#5 No I wouldn’t. I don’t care what the day is celebrating. What it is in reality is a increase in the compensation package for every employee that isn’t getting the day off now.
This is not the time to be forcing new costs on to local governments.
From TFA… “Ford dismissed the costs.”
I missed this the first read through. That tells you exactly what kind of politician we are dealing with here.
I wondered why Ford would push for a day honoring the Confederacy. It appears he is just a better person than me.
http://charleston.net/news/2009/feb/04/sen_ford_wants_holidays_observed70536/
# 10 GigG said, “That tells you exactly what kind of politician we are dealing with here.”
He correctly predicted that Obama wouldn’t take the vote in S.C.
Is that guy really afro-american, or does he have some kind of skin pigmentation problem?
So what does he stand for? He’s defending the flag that, had the civil war gone the other way, would have him as a slave. Can you say Uncle Tom?
Is that guy really afro-american, or does he have some kind of skin pigmentation problem?
I suspect that he is a guy that knows that without slavery he would not exist. He knows what his ancestors went through. He’s probably old enough to have experienced segregation. He’s an elected member of a legislature in a southern state. He probably knows that Confederate Memorial Day will provide additional days off to more Afro-Americans than white folks. With what his ancestors went through, he’s probably a little bit ticked that the “First Black President’s” ancestors just visited Hawaii. Close enough for government work though.
PS: The displayed Battle Flag is incorrect.
Uh-Oh I’m wrong the flag shown is correct but kind of rare.
Slavery issues aside.
They’re commemorating the attempted secession from the United States of America.
They’re being anti-American in the most offensive way imaginable.
Why don’t people understand this?
# 16 ken… just Ken said, “They’re commemorating the attempted secession from the United States of America. They’re being anti-American in the most offensive way imaginable.”
Umm, America was born on the premise of being able to leave a gov’t you don’t agree with. It is actually a VERY American thing.
A Black man wants a holiday honoring the Confederacy?
I wonder who is holding a proverbial gun to his head to publicly push for this.
#17–Paddy==you say: “Umm, America was born on the premise of being able to leave a gov’t you don’t agree with.” /// True, but the context was the colonies breaking away from England and taxation without representation.
In reality, any State once formed will resist secession if it has the power to do so. Any other position is fantasy.
Would you support as “American” the people in my gated community seceeding from the USA or my State? If not, why not? If so–can any group of people do it?
# 19 bobbo said, “Would you support as “American” the people in my gated community seceeding from the USA or my State?”
I have no problem with ANY statet hat wants to hold a referendum on leaving the Union. I’d set it at 2/3 vote at least though.
As far as individuals go, if they want to go to another country, fine.
#20–Mr Wafflemouth==just apply that same recognition up to the next level of State vs Fed. My original post #19 remains triumphant over your infantile fantasies. I would think on issue of “real politik” that we should indeed “get real?”
#21 You asked a question and got an answer. What are you babbling about now?
“Would you support as “American” the people in my gated community seceeding from the USA or my State?”
# 23 bobbo said, “Would you support as “American” the people in my gated community seceeding from the USA or my State?”
Sure. I already answered that question. I just added a % of voters for the state.
My gated community is large, but does not cover 2/3rd of the state so that your condition would be met if 100% vote for secession.
“Would you support as “American” the people in my gated community seceeding from the USA or my State?”
I agree with Paddy-O that secession is as much an American ideal and right as the Bill of Rights, not that the federals are at all interested in defense of the Constitution and Amendments. As for the lilly white guilty liberals that assign a motivation to the battle flag taught by your High School history teacher, I bet the only blacks you guys know are the ones on TV. Living in an area with 70% black population, AND I have a confederate flag on my truck, not one black has ever raised a protest. Only guilty lilly white little panty wastes who cower behind gated communities might have a little gumption to draw attention and show their distaste for the flag sticker on my truck.
Pussies
# 25 bobbo said, ““Would you support as “American” the people in my gated community seceeding from the USA or my State?””
If you want to look at from the Constitutional angle. States are sovereign and can secede. Parts of states, not so sure.
btw,
New Hampshire has House Concurrent Resolution 6 affirming State’s rights based on Jeffersonian principles.
From the NH state house website:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HCR0006.html
#28 Bobbo would do well to read and understand that document.
#26, splinter,
I have a confederate flag on my truck, not one black has ever raised a protest. Only guilty lilly white little panty wastes who cower behind gated communities might have a little gumption to draw attention and show their distaste for the flag sticker on my truck.
You’re a loser. And an asshole, but mostly loser.
What you really want is for everyone to agree with your position and they must be “panty waists” if they don’t. In fact. you are the opposite of what this country stands for.