Posted on 09/10/2005 4:46:12 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
Lincoln holiday on its way out
By Phil Kabler Staff writer
A bill to combine state holidays for Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays into a single Presidents’ Day holiday cleared its first legislative committee Wednesday, over objections from Senate Republicans who said it besmirches Abraham Lincoln’s role in helping establish West Virginia as a state.
Senate Government Organization Committee members rejected several attempts to retain Lincoln’s birthday as a state holiday.
State Sen. Russ Weeks, R-Raleigh, introduced an amendment to instead eliminate Columbus Day as a paid state holiday. “Columbus didn’t have anything to do with making West Virginia a state,” he said. “If we have to cut one, let’s cut Christopher Columbus.”
Jim Pitrolo, legislative director for Gov. Joe Manchin, said the proposed merger of the two holidays would bring West Virginia in line with federal holidays, and would effectively save $4.6 million a year — the cost of one day’s pay to state workers.
Government Organization Chairman Ed Bowman, D-Hancock, said the overall savings would be even greater, since by law, county and municipal governments must give their employees the same paid holidays as state government.
“To the taxpayers, the savings will be even larger,” he said.
The bill technically trades the February holiday for a new holiday on the Friday after Thanksgiving. For years, though, governors have given state employees that day off with pay by proclamation.
Sen. Sarah Minear, R-Tucker, who also objected to eliminating Lincoln’s birthday as a holiday, argued that it was misleading to suggest that eliminating the holiday will save the state money.
“It’s not going to save the state a dime,” said Minear, who said she isn’t giving up on retaining the Lincoln holiday.
Committee members also rejected an amendment by Sen. Steve Harrison, R-Kanawha, to recognize the Friday after Thanksgiving as “Lincoln Day.”
“I do believe President Lincoln has a special place in the history of West Virginia,” he said.
Sen. Randy White, D-Webster, said he believed that would create confusion.
“It’s confusing to me,” he said.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, suggested that the state could recognize Lincoln’s proclamation creating West Virginia as part of the June 20 state holiday observance for the state’s birthday.
Proponents of the measure to eliminate a state holiday contend that the numerous paid holidays - as many as 14 in election years — contribute to inefficiencies in state government.
To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, use e-mail or call 348-1220.
Congress is not in a position to dictate to the states what holidays they must observe and what holidays they cannot. So if states like Mississippi choose to make Jefferson Davis's Birthday a state holiday then they are free to do so, and nobody can force them to abolish it.
each state should do EXACTLY as it sees fit. the !@#$%^&*! federal government should STAY OUT of the state's affairs.
if i were running the government of WVA (and i'm NOT!) i'd ABOLISH the "lincoln holiday".
free dixie,sw
btw,i'm just "THE BOSS"s MULE-holder. (the GENERAL was too poor to buy a horse, so he rode a "good, young, red mule" almost all of the WBTS.)
free dixie,sw
he belongs "up north" where he has so many WORSHIPERS.
for all we southrons care, all ya'll can recite daily prayers to the clay-footed, secular, saint of damnyankeeland.
free dixie,sw
When will you learn to distrust power-seekers the way the Framers did?
N-C's should be placed in a home - at their own expense.
You are right. Your comment brings to mind what James Pittigrew said in 1860: "South Carolina is too large to be a lunatic asylum and too small to be a republic."
I'm glad you saw this thread, as I had neglected to ping you about. I enjoy debating with sane Confederate sympathizers such as Verginius Rufus, but the crazies are best ignored.
The Wheeling Convention of 1861
1st West Virginia Sergeant Saves Colors, Soldier, Too
THE BATTLE OF Philippi Bridge (June 3rd, 1861)
VAN WINKLE, Peter Godwin, (1808 - 1872)
West Virginia has the highest average elevation of any state east of the Mississippi River, and the most irregular boundary of any state.
Actually, it looks like 3 Southern justices remained on the U.S. Supreme Court until their deaths (including Roger Taney, who died in 1864), one died in 1860 but was replaced by a Lincoln nominee rather than by a Buchanan nominee, and one resigned to go home to his state. There was also one justice from Ohio who died during this period.
The three dissenting justices were David Davis of Illinois, Stephen Field of California, both appointed by Lincoln, and Nathan Clifford, appointed by Buchanan.
Washington welcomed foreign help in America's struggle with England.
It tells me the homosexuals are going to demand MLK day be recruited into "civil rights" day since sexual behavior is the same as skin color under the law.
Maybe he'll come to your aid in his captured U-Boat.
That post went right over your head, didn't it?
Not to mention Scott v Sanford in the 1850's. Oh wait, I forget. You liked that one, didn't you?
When will you learn to distrust power-seekers the way the Framers did?
That's because the framers never met people like you.
Let's see, major natural disaster, terrorists, border invasions, fuel problems, etc, etc, etc. Nope, nothing to see here.
And these assholes are worried about this? Would someone explain to me why these idiots are running our country? (into the ground)
For a while during the Civil War, Congress added a tenth Justice to the Supreme Court, to cancel the vote of a southerner who remained on the Court.
Yes, it was well established that the Pierpont government was the legitimate government of Virginia. Francis H. Pierpont remained the Governor of Virginia until 1868.
Thanks for that tid-bit. Had to drop off the thread earlier. It was just too nice a day to spend indoors. Spent the afternoon on my deck with my buddy sighting in a couple of rifes and blowing up coke cans with the 12ga. Listened to my Mountaineers trounce Wofford. I've got the Richmond race on now, not bad for a NYC boy,eh?
I also noticed the a Jeff Davis reference in the first few posts....par for the Wlat brigade.
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