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.
No, he is perfectly serious in believing that Lincoln's saving the country was worse than slavery!
No...I am not...it really depends upon your point of view.
From my view and the view of my ancestors, Lincoln usurped his authority, and destroyed a way of life, yes, not a perfect one, but one of my ancestors lost everything, including his brother, in the defense of Southern Rights.
For once, we are in PERFECT agreement.:)
No...but it certainly was close to it....
Jefferson Davis was MUCH more of a dictator than Lincoln could ever be accused of being.
A fourteen year old has a better response.
Given the fact that you defend treasonous RATS you should not be surprized. Insane treasonous rats spewing their poisonous would naturally be right up your alley.
"...poisonous bilge..."
No he is entirely serious. At the name "Lincoln" these people start frothing at the mouth like mad dogs.
I particularly like the CornfedeRAT draft which drafted the poor Ridgerunners and excused the largest owners of slaves who had dragged the duped and deranged South into their Treason.
Complete crap. Washington's Farewell address was directed at potential secession. Read it sometime. He would have sent troops just as fast as Abe but any opposition would have collapsed at the word he was in the field.
Such falsehoods are indicative of the depths of desperation to which the defenders of Slaverocracy will stoop.
Better be nice....your Yankee backside is starting to show.
If you disagree, then fine....
This is a debate, not something personal.
You need to wake up from your Yankee dreamworld.
Washington was a slaveowner and a Southerner, and a VIRGINIAN. He would have never made war on his own people.
But those people in the Union army were Americans of recent immigration, not foreign armies under foreign command who would have been glad to see the subjugation of America. Jefferson Davis and company were not disrupters of the Union, but they were traitors against the peace, freedom and independence of the whole American people.
Washington was a nationalist. All Americans were his countrymen. He recognized that the nation must be united to survive and prosper. Unlike many later Southerners, Washington's vision extended beyond the slave shack and plantation boundary.
I wouldn't disagree that many slave owners were not cruel. But who among us would want to submit to slavery on the likelihood that we would get a kind owner?
Men weren't meant to be property- not even of a kind owner.
"For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations." -- George Washington, 1796
Lincoln didn't make war on his own people, Davis did. Washington wouldn't have supported his rebellion, especially one over slavery.
Even more sad that reconstruction abuses created a "solid South" in the first place, but I guess we don't talk about that.
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