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.
Considering your initial comment, I'll consider you the expert on what a fourteen year-old would post.
Taft was a good man and performed well in his other positions during his life, just wasn't very skilled at politics. But I agree that a lot of Presidents don't deserve being celebrated, and would prefer people called the holiday by its right name--Washington's Birthday.
Lincoln recruited millions of immigrants (foreigners) to kill Southerners.
For years Lee-Jackson Day was celebrated the third Monday in Virginia. When MLK, Jr. Day was created as a federal holiday, Virginia spent about a decade celebrating Lee-Jackson-King Day.
Governor Jim Gilmore introduced legislation to change that. Now, Lee-Jackson Day is a state holiday, celebrated on Friday. MLK, Jr. is a federal holiday celebrated on Monday, giving state workers a four day weekend.
When New England threatened to secede in the early part of the 19th century, was that in defense of slavery?
When several states - Virginia and Texas among them - reserved the right to secede, you think they did it because of slavery, and not because they were wary of a massive federal government?
Nope. The Supreme Court, with Chief Justice Taney issuing an in-chambers decision, ruled that the President cannot suspend habeas corpus. Taney cited a plethora of historical/legal evidence supporting the decision.
For having the temerity to stand up to King Lincoln, Lincoln issued an arrest warrant to be served on Taney by Lamon - who refused to do so. Lamon once stated that Taney (not Lincoln) was one of the most outstanding men he'd ever met, and deserved his respect.
Lincoln had federal Judge William Merrick placed under house arrest to prevent him sitting on a case. He was not alone. Lincoln even had the wife of a federal judge arrested.
President Bush would never stoop so low.
Defending Treason is personal with me. Defending those who attempted to destroy the United States of America is personal with me. Slandering one of the greatest men who the world has ever seen in personal with me.
There is nothing to debate here all issues have been long settled and there in NOTHING in the absurd arguments of the Defenders of the RAT Rebellion worthy of anything but abuse.
Apparently YOU are also unfamiliar with Washington's Farewell Address or the character of the man. He would have shot down the traitors as quickly as Andrew Jackson, another slave owner but also a Patriot.
Washington considered himself an American above all as even a slight knowledge of his biography makes obvious.
I became one reading the immature and inane drivel which passes for knowledge among the DSs here. Although I grew out of the defend the "Noble" Cause phase at about 12.
Remember that every one of the USA-bashing Confederates were Democrats!
Let us not forget that during the Nullification Crisis, South Carolina-born President Andrew Jackson threatened to hang rebels from his native state. Yet neo-Confederates complain about Lincoln!
Reconstruction did not create the Solid South. The South was solidly Democrat in the 1850s. Remember that in 1860, well before Reconstruction, the Republican Party did not get a single vote in ten of the eleven states which would form the Confederacy.
The Party of Treason from its beginning to the present day.
Defender of Slavery, Founder of the KKK, voted against ending slavery by the 13th amendment, voted against making the freedmen true citizens through the 14th amendment, roadblock against the Civil Rights Acts, preventer of anti-Lynching laws, staunch advocate of Jim Crow laws.
Why does this party still exist when the Nazi Party is history?
Jackson would have PERSONALLY led the army, made the arrests and put the nooses around the necks of traitors. But HE was both a man and a PATRIOT. Something totally hated by the DSs hence the foaming at the mouth at the name "Lincoln."
President Jackson's exact words were: "If one drop of blood be shed in defiance of the laws of the United States, I will hang the first man of them I can get my hands on to the first treee I can find."
LINCOLN had the Russian fleet in New York and San Francisco harbors. LINCOLN allowed foreigners to join the Union Army by the boatload.
President Lincoln did not command the Russian fleet, just so you know.
Just as it did during the Civil War, our country honors immigrants who join the U.S. Army and Navy. President Bush personally praised a U.S. soldier from Honduras who died in Iraq.
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