Virginia could add Election Day as a state holiday, lose Lee-Jackson Day (per Governor CoonMan Northam)

WTVR.com ^ | January 06, 2020 | CAMERON THOMPSON AND WEB STAFF

[Perseverando]

RICHMOND, Va. -- Governor Ralph Northam (D - Virginia) wants to see the Commonwealth end its recognition of Lee-Jackson Day.

Celebrated in Virginia on the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day each January, Lee-Jackson Day honors Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

"I don't think there's any secret that it's in honor of two individuals who fought to prolong slavery which is not a proud aspect of Virginia's history," Governor Northam said Monday after announcing his support for a proposal to establish Election Day as a new state holiday. "I think we need to move forward and remove Lee-Jackson Day as a holiday and make Election Day the new holiday."

In addition to "moving forward," Northam said creating a new state holiday on Election Day would require a balancing of the books.

"We certainly look at the financial aspects in order to make a new holiday," he said.

The governor said turning Election Day into a state holiday would improve voting access to Virginians. He's also supporting proposed legislation allowing Virginia voters to cast an absentee ballot, without an excuse, up to 45 days before an election. The State Board of Elections recommended the 45-day excuse-free voting period last year.

"Voting is a fundamental right," he said. "But in a state that once put up tremendous barriers to voting, too many people are still unable to participate meaningfully in our democracy. By making it easier—not harder—to vote, these proposals will ensure we are building a government that is truly representative of the people we serve. I look forward to working with the General Assembly to pass these important measures into law."

The proposals have a better chance of passing this year than in year's past. Democrats won control of both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates in the 2019 election.

The Virginia General Assembly begin January 8. This is a developing story.

[Perseverando]

There is a 2 1/2 minute video with Northam telling what he wants to do.

George Mason of Virginia, author of the Bill of Rights, wrote:

[Dr. Sivana]

It’s been called Lee-Jackson-King Day since the ‘80s, so there’s balance in that.

[C19fan]

There might be a Lee-Jackson day in VA but except perhaps for state workers nothing closes. My daughters go to school and I go to work.

[va22030]

George Mason of Virginia, author of the Bill of Rights, wrote:

In colonial times we had despotic King George …

Now we have our own Govt, US congress Taxing, dictating We the people.

Controlling almost all aspects of (so-called-free-people) our lives.

[Perseverando]

I'm not sure where you got that, but I got this from the Virginia Dept of Human Resource Mgmt:

January 1
New Year’s Day January 17
Lee-Jackson Day
January 20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 17
George Washington Day
May 25
Memorial Day
July 3
Independence Day

[Dr. Sivana]

I'm not sure where you got that

I got it from living in Virginia for college in the '80s. Notice how close Lee-Jackson Day is to the Federal MLK Day. In a way, it would make sense to combine them.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Virginia taxpayers should also pay for Ubers to shuttle Democrat voters from polling-station to polling-station so they can vote as many times as they like.

[Dr. Sivana]

Here’s the rest of the story:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee%E2%80%93Jackson%E2%80%93King_Day

[GreyFriar]

He sure is anti-confederacy, perhaps one of the most fervent since the radical republicans in the years after the civil war.

[Perseverando]

It’s been called Lee-Jackson-King Day since the ‘80s, so there’s balance in that.

Lee–Jackson–King Day also known as Dirtbag Centrist Day was a holiday celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1984 to 2000.

In 2000, Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore proposed splitting Lee–Jackson–King Day into two separate holidays after debate arose over whether the nature of the holiday which simultaneously celebrated the lives of two Confederate generals who fought to defend the confederacy and a civil rights icon was incongruous.[2] The measure was approved and the two holidays are now celebrated separately as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the third Monday in January and Lee–Jackson Day three days earlier on the preceding Friday.[3][4]

[Perseverando]

[Ohioan]

He is anti-heritage. Contemptible, by any reasonable standard.

Leftist War On Social Continuity

[Ozymandias Ghost]

Time to spread the rumor that Northam is dissing Spike and Jesse. ;^)

[vetvetdoug]

The MLK, Jr. day was purported to be allowed so the Lee-Jackson day would not be affected. First concessions, then as the liberals get power elimination of the concession or particular event with which they disagree. The blacks got their plagiarist, adulterer, woman beater holiday as a concession so the Southern states could still honor their dead.

[damper99]

Borrowing an old democrat trick from what used to be Kentucky County in Virginia. Kentucky gives election day off to all state workers and teachers. Was put in place when the democrats ruled Kentucky for two centuries.

[Perseverando]

I think in VA all major election days are “teacher work days,” particularly since many polling places are public schools. Therefore, the teachers are always out working for the demoKKKrats on election day.

[cranked]

A graduate of VMI, wtg, tard idiot black face.......