Senators debate award
Senators sparred this morning during a sometimes emotional debate over the posthumous awarding of the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest individual honor.
Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, is sponsor of a joint resolution requiring the award be given to law enforcement or military personnel from South Carolina who die in the line of duty.
Knotts said Gov. Mark Sanford has refused to award the Order of Palmetto to fallen soldiers, claiming he doesn't have the authority.
Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the governor's office is not aware of any requests for a posthumous Order of the Palmetto award or that any such requests have been denied.
Sen. Greg Gregory, R-Lancaster, defended Sanford, arguing the governor is aiming to be consistant in his awarding of the honor.
"This governor likes to feed everyone from the same spoon and some don't like the taste," he said.
But Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, noted Sanford awarded former Sen. Don Holland the Order of the Palmetto after the Kershaw County Democrat died.
"To grant him authority he already has is ridiculous," Sheheen said.
After about 30 minutes of sometimes heated debate, the proposal was sent to the Judiciary Committee for review