MLK bill approved by House panel

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Laurens County Council voted this week to observe the holiday on the third Monday in January, the day state and federal offices are closed, leaving eight counties that do not celebrate it.

The legislation, co-sponsored by state Reps. Karl Allen and Fletcher Smith, was introduced late last month in response to the controversy in Greenville County over a King holiday for county employees.

Most County Council members have said they oppose the holiday, partly because of the expense. County officials have estimated it would cost about $134,000 to cover pay for sheriff's deputies and other personnel who work on holidays.

"I hope that when and if they pass this bill, they send a check too to pay for it," Greenville County Council Chairwoman Phyllis Henderson said Thursday.

"I think it's a dangerous situation, especially in a tight budget year, for them (the Legislature) to consider passing along unfunded mandates because it makes me wonder what might be next," she added.

Rep. Mike Pitts, R-Laurens, said although he isn't opposed to the "holiday in concept," requiring counties to observe it amounts to an unfunded mandate. He spoke in opposition to the bill Thursday during what is expected to be the only public hearing on it.

"I don't believe that the state should be sending mandates downhill, especially unfunded mandates," Pitts, a former Laurens County Council member, said in an interview after the subcommittee meeting.

The eight counties that do not celebrate the holiday, according to the South Carolina Association of Counties, are are Edgefield, Greenville, Lexington, Pickens, Saluda, Union, Williamsburg and York. York County officials have said the bill will open debate on the holiday there.

The South Carolina Association of Counties has not taken a position on whether counties should recognize any state or federal holiday, said Robert Croom, assistant director.

"We think it's a local issue," association spokeswoman Kathy Williams said.

The holiday bill must now be considered by the full House Judiciary Committee before being sent to the House floor and then to the Senate. The Judiciary Committee will consider it next week, Smith said.

He said the bill is "almost like on a fast track" and believes it will pass both the House and the Senate.

"Everybody that I've talked to is embarrassed by the conduct of the Greenville County Council people because they're embarrassing this state," Smith said.