Senate passes Confederate Flag bill, Bill Heads to House
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COLUMBIA, SC ( WOLO ) – – By a vote of 36-3 the South Carolina Senate passed the third and final reading of a measure removing the Confederate flag from State House grounds. The measure now moves to the House. “I think that this sends a message across the state and really across the nation that South Carolina is coming together,” said Senator Vincent Sheheen. The final senate vote comes on the heels of much debate, whether the flag represents heritage or hate. Senator Lee Bright fought intensely to keep the flag flying high in honor of our state’s history. He called the vote for it’s removal disappointing. “It seems we‘ve laid the massacres at Charleston at the feet of veterans and I don‘t feel that that‘s fair,” said Senator Bright. Now the flag bill lies in the hands of the House. On Tuesday, House Democrats said they are calling for a clean bill to be passed in a timely fashion with no amendments. “Let me be clear, there will be no flag and no flag pole when we are done with this debate,” said Representative James Smith. However, passing a clean bill may not come easy. Representative Michael Pitts said he plans to introduce several amendments, including a compromise to replace the current Confederate flag with another historical banner. “A memorial without a flag of some sort is not the same,” said Representative Pitts. Earlier this week, the Senate tabled an amendment to replace the flag. Many Senators said they hope the House does the same. “I‘m hoping that the house takes the bill up very quickly and they pass a clean bill, a bill that removes the confederate flag from the State House grounds and places it in a more appropriate place,” said Senator Sheheen. At a Tuesday morning news conference, Richland Co. Rep. Todd Rutherford told ABC Columbia News a first reading in the house will likely take place no earlier than Wednesday.
