LITTLE ROCK — A bill to separate the shared celebration of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. won't be heard in a House committee as soon as the sponsor had hoped.
Democratic Rep. Fredrick Love of Little Rock said an amendment he added Tuesday means the bill can't be considered until later this week, rather than on Wednesday. Love now wants to present the bill to the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday.
A similar bill failed twice to advance out of committee after opponents said it belittled southern heritage.
Love changed the bill to create the memorial day for Lee on the second Friday in January — near Lee's Jan. 19 birthday.
He said the amended bill will honor both men.