House panel to consider amended King, Lee bill

FILE - Rep. Nate Bell, R-Mena, left, speaks with Rep. Fredrick J. Love, D-Little Rock, during a meeting of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus, Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, in Little Rock, Ark. The representatives are sponsoring similar bills dealing with the birthday celebrations of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
FILE - Rep. Nate Bell, R-Mena, left, speaks with Rep. Fredrick J. Love, D-Little Rock, during a meeting of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus, Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, in Little Rock, Ark. The representatives are sponsoring similar bills dealing with the birthday celebrations of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

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.

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