COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A former South Carolina House member who is seeking to become the next director of the state Conservation Bank was grilled Thursday by senators about his Confederate flag stance and how he was picked for the job.
A Senate committee decided after several hours to delay voting on whether to approve Mike Pitts’ appointment to the $115,000-a-year job until next week.
Pitts spent 15 years in the House as a Republican representing areas around Laurens. He was known for proposals like suggesting a registry for journalists or supporting the state minting its own money. Though the measures had little chance of passing, they could be used to spotlight what he thought were problems.
The State newspaper reported that much of the questioning Thursday surrounded the Confederate flag. Pitts was the most public House member to fight against the bill that ultimately passed in 2015 removing a rebel banner that flew on a pole in front of the Statehouse after nine black church members were killed in a racist attack in Charleston.
Pitts said instead of removing the pole entirely, he wanted to fly a Confederate regiment’s flag that looked almost identical to the current state flag.
Pitts defended a number of amendments he proposed including removing Statehouse monuments to African-Americans, Spanish-American War veterans and the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond.
“Did I put up some that were asinine? Probably. But they were time killers,” Pitts said. “I didn’t think any of them would pass.”
Senators also questioned the timing of Pitts’ new job offer. He resigned his House seat on Jan. 3. The Conservation Bank’s board offered him the director job on Oct. 30.
Pitts said he delayed his resignation so he could keep health insurance and retirement pay. There is no requirement that he spend any time away from the Legislature before he takes the Conservation Bank director job.
After the hearing, Pitts said he was fine with the questions and confident the committee would approve his appointment next week.
“It’s OK. It’s understandable,” Pitts said. “I want to make sure it all gets out there for the public.”
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Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com
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