Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Iowa Congressman Wants to Block Harriet Tubman from Appearing on the $20 Bill



Iowa congressman Steve King has proposed legislation that would block Harriet Tubman from replacing President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, reports CNN.

King introduced an amendment to bar the Treasury Department from spending any funds to redesign paper money or coin currency.

If the amendment is enacted, it would nullify the Treasury Department's plans to replace the current image of Jackson on the $20 bill with a portrait of Tubman, one of the most prominent abolitionists for her work in the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. She would become the first black woman ever to appear on a U.S. bank note.

King's reason for introducing the amendment was not immediately clear, and his office did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment.

I am in contact with the congressman's office, check back to this post for updates or a statement from the congressman.

-RW

UPDATE

Via Politico:
"It's not about Harriet Tubman, it's about keeping the picture on the $20," King said Tuesday evening, pulling a $20 bill from his pocket and pointing at President Andrew Jackson. "Y'know? Why would you want to change that? I am a conservative, I like to keep what we have."
The conservative gadfly said it is "racist" and "sexist" to say a woman or person of color should be added to currency. "Here's what's really happening: This is liberal activism on the part of the president that's trying to identify people by categories, and he's divided us on the lines of groups. ... This is a divisive proposal on the part of the president, and mine's unifying. It says just don't change anything."

UPDATE 2

 The House Rules Committee denied floor consideration of the proposal Tuesday night.


2 comments:

  1. Harriet Tubman - a black, gun toting Republican who outwitted and shot Democrats. I'm not sure that the SJWs at the Treasury Department thought this through.

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  2. She also disobeyed laws and helped others do the same. She'll be the first non-politician, liberty-leaning individual on a bill. Hoping this is a trend.

    ReplyDelete