A group of Tallahassee preachers led by the Rev. R. B. Holmes, vice chair of Gov. Rick Scott’s task force on the “stand your ground” self-defense law, on Tuesday called for a raise for state workers on moral grounds.
At Holmes’ Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, the preachers said they’re planning a faith-based rally at the Capitol during the upcoming legislative session to urge Scott and the Legislature to grant the first raises to state workers in six years.
Holmes wouldn’t say how much the raise should be or what part of the state budget it should come from.
“I think we leave that to the politicians,” he said. “They’re smarter than I am. What I’m trying to say is, ‘We need to do it.’ And they can find a way to do it instead of balancing the budget on the back of state employees.”
Holmes said he’d reached out to Sen. Bill Montford and Rep. Alan Williams, both Democrats from Tallahassee, and that he was sure Scott, Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford – all Republicans – would “listen to the voice of reason…I have a lot of good Republican friends in the Legislature,” he said. “This is a bipartisan effort.”
Holmes last month wrote to the three state leaders but has not heard back. The preachers plan to gather letters of support from other churches throughout the state and organize a rally at the capital in March.
