Wisconsin GOP candidate proposes doing away with weekends, dismisses MLK Day, Kwanzaa

A Wisconsin GOP state senator who once attempted to eliminate a state requirement that workers be given at least one day off per week and argued public employees should be forced work on Martin Luther King Day, has thrown his hat into the ring, challenging 13-term GOP Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI.).

Glenn Grothman announced his challenge this week in the heavily Republican district, bringing to the forefront his colorful history of proposals, according to Mother Jones.

In January, Grothman introduced legislation that would eliminate a state requirement that workers get at least one day off per week.

"Right now in Wisconsin, you're not supposed to work seven days in a row, which is a little ridiculous because all sorts of people want to work seven days a week," he told the Huffington Post.

Previously Grothman insisted that public employees should come to work on Martin Luther King Day.

"Let's be honest, giving government employees [time] off has nothing to do with honoring Martin Luther King Day and it's just about giving state employees another day off," he said. Further stating that he would be "shocked if you can find anybody doing service."

Grothman was similarly dismissive of Kwanzaa, a week-long harvest and gift-giving celebration celebrated by African-Americans, saying it was promoted by "white left-wingers who try to shove this down black people's throats in an effort to divide Americans."

Grothman also suggested that "almost no black people today care about" Kwanzaa.

Grothman has also proposed getting rid the state's equal pay bill aimed at gender pay equality, saying, "You could argue that money is more important for men."

He has also attempted to pare back a program that provides free birth control to women while promoting a bill that would have labeled single parenthood as "a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect."

[Photo Grothman state website]