Late last week, Gov. Robert Bentley stood before members of the Alabama Press Association and joked that the group has a way of reporting the “stupid” things he says. He followed that up by asking the group to “stop it.”

While everyone had a good laugh at the governor’s candor, it is true the state’s media and the new governor have been on rocky footing since his verbal snafus in early in his administration.

Well, the announcement this weekend, Bentley wants to examine the number of paid holidays state employees receive, and likely reduce the number of paid holidays, should be met with resounding applause; applause from everyone except state employees that is.

What comes out to just barely over one time each month, the state government shuts down for a holiday. And, it’s not just Christmas and Thanksgiving.

It’s Columbus Day, President’s Day, Mardi Gras and Jefferson Davis’ birthday. It’s both Memorial Days (Confederate and National) and Martin Luther King Jr. Day (unless you observe it as Robert E. Lee’s birthday).

The truth is, the list is far too long and is far out of whack from what the business sector allows. While state employees receive these 13 paid holidays each year, they also receive two weeks of vacation.

And, while we don’t bemoan the benefits state employees receive, it is time for every benefit, every pay scale, every purchase to be evaluated to help control spending at the state level.

The state employee advocates will fight such changes to the schedule. That’s fine. It’s their job.

But, their arguments no longer hold any water in a time when everyone, every business has to make sacrifices.

And, based on how many turned out to the re-enactment of Jefferson Davis’ inauguration last weekend, the holiday celebrating his birthday is one probably no one is going to miss.