South Carolina Senate Votes to Take Down Rebel Flag

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The push to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse is about to clear its first hurdle.

But even if a bill to bring down the rebel banner passes the state Senate as expected Tuesday, it faces a less certain future in the House.

Senators voted 37-3 Monday to take down the flag and the pole it flies on, both put up in 2000 as part of a compromise that led to the removal of the Confederate flag from atop the Statehouse dome. The vote was well over the two-thirds majority that'll be needed Tuesday to send the bill on to the House.

House Republicans struggled to reach a consensus behind closed doors Monday. Some, including Speaker Jay Lucas, haven't said how they'll vote.