Wed Oct 30, 2013 at 06:57 AM PDT
ENDA just one vote shy of a filibuster-proof margin in the Senate
attribution: REUTERS
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) will support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mark Kirk of Illinois are already cosponsors, while Orrin Hatch of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted for the bill in committee; they're part of the 59 votes now expected. As for the rest:
First up is Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who told reporters Tuesday that he’s “inclined to back” the proposal. A spokesman later clarified that Portman “agrees with the underlying principle” of the measure, but is seeking changes to address concerns with the bill’s religious liberties provisions. [...] But [Arizona Sen. Jeff] Flake said a statement late Tuesday that even though he supported a 2007 version of the measure, the new Senate version “includes new provisions that will increase the potential for litigation and compliance costs, especially for small businesses. For that reason, I oppose the Senate bill.”There aren't too many people who've taken steps backward on gay rights since 2007, so Flake is at least making himself stand out, I guess? Meanwhile, Portman's religious liberties concerns look a lot like an excuse to give himself wiggle room, since ENDA has serious religious exemptions already:
Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey, New Hampshire's Kelly Ayotte, and Nevada's Dean Heller—Republicans who've supported some LGBT-friendly policies in the past—are all still thinking it over. 9:11 AM PT: Make it one vote shy! West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, until now the lone Democratic holdout, will vote for ENDA. Post has been edited to reflect that.
- A complete exemption for houses of worship, parochial and similar religious schools, and missions
- A codification of the so-called “ministerial exemption” recognized by many federal courts, exempting positions at religious organizations that involve the teaching or spreading religion, religious governance, or the supervision of individuals engaged in these activities
- A provision allowing religious organizations, for classes of jobs, to require employees and applicants to conform to a declared set of significant religious tenets, including ones which would bar LGBT people from holding the position
No comments:
Post a Comment