November 6, 2007
Employment Non-Discrimination Act update
Despite the information that was given by the leadership on the Hill that ENDA would come up for the floor vote today, it went to the Rules committee yesterday for a floor vote on Wednesday or Thursday.
The Baldwin Amendment was ruled in order by the Rules committee. However, lest anyone be mistaken that this offers hope, this is what will happen: it will be offered onto the floor, Rep Tammy Baldwin will speak to the amendment, there will be no vote on the amendment, there will no debate, no one else will speak to it, it will be withdrawn. The whole process will take 10 minutes.
This morning, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Education Association, the United Auto Workers, the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees and a number of other groups sent an open letter to Members of Congress stating their support for the non-inclusive 3685 ENDA bill. In HRC's case, this stance replaces their previous stance of neither supporting nor opposing a non-inclusive 3685.
United ENDA's position on the non-inclusive 3685 has not changed. It is unacceptable and must be withdrawn. If it is not withdrawn, then it must be voted down. Your representative should vote NO on HR 3685.
Concentrated efforts by United ENDA continue with a goal of getting the bill pulled, or defeated if not pulled.
