Fight over LGBT provision threatens to stall defense bill when Congress returns

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post

By Karoun Demirjian October 25 at 6:15 AM

Senate Democrats are insisting that negotiators drafting a final defense policy bill leave out a provision that would allow federal contractors to discriminate against workers on the basis of sexual or gender orientation, an issue that could become a major political fight in the post-election “lame-duck” session.

“Our government should have no part in funding discrimination,” reads a letter penned by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and signed by 42 Democrats and independents – enough to filibuster the defense bill if they hold the line. It is being delivered to the chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

The letter comes just two weeks before lawmakers are expected back in Washington for a lame-duck session, when Congress will be under a serious time crunch to pass the annual legislation that authorizes military programs. Negotiators came close to striking a deal on the measure before Congress left town in September ahead of the election, but came up short on a handful of provisions, including what do to about the sage grouse and how to handle LGBT protections.

Democrats are not explicitly threatening to filibuster the bill if it contains the LGBT provision, but the number of senators signing on to the letter makes it clear that is an option. “This letter sends a message about how strongly and widely-held our belief is that this amendment would seriously jeopardize existing important workplace non-discrimination provisions,” said Blumenthal, a member of the Armed Services Committee and the conference committee negotiating the final defense bill.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/10/25/fight-over-lgbt-provision-threatens-to-stall-defense-bill-when-congress-returns/?wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1

[Coolest Ranger]

1. This is why we need to flip the senate

[lark]

2. Oe of many, many reasons.

GOTV, keep the presidency, retake the Senate, reduce House Repugs. If we can do these, what a wonderful year it will.

[AllyCat]

3. Democrats not threatening to filibuster the bill...if there is a use for the filibuster, this is it!

Of course, they should filibuster this POS. Jeez.

[DK504]

5. the senate

Of course they won't threaten, these Senate Dems are the most spineless people I have ever seen. All it would take is for 1, just one of these Senators to put a block on the bill and that alone would shut it down. I would love to see the defense bill stopped in its tracks and watch the generals whine.

[sarcasmo]

4. Republicans full of hate, thanks religion.