Breaking: In Historic Vote, Senate Passes ENDA

[Coyotl]

Source: The New Civil Rights Movement

In an historic vote not taken since 1996, the U.S. Senate just voted on and passed ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Only a simple majority of “ayes” were needed to pass the bill.

....

Republicans voting for the bill included Senators McCain, Flake, Toomey, Portman, Hatch, Ayotte, Murkowski, and Collins.

Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were among those voting no.

Just after noon today, Senators defeated the Toomey Amendment, which would have vastly increased the number and types of businesses exempt from ENDA, greatly weakening the legislation. That vote was 55-43.

Read more: http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking-in-historic-vote-senate-passes-enda/politics/2013/11/07/78279#.Unvny424n7A

---

Historic moment as voting continues. Now at 64-32. Bill is passed this minute (on edit as I type).

***** LIVE Senate debate on ENDA *****
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023995824

[William769]

1. Senate Approves ENDA on Initial Vote

In a procedural vote intended to conclude debate, the Senate voted in favor of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit employers from firing, refusing to hire, or declining to promote a worker simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

A bipartisan coalition of 64 senators voted to move ENDA forward, clearing the way for an affirmative final vote, expected to occur around 1:45 p.m. Eastern today. 33 Republican Senators cast "no" votes against the bill.

All 55 Senate Democrats voted to move the bill forward, as did nine Republicans, including a surprise "aye" vote from Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

As debate came to a close Thursday afternoon, senators voted down an amendment from Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey that would have expanded the number of groups and individuals who could discriminate against LGBT people based on religious beliefs failed by a vote of 43-55.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2013/11/07/breaking-senate-approves-enda-initial-vote

[katmondoo]

8. Good news but will it end in the House

May not even come up for a vote in the House.

[Myrina]

10. What would happen if the House tacked the RTW amendment onto it & passed it?

Would it have to go back to the Senate because of the amendment?

Thx.

[KamaAina]

15. Yup.

And it's not a certainty that the Senate would kill that.

[Myrina]

17. Can the Senate reject the Amendment or Amended version?

This is NOT making me feel all warm & fuzzy.

[Coyotl]

19. Conference Committee is likely.

If they amend in a manner favorable, Senate could pass that version. Then it would go to Obama for signing into law.

[William769]

11. I don't think so.

Te republicans are over a barrel right now and are walking in the desert. when it comes to 2016 they need to tread carefully & they know it.

Read this. http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/11/06/reid-confident-endas-chances-senate/

[SoapBox]

9. I've never understood, how you can legislate to discriminate against Americans?

"...senators voted down an amendment from Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey that would have expanded the number of groups and individuals who could discriminate against LGBT people based on religious beliefs failed by a vote of 43-55." Excellent!

Let's see...I have a partner of 30 years...he runs a business we own...I returned to work for my employer of 28 years...we take care of my 92 (almost 93!) year old Mom, in our home...we walk the dog twice a day!...we pay all taxes that show up on our paychecks as well as our property taxes and sales taxes...

And these TeaPukeGarbageBagger types want me to be fired and tossed from our house (which we own).

Explain THAT to all of America, in a nationwide broadcast on all channels! Let's hear it!

ya...right.

[William769]

12. No argument from me.

[bitchkitty]

45. Only twice a day! Shame on you!

My dog made me write that.

[Ruby the Liberal]

36. Bill - help me understand

Does this make LGBT a true protected class, or is this just employment discrimination?

[William769]

37. ENDA

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is legislation proposed in the United States Congress that would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by civilian, nonreligious employers with at least 15 employees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENDA

I am by no means a expert on the subject, but to me it just deals with employment discrimination.

I hope this helps.

[Ruby the Liberal]

39. Yeah, it helps.

Just not what I wanted to hear. Protected class filters through to housing, banking, and a gazillion other segments of society.

Baby steps, I guess. Meh.

back

[msongs]

2. so does it have religion discrimination against gays as a poison pill item? nt

[William769]

3. Read post #1. nt

[YOHABLO]

47. well it says that Tomey wanted to expand the religious exemptions .. so there are those in place.

I gather that means any religious institution has the right to ask about sexual orientation, and fire someone because they are gay, bi, trans etc. Most importantly are the many Hospitals that are religiously affiliated such as the Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodists, Baptists and Jewish Hospitals .. many of which are anti-homosexuality, but are anti-abortion as well. Now these hospitals are partially funded by tax payer money .. so how can this stand? In any case, I don't think it will make it through the House .. not with these right-wing wackO's. I say stick a finger to their noses and say: oh no you don't .. you will not discriminate .. or we cut your ass off.

[Coyotl]

6. The amendment that would have allowed any business getting a church flyer to discriminate failed.

It was a piece of total crap as written lacking a definition of the key term religious affiliation.

The version that passed does allow religious organizations to follow their beliefs. This means that Baptists won't be forced to hire gay preachers, etc., but noone engaged in commerce will have any exclusion.

[pinto]

4. +1

[SoapBox]

5. "Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were among those voting no."

WELL of course they did! Why would we expect anything different...they just LOVE to discriminate against Americans!

[Coyotl]

7. MSNBC: ‘Let the bells of freedom ring’—Senate passes ENDA

‘Let the bells of freedom ring’—Senate passes ENDA
By Emma Margolin - 11/07/13 - http://www.msnbc.com/news-nation/let-the-bells-freedom-ring

Senate lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill banning workplace discrimination against LGBT individuals in a historic, albeit nominal, victory four decades in the making.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed its final vote in the full Senate 64-32, just three days after its first since 1996, when a similar measure failed but just one vote. The full Senate would not vote again on a workplace protection bill for gays and lesbians until this past Monday, when lawmakers voted to begin debate. It was 1974 when Congress first saw a bill of this kind.

Signs of the measure becoming law were stunted earlier in the week, however, when Speaker John Boehner voiced his opposition on the grounds that it would cost small business and create “frivolous litigation.”

Despite there being little chance of seeing an ENDA vote before the GOP-controlled House, Senate leaders still championed the progress and laid out arguments for Republican opponents to change course.

“Let the bells of freedom ring,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley, who along with Republican Sen. Mark Kirk introduced the legislation ........

[Lobo27]

13. I read that minority leader was trying to attach Union busting legislation to the bill.

Anyone know if any of that made it through, or was that simply the Toomey thing.

[Coyotl]

14. Your link to that please.

[Lobo27]

16. Video!!!

[Coyotl]

20. Good video. Yeah, that did not happen. This clown (McConnell) is irrelevant.

[Mass]

18. No. It did not even made it to the floor. Only Toomey's amendment was voted upon and rejected.

[beachbum bob]

21. to bad the house will not have a chance

to vote on it....boehner still appeases his fringe. Another issue for 2014 election.

[dbackjon]

22. Amazing both of my (Arizona) Senators voted yes

[Zorra]

43. Yeh, I was shocked! n

t

[BumRushDaShow]

23. K&R

[Peacetrain]

24. K&R

[Harry Monroe]

25. Whoopee!!

Now on to the House, where they will kill it. The old familiar pattern. Nothing will change, nothing. Excuse me for not expressing my enthusiasm here.

[Tx4obama]

26. Roll call LIST, link below

Here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00232

[Coyotl]

27. Thanks. I was going to post this too, but got distracted. Here are the NAYs:

NAYs ---32
Alexander (R-TN)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coats (R-IN)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Enzi (R-WY)
Fischer (R-NE)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (R-WI)
Lee (R-UT)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Paul (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rubio (R-FL)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

[Tx4obama]

28. And... Not Voting - 4

Not Voting - 4

Barrasso (R-WY)
Casey (D-PA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Sessions (R-AL)

[Recursion]

44. Casey was in his wife's hospital room

She was having heart surgery

[Maedhros]

29. Excellent news!

I canvassed door-to-door for ENDA and the Ryan White Care Act reauthorization in 1996. It's amazing that, seventeen years later, this battle is still having to be fought.

More fighting to be done, apparently.

[Tx4obama]

31. Yeah, great news - but mostly likely it will die in The House. n/t

[Maedhros]

33. Agreed. However, getting the bill passed in the Senate is a significant step forward.

As I said, there is more fighting to be done. RW culture warriors don't go down easy, even when their cause is lost.

[Coyotl]

38. The SWORMs can alienate their non-members even more.

Straight, White, Old, Rich, Men

[Tx4obama]

30. Statement by President Obama on Senate Passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 07, 2013

Statement by the President on Senate Passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013

For more than two centuries, the story of our nation has been the story of more citizens realizing the rights and freedoms that are our birthright as Americans. Today, a bipartisan majority in the Senate took another important step in this journey by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would help end the injustice of our fellow Americans being denied a job or fired just because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Just as no one in the United States can lose their job simply because of their race, gender, religion or a disability, no one should ever lose their job simply because of who they are or who they love.

Today’s victory is a tribute to all those who fought for this progress ever since a similar bill was introduced after the Stonewall riots more than three decades ago. In particular, I thank Majority Leader Reid, Chairman Harkin, Senators Merkley and Collins for their leadership, and Senator Kirk for speaking so eloquently in support of this legislation. Now it’s up to the House of Representatives. This bill has the overwhelming support of the American people, including a majority of Republican voters, as well as many corporations, small businesses and faith communities. They recognize that our country will be more just and more prosperous when we harness the God-given talents of every individual.

One party in one house of Congress should not stand in the way of millions of Americans who want to go to work each day and simply be judged by the job they do. Now is the time to end this kind of discrimination in the workplace, not enable it. I urge the House Republican leadership to bring this bill to the floor for a vote and send it to my desk so I can sign it into law. On that day, our nation will take another historic step toward fulfilling the founding ideals that define us as Americans.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/11/07/statement-president-senate-passage-employment-non-discrimination-act-201

[Purveyor]

32. And the teaparty House will take glee in shutting it down and seeing to it it goes no further. eom

[Faygo Kid]

34. Not even noted on Fox News website. Anywhere.

No, I don't surf there, but Media Matters claimed it wasn't reported, so I held my nose and went to the Faux website. Whaddaya know: It's not there. Anywhere, as of this writing, many hours after passage.

The FReepers live in their tightly controlled, hermetically sealed little world. They are doomed. We might not like the news out there, but we acknowledge it exists. They don't (see, e.g., climate change or evolution).

[Lil Missy]

35. But will it pass the House - probably not. n/t

[davidpdx]

40. It is a shame that the Senate did all this work

and that Republicans are going to once again double down and not even allow a vote. Every single House candidate should run ads against Republicans (especially incumbents) pointing out that they and their caucus are against ENDA.

I am almost positive if Boner let the bill up for a vote a few dozen Rs would cross the isle to vote for it.

[Coyotl]

41. I still think this will come up for a vote in the House.

Consider the donations aspect to this issue. They either bring it up or the money dries up.

[davidpdx]

42. I don't know

The Republicans have pretty consistently blocked bills or budgets by just keeping them from coming to a vote. I hope I'm wrong, but I just have a feeling they are going to stay with the same strategy.

[ReRe]

46. Great news, but...

... we all know it won't even make it to the floor of the House until after a House sweep next fall for Democrats.

................ 2014! 2014! 2014! 2014! 2014! 2014! 2014! 2014! 2014! 2014! ................

[YOHABLO]

48. That would be a beautiful thing!

[Beacool]

49. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were among those voting no.

I'm shocked I tell you, shocked!!!

Historic moment which will be killed by Rafael and Marco's buddies in the House.