Here comes the ERA again!

[CTyankee]

Here's a portion of an email I received from the ERA campaign that is pursuing a 3 state strategy to obtain the remaining states needed to ratify the ERA, picking up where it was left off back in the 80s. If you are in Illinois, Arkansas or Florida, you will find this exciting! For more info on the campaign go to www.eracampaign.net/


ENCOURAGING PROGRESS
IN ERA RATIFICATION CAMPAIGNS!

With just three more states needed to ratify to achieve the necessary 38:

In ILLINOIS, ratification in 2006?

Gayle Guthrie, ERA Campaign Network Illinois Coordinator and head of ERA Illinois, reports that the extensive coalition working for ERA ratification in that state has been making major progress in working toward ERA ratification by both houses of the current legislature before the end of 2006! (In the previous legislature, the House of Representatives, in a decisive bipartisan vote, passed their ERA ratification resolution, and the Senate came very close to passing it.) To contact Gayle Guthrie, e-mail [e-mail], or telephone [phone].

In ARKANSAS, ratification in 2007?

Berta Seitz, our Arkansas Coordinator, reports that the ERA ratification campaign is well organized, and is growing strongly, with a high level of bipartisan support in women's organizations, among state legislators, and in the state's administration. While the legislature does not meet in 2006, there are rising hopes for ERA ratification in 2007! (In 2005, before the campaign for the ERA had built a strong organization, Arkansas came just two short of the number of votes needed to ratify.) Contact Berta Seitz, e-mail [e-mail], tel. [phone].

In FLORIDA, ratification getting closer!

Sandy Oestreich, our Florida Coordinator and head of another organization, Florida ERA, Inc., reports:

"The ERA is growing a life of its own in Florida. Many major groups are taking it up in a serious way. We have ERA speakers all over the state. ERA ratification bills have been filed in both the current legislature's houses, and we are often in Tallahassee (the state capital) to forward the ERA cause. The goal this legislative session is 75 bill cosponsors out of 160 legislators. We hope all Florida's gubernatorial candidates match the enthusiasm for the ERA shown by Florida Senator Rod Smith, who says he 'will lead the fight for Florida's ratification.' The restructured ERA Inc. campaign is growing rapidly, and thus has an increasing need for funds, particularly to help cover the expenses of college student volunteers, and to hire a paid lobbyist who could greatly help in reaching all the legislators and putting the ERA over the top. Please e-mail [e-mail] to find out how to make contributions to ERA Inc., or to Florida's ERA Education Fund, Inc. 501(c)3. As long as the rapidly dwindling supply permits, a contribution of $25 will bring you a Someday a Woman Will be President doll."

These Florida ERA organizations can be reached by e-mail, [e-mail], or telephone [phone]. Note: Sandy Oestreich will speak on the ERA at BPW/USA's upcoming Policy and Action Conference (see below).

Tara Laxer, the ERA Campaign Network's second Florida coordinator (e-mail [e-mail]) is also hard at work, arranging events promoting the ERA such as one this month at Florida American University in Boca Raton.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. That would be an interesting development. nt.

[Burning Water]

2. I thought that

the ERA was time-limited, in that all ratifications had to be obtained within something like 7 years. Am I wrong about that?

[wakeme2008]

3. It was time limited

but I do not know what these ppl are doing. Maybe if they get those three states onboard they can bring it up under a Dem Pres. in 2008

[China_cat]

4. Not possible.

When the time ran out without ratification it was clearly spelled out that it would have to be re-presented and go through the whole process again.

It is the ONLY amendment to ever be limited in this way.

[CTyankee]

5. Actually, it may not be and the reason why is because

after the ERA debacle a final state voted to ratify an amendment that had been rattling around for over a century (on an obscure subject). If ratification could take place for that amendment, the reasoning goes, it should also be possible for the ERA. The people at ERA Campaign know that they could lose on this so they have another plan for starting over (clearly a tough option to pursue). I don't blame them for trying this one first.

Why not? What have we got to lose as progressives? Why not be proactive, instead of defensive, all the time?

Carpe diem!!

[Silverhair]

6. That other amendment was not time limited.

It was concerning congressional pay raises, and forbids a congress from raising it's own pay. It was one of the original set of amendments proposed to the constitution, and so was over 200 years old. But it never had a time limit in part of it's language.

The ERA was time limited to seven years, then during the Carter administration another 3.5 years was added. When the total of 10.5 years ran out under Reagan, the amendment died. It has been dead over 20 years.

Also involved is the question of is a state can withdraw ratification prior to final ratification. Several states withdrew their ratification, before the time ran out. Whether they can do that or not is an open legal question that would have to go to the SCOTUS. Bush's SCOTUS.

These folks are just butting their heads against a brick wall.

[Solo_in_MD]

10. Concur

Also most if not all of the practical goals that were used as justification have been accomplished through other means. What would be changed if it was indeed passed? Is it purely symbolic at this point?

[CTyankee]

11. Well, for some reason

behold, these bold women are charging forward. I wonder what you know that they don't know. Perhaps you can inform them.

I do know from their emails is that they have the "start over" process in place in case this one doesn't work. I don't know the particulars of their case on this 3 state offense, but don't you think it is a place to fight and NOT give up?

Or maybe you really don't want to?

[wakeme2008]

7. Maybe I was not clear

IF these three states come onboard and with a Dem President/House/Senate, IMHO they could resubmit it through the process using these states as a reason it would pass now.

[Burning Water]

8. This sounds like

a scam to me. I will say no more.

[ruggerson]

9. There is no amendment to ratify

no state is going to ratify something that doesn't exist.

The ERA died years ago, as it was a time limited amendment.

The only way to get the ERA ratified is to re start the entire process, which begins in Congress.

[CTyankee]

12. Not really.

Not if these doughty women can succeed. This is a grass roots group of women in many states that have gathered together to face down oppression and organize for women at the grass root level.

Why are we all not cheering?!

[Zynx]

13. What he is saying is that because of the time limit imposed on it

that it would need to be passed by Congress again in order to start the process over.

[CTyankee]

14. So these women have no help of success?

Thanks folks. As progressives you have really shown your support. How nice to hear from you that the ERA is not going to happen, forget about it, blah blah blah.

OK. I get it. I really do. Go on about your business and forget about women's rights. It's a joke, right? YOu think it's funny, right value? Hmmn.

[ruggerson]

15. I'm all for an equal rights amendment

but these women should be trying to get one passed in Congress, which is where it has to start.

If you want to pass a federal constitutional amendment, rule number one is to learn how to the process works.

[Zynx]

16. Exactly. This isn't whether we support it or not.

This is a matter of procedure.

[CTyankee]

18. What makes you think these women haven't done their homeworK?

Methinks you know that they could be right and so you try condescension. How boring of you to use such a quaint tactic that women figured out was a sham a long time ago!

Here is a brief summation from their website:

Thus the "3-state strategy" was launched, recognizing the likelihood of opposition from those who still oppose equal rights for women, but buoyed by authoritative analyses supporting its legal validity. Today, the 3-state strategy is gaining more and more attention, and a major new activist push for the ERA is growing rapidly.

Vigorous ratification drives are well underway in Illinois (which came very close to ratification in 2004), Florida and Missouri, with many of the other not-yet-ratified states, including Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, building support for their own ratification drives.

In addition, many ERA proponents in Congress are taking action. In the 109th Congress, installed in January, 2005, Rep. Carolyn Maloney reintroduced the ERA (as H.J.Res.37) in the House of Representatives, with 184 cosponsors by 12/6/05, and Sen. Edward Kennedy reintroduced the ERA (as S.J.Res.7) in the Senate, with 18 cosponsors as of 12/6/05. In addition, Rep. Robert Andrews reintroduced his ERA resolution (as H.Res. 155), requiring the House to take any legislative action necessary to verify that the addition of three more state ratifications will fulfill the requirement to add the ERA to the U.S. Constitution; it has 16 cosponsors as of 12/6/05.


So Ruggerson, if you want to argue with the feminists who are working on this campaign, rule number one is to know what you are talking about instead of pulling "clever" quips out of your nether regions.

[jberryhill]

17. Ummm...

If I believed that doing the Chicken Dance would ratify the ERA, would you do the Chicken Dance with me?

Would you get angry at people who don't dance along with us?

[CTyankee]

19. Another "clever" fellow!

Gee, you guys have all the smart arguments! The Chicken Dance argument! How scintillating in its brilliant explication of constitutional law!

Hee hee.:rofl: