House Considering ENDA Vote?

There could be some serious movement on a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). House Democrats are seriously "considering" taking up a vote on and preparing for what could be a "potentially divisive social debate", according to Roll Call.

Democrats behind the push, led by House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), one of three openly gay Members, are already surveying their ranks to determine support for the measure, with the aim of approving it by the end of May. The House cleared a version of the legislation in 2007 with a wide margin padded by support from 35 Republicans. But that bill did not extend employment protections to transgender people, after proponents determined they couldn’t wrangle majority backing for that approach.

This time, Democratic leaders are committed to pursuing a discrimination ban that includes transgender people, lawmakers and staff said. And they believe that rapidly shifting politics surrounding gay rights, nudged along on the transgender issue by an aggressive lobbying campaign by advocates, will help them win the day. But the push faces resistance from a so-far-unknown number of Democrats, mostly from rural, socially conservative districts. Many of these lawmakers are eager to avoid what they consider a tough vote — pitting a sizable chunk of their constituency against base voters and wealthy donors — in an already challenging re-election environment.

The House passed a non-inclusive ENDA (= no transgender protections) by a vote of 235 to 184 in November 2007.

There are 199 co-sponsors for the current version, including six Republicans, which is very close to clearing the 216 hurdle. But ...

One House Republican leadership aide said Democrats are proceeding with the ban, officially the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, at their own political peril. “The fact that the Democrat leadership are about to make 60-plus vulnerable Members vote for transgendered protections shows just how out of touch Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi [D-Calif.] is with the reality facing these Members,” this aide said, predicting the provision would prompt the majority to lose the support of Republicans who backed it in the last Congress.

Then there is this piece in CQ, where Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer signals the House is "likely to consider" ENDA and/or "Don't ask, Don't Tell." "Both of these issues are not new issues," Hoyer said. "And I frankly think that they’re going to be resolved, and I think the American public is there as well."

ENDA and DADT repeal enjoy popular public support and a near majority in the House. But yet here we are ...

Comments

[Talarico]

I surely hope so, if we dont get moving on ENDA now, it could be years. The Dems wont be able to do anything once they've lost some seats, plus they'll be gearing up for the president's re-election. And I am sooooo sure it wouldnt be happening then even if it could, in a House and Senate with fewer Dem seats.

A fine situation we're in. Let's press forward and hope for the best.

[Cederico]

They need to vote this year I agree. But they are really pushing it with including the transgender part. They could get the gay, lesbian, bi discrimination passed easily as public opinion is totally in favor. But the transgender part is super tricky.