On Thursday, the Senate passed the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), 64-32. Subject to broad exemptions for religious institutions, the bill prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity. RINOcracy.com salutes the ten Republicans who voted in favor of the bill:
Kelly Ayotte (N.H.)
Susan Collins (Maine)
Jeff Flake (Ariz.)
Orrin G. Hatch (Utah)
Dean Heller (Nev.)
Mark Kirk (Ill.)
John McCain (Ariz.)
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Rob Portman (Ohio)
Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.).
The prospect of the bill in the House is uncertain at best. Speaker Boehner has expressed his opposition on the grounds that it would lead to “frivolous litigation” that would unduly burden employers. While that view may be shared by a number of his colleagues, it is simply not borne out by the experience of states that have enacted similar legislation.
Passage of the bill is not only warranted on its merits, it is the right thing to do politically. As reported in The Washington Post last week: “Nearly all recent opinion polls indicate that a large majority of the American public — more than 70 percent — supports efforts to make employment discrimination against gay men and and lesbians illegal.” Thus support for the bill would be a significant step for the Republican Party in attempting to reach out beyond its ever-shrinking constituency.
I was surprised that Lindsey Graham did not sign ENDA. Did he give a statement of his reasons?
Thanks, Doug. It is valuable for independent voters among your readers to know which Republicans are more forward-thinking on social issues. Interesting to note that none of the senators listed are from the Deep South. Reminds me that when I was a much younger person the Deep South was heavily Democratic, and a real weight holding back the Democrat factions that was more change and progress-oriented. Now that seems to be more a Republican problem.
I am not aware of a statement by Graham.
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