Civil & Human Rights

U.S. Senate to bring ENDA to a vote – contact Sen. Jeff Flake

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Steve Benen reports today,
Senate readies ENDA for floor vote:

Back in July, the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee easily approved
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), 15 to 7. Since then,
however, there’s been little action – Congress was out in August, and by
September, the prospect of a government shutdown and/or debt-ceiling
crisis dominated the landscape.

But with the crises having past, at least for now, senators are once again returning to the issue.

The Senate’s partisan balance will move a tick to the left
Thursday, when Cory Booker takes his seat as the 55th member of the
Democratic caucus. And the New Jersey newcomer looks increasingly likely
to make a bit of history befitting his national profile only a few days
later, by providing an essential vote to advance the most important
civil rights bill of the decade.

Legislation that would prohibit workplace discrimination
based on sexual orientation or gender identity is on the cusp of
securing a filibuster-crushing supermajority of 60 senators – close
enough that proponents are ready to call the question.

New Jersey’s Cory Booker (D) will be sworn in on Thursday, and by Roll Call’s count, that will bring the total number of ENDA supporters in the chamber to 56, including a handful of Republicans.

That wouldn’t be quite enough to overcome a far-right
filibuster, but proponents believe a lobbying push can secure the
remaining support necessary to overcome obstructionism and allow the
Senate to vote up or down on the proposal. Indeed, the lobbying campaign
will reportedly focus on Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Kelly Ayotte
(R-N.H.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.),
and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). Flake voted for a previous version of ENDA in
the House several years ago, and Portman, who has an openly gay son, has
endorsed marriage equality.

Hawaii Special Session for SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act begins today

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I know that "Birthers" think Hawaii is some exotic foreign country rather than the 50th state, and the American media tends to disregard news from Hawaii because its time zone does not coincide with their broadcasts or print deadlines, but there is news happening in Hawaii this week that deserves the media's attention. Here is the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today:

Star-Advertiser

The Special Session of the Hawaii Legislature for SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act begins today.
Fervent assemblies precede session (subscription required).

The Hawaii Reporter does not require a subscription. Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor to Hold Hearing on Marriage Equality Bill:

The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor will hold a hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 1, Relating to Equal Rights, on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the State Capitol Auditorium.

The hearing will follow the convening of the Second Special Session of 2013 called by Governor Neil Abercrombie.

“Listening to public input, we’ve strived to strike a balance between
the concerns expressed by both sides of this issue,” said Senator
Clayton Hee, Chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor. “We
have also done our best to provide the public with ample opportunity to
review the measure posted online to offer further input. Everyone
wishing to participate may do so by submitting testimony.”

Cindy McCain petitions her husband to support ENDA

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Cindy McCain who, unlike her angry old man husband, Sen. John McCain, has been a strong and vocal supporter of equal rights for women and gays, was asked to sign a petition this past week in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that is awaiting action in Congress. Cindy McCain petitions husband to back gay rights bill:

Cindyenda-186x300Call it a bold canvassing move that paid off: An organizer for the Human Rights Campaign
asked Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) wife Cindy to sign a postcard
Thursday urging the senator to back legislation barring workplace
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

She signed it.

The senator has never supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act,
which passed a Senate committee in July and could come to the floor for
a vote soon. A bipartisan coalition  has dispatched field organizers in
seven states across the country to mobilize constituents on behalf of
the bill, and HRC has collected "tens of thousands of postcards" as part
of the effort, according to HRC spokesman Michael Cole-Schwartz.

Arizona is a key state, since activists are targeting both McCain and
his fellow Republican Sen. Jeff Flake; McCain has opposed the bill in
the past, while Flake has not voted on the issue since taking office in
January.

Hawaii Special Session begins on Monday for SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

EqualHawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie has called for a Special Session of the Hawaii Legislature beginning on Monday for SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act.

State Rep. Richard Lee Fale has posted the following information about the Special Session. October Special Session Update:

My office has received a lot of calls about the special session that
the governor has called, beginning October 28. This communication is
going out to answer questions about how you can be involved in the
scheduled special session. I want to be clear, I do not agree with the
Governor's decision to call a special session. I believe it is a
reckless and forced attempt to push major legislation without ample time
for review and public input. That being said, the constitution allows
the governor to call a special session. Therefore, if you want to have
your voice heard on the same gender marriage issue, you will need to
speak up during this special session.

How to Submit Testimony

If you are interested in submitting testimony on SB1- Hawaii Marriage Equity Act here are some guidelines:

  1. Testimony needs to be submitted BEFORE 10:30AM Sunday, Oct 27.
  2. Testimony can be submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee. You will first need to create an account on the www.capitol.hawaii.gov website.
  3. Click here to create an account, so that you can submit testimony.
  4. Click here for hearing notice instructions and links. Testimony may be submitted by email, fax, or on the Internet.

Committees that will hear Senate Bill 1 (SB1)

Senate Bill 1 – SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act is scheduled to be
heard by the following committees. You can also express your views on
SB1 by contacting the members of the following committees:

  • Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor
    Clayton Hee, Chair
    Click here for the members of this committee.
  • House Judiciary Committee
    Click here for the members of this committee.
  • House Finance Committee
    Click here for the members of this committee.

President Obama on immigration reform: ‘Let’s see if we can get it done this year’

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Today, President Obama joined leaders from business, labor, and faith
communities in support of comprehensive immigration reform.

Remarks by the President on Immigration Reform (excerpts):

Today I’m here with leaders from business, from labor, from faith
communities who are united around one goal — finishing the job of
fixing a broken immigration system.

This is not just an idea whose time has come; this is an idea whose
time has been around for years now.  Leaders like all of you have worked
together with Republicans and Democrats in this town in good faith for
years to try to get this done.  And this is the moment when we should be
able to finally get the job done.

* * *

We should pass immigration reform.  It’s good for our economy.  It’s
good for our national security.  It’s good for our people.  And we
should do it this year.

Everybody knows that our current immigration system is broken. 
Across the political spectrum, people understand that.  We’ve known it
for years.  It’s not smart to invite some of the brightest minds from
around the world to study here and then not let them start businesses
here — we send them back to their home countries to start businesses
and create jobs and invent new products someplace else. 

It’s not fair to businesses and middle-class families who play by the
rules when we allow companies that are trying to undercut the rules
work in the shadow economy, to hire folks at lower wages or no benefits,
no overtime, so that somehow they get a competitive edge from breaking
the rules.  That doesn’t make sense. 

It doesn’t make sense to have 11 million people who are in this
country illegally without any incentive or any way for them to come out
of the shadows, get right with the law, meet their responsibilities and
permit their families then to move ahead.  It’s not smart.  It’s not
fair.  It doesn’t make sense.  We have kicked this particular can down
the road for too long.