Senator Toomey supported a cloture vote on Employer Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) debate Monday night, which moves the bill closer to Senate passage.
Toomey joins a few other Senate Republicans and every Senate Democrat voting in support of advancing the bill to a formal vote. Earlier today, his position remained “undecided” as he received pressure from LGBT groups and was the recipient of an open letter from State Rep. Brian Sims, which was published in the Huffington Post.
Monday evening, Toomey issued the following statement, moving his position from undecided to supportive:
“I have long believed that more legal protections are appropriate to prevent employment discrimination based on sexual orientation,” he said. “So I believe the Employment Non-Discrimination Act contains very important provisions. However, I also believe it should be improved, especially as it pertains to religious organizations. I voted to move forward with debate on ENDA with the hope that the Senate will take up amendments – including one that I plan to offer – to address this important aspect of the proposed law.”
The bill already provides religious exemptions, which helped it gain the support of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
”Today’s bipartisan Senate vote to take up and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is an important step to ensure employees are judged on their performance, rather than who they are.” Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) wrote on Facebook, “Workers should be judged on the quality of the job they do, nothing more, nothing less. Speaker Boehner should commit to bringing this bill to the House floor before the end of the year and allowing an up or down vote.”
ENDA now has the backing of 60 senators, making filibuster impossible and guaranteeing its passage when the final vote is called. However, it is unlikely to pass so quickly in the House where Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has called the it “frivolous,” and has not displayed any inclination to add it to the legislative schedule.
Representative Sims voiced his appreciation for the Senate’s action last night on his Facebook page.
“In 29 states, including Pennsylvania, employees can be fired from their job because of their sexual orientation. But tonight, the US Senate took the first significant step toward ending the ability to discriminate on that basis,” he wrote. “I would like to especially thank Senators Casey and Toomey of Pennsylvania for their “aye” votes. Although this is just the first of many hurdles this legislation faces, I am proud that America is moving forward toward equality for everyone.”
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6 Responses
Poe’s Law is a tricky thing. With any luck, we will eventually get redistricting reform enacted and the fringe will, once again, recede into laughable obscurity.
“Tell me the last time Casey deviated from the Harry Reid and Barack Obama radical left position.”
I can’t figure out if you are an imposter trying to make Republicans look bad, or if you are a … well, you can guess the other possibility.
@ Discogeek. Tell me the last time Casey deviated from the Harry Reid and Barack Obama radical left position. It’s always the GOP that has to bend. Toomey also tried to weasel out on the background checks. Taking advantage of the deaths of those poor kids in Newtown to try and score political points like any scumbag Dem would.
Lawl… Patrick is one of those “anyone only 99.7% with me is my enemy” type of Tea Partiers. Toomey being a liberal is beyond laughable.
Weasel!! Another jobs bill for the Plaintiff’s Bar. Me and my 40 family members all Republican will be withholding our votes for Senator Spector….I mean Toomey.
It is pleasantly surprising how moderate Toomey turned out to be as compared to his rhetoric. I wonder if he now has a different view of Arlen Specter now from wearing his shoes a few years.