ENDA vote postponed again

[IndianaGreen]

ENDA vote postponed again

Trans amendment divides Dems; some say bill in trouble

LOU CHIBBARO JR
Friday, November 02, 2007

House Democratic leaders this week put off a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act for the second week in a row, raising questions about whether the bill is in jeopardy over a dispute about a proposed transgender amendment.

Democratic leaders were scrambling to reconcile competing concerns by moderate to conservative Democratic House members, who do not want to vote on an amendment to add transgender protections to the bill, and liberal Democrats, who have threatened to vote against ENDA if it does not include trans protections, according to Capitol Hill sources.

<snip>

The uncertainty over the gay-only version follows reports late last week that the Democratic leadership had decided not to allow gay Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) to introduce an amendment to restore transgender protections to ENDA, reversing an earlier decision to allow the amendment.

<snip>

The decision to remove the trans provision prompted more than 300 gay and transgender advocacy groups from across the country to call on Congress to oppose any form of ENDA that does not include trans protections.

http://washingtonblade.com/2007/11-2/news/national/11485.cfm