Rep. Vicky Hartzler (a Republican. 202-225-2876 @rephartzler) introduced a resolution in the U.S. House this Tuesday asking Congress to disapprove a bill passed by the D.C. City Council (and signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser) that would allow discrimination against LGBT students attending religious schools. Reps. Bill Flores and Mark Meadows (both Republicans) signed on as co-sponsors to the resolution: Hartzler said in a statement released on Wednesday:
“By passing this act, the D.C. City Council has infringed on the fundamental right of religious freedom. No faith-based school should be forced to endorse, fund, or sponsor groups that do not share their beliefs.”
Hartzler refers to the D.C. Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014, which was passed by the Council in December and signed by Bowser in January which calls for repealing a provision in the D.C. Human Rights Act enacted by Congress in 1989 that exempts religious schools from having to comply with the Human Rights Act’s ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Under congressional procedures for passing disapproval resolutions, both the House and Senate must pass and POTUS must sign during a 30 legislative day congressional review period. That period ends on May 1. Ian Thompson, legislative rep for the ACLU, which is lobbying against the resolutions says…
“Everyone knows they will not succeed in this process because President Obama is not going to sign these resolutions.”
Thompson and other opponents of these resolutions says that supporters of the resolutions most likely are using them to grandstand and get support for their ultimate objective, which is to kill the bills by persuading Congress to attach an amendment to the D.C. appropriations bill blocking the city from implementing the two measures. This has a chance of succeeding, as President Obama would be less likely to veto the city’s appropriations bill. The appropriations or “budget” bill is needed to fund all of the city’s agencies and programs – even though most of the funds come from D.C. taxpayers.
All of this is more right-wing road-blocks set up by the GOP and their do-nothing ways. I came across this meme that sums up their strategy and thesis very nicely, I think. It has nothing to do with this bill and EVERYTHING to do with the reality of 2015. Post a message on Twitter (her handle is in the headline already) or call Rep. Vicki Hartzler and let her know how you feel. 202-225-2876. @rephartzler
(via Washington Blade)
The post #LGBT: More “Faith-Based” Gay Discrimination Introduced By @RepHartzler Into The U.S. House appeared first on World of Wonder.