Archive for November 13th, 2007

Last week the U.S. House voted by 235 to 184 to pass the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (ENDA). Sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Peoples Republic of Massachusetts), the bill seeks to make it illegal for employers to discriminate against Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals, in hiring and firing practices. The bill that passed, H.R. 3685, was a slightly watered down version of previous ENDAs. The “concessions” came in the form of a relatively vague religious exemption clause that stated that the bill would not apply to religious organizations (leaving the definition of that crucial term to the courts) and a lack of protection for transgenders.

Indiana Congressman Mark Souder (R-3rd) fought the bill in the Labor and Education Committee by trying to attach amendments that would blunt the bill’s effect and limit the damage it will cause. According to Souder’s website, the three committee amendments he offered would have:

1) Prevented Retaliation against people of faith in the workplace.

2) Respected the right of each state to define marriage.

3) Removed parts of the bill that protect people from discrimination based on their “perceived” sexual orientation.

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A big post. Take a look after the leap.

I have quite a few pictures of the event, including some of Mayor-Elect Greg Ballard (standing in line outside with the normal people, even), and a liveblog (which I typed at the time but had to upload later due to no wireless Internet at the event location).

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I get the feeling this won’t happen with the Ballard transition team….though stranger things have happened. You know, like Ballard beating Bart. Yeah, that still sounds good.

From the Indy Star:

LAWRENCE — Mayor-elect Paul Ricketts hopes to set up a transition office later this week in the Lawrence government center.

The space would be a convenient place for him to meet with city employees and assist him as he gathers information, he said.

“I appreciate the administration’s offer to make it convenient for both the citizens and the employees to meet with myself and the transition team,” Ricketts said.

Outgoing Mayor Deborah Cantwell and Ricketts discussed the transition office during a meeting Friday, which came three days after Ricketts, a Republican, unseated Cantwell, a Democrat, on Election Day.

City councilwoman DeAnna “Dee” Lowry — who is acting officially on Cantwell’s behalf this week as she vacations in Florida — said Ricketts’ would likely will move into a ground-floor space.

So that President is in Indiana today visiting the southern portion of our state.  Why there?  There a couple reasons, one being that they still love him down there.  As for a second?  Well, I think we can put 2 and 2 together here.

Anyway, our own Scott Fluhr will be attending the President’s speech and will post his pseudo-live blog/recap here on Hoosier Access (The Grand doesn’t have wi-fi.)  Check back soon to get the low down!