House Votes To Block D.C. Law Banning Discrimination Over Reproductive Health Choices

[mahatmakanejeeves]

House Votes To Block D.C. Law Banning Discrimination Over Reproductive Health Choices

Rachel Sadon in News on May 1, 2015 10:33 am

Over the vehement objections of Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and other House Democrats, Republicans voted last night to strike down a D.C. law that bans discrimination based on reproductive health decisions—like having an abortion or taking birth control.

Ted Cruz introduced the measure to block the law—as well as another that extends the city's gay nondiscrimination laws to religiously affiliated educational institutions—last month.

“While this particular law only applies to the District of Columbia, it sets a dangerous precedent for future legislation that could further weaken our long-held tradition of respecting Americans’ conscience rights," said Congressman Diane Black, who co-authored the resolution with Cruz.

The final vote of 228 to 192 was mostly along party lines; three Democrats backed the measure, and 13 Republicans opposed it.

Religious and anti-abortion groups hailed the decision.

[lapfog_1]

1. Washington DC needs to become part of a state.

The repukes all clamor about states rights... but they use this opportunity to override local law favored by the majority of the citizens of the city (probably overwhelming majority).

The reason for special designation for DC is likely long gone (the worry that one state would have too much influence on the federal government because the US capital is located within the state).

I vote that it goes to Virginia... possibly even turning that state a solid blue state.

[Chathamization]

2. We just need to pass the New Columbia Admission Act, and D.C. will become the 51st state

So we'll need Dems in control of the Senate, House, and the White House. And we'll probably need filibuster reform (unless we have over 60 Dems in the Senate). I think these things are doable sometime in the next 10-20 years; hopefully statehood will come sooner rather than later.