Haliburton Can Now Be Sued - Thanks to Al Franken

[ThePantaloon.com]

Yesterday, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) amended the Department of Defense Appropriations bill with a provision that will limit forced arbitration in employment contracts with defense contractors. By a vote of 68-30, assuming the provision survives a conference committee, companies like Halliburton will no longer be able to get federal defense contracts if they deny employees their day in court when they are subjected to rape, sexual assault, or a hostile working environment. You all may remember the case of Jamie Leigh Jones who after being drugged, raped, and confined in Iraq pursued a lawsuit against her employer but was denied due to a forced arbitration clause. Like the case brought by the Center for Constitutional Litigation, the Senate yesterday sided with justice. Jamie Leigh was in the Senate gallery for this historic vote.

The Public Affairs team at AAJ worked feverishly to ensure the success of this amendment within a 24 hour period. Their success was due in no small part to the efforts of AAJ members who generated over 800 messages to the Senate in less than 12 hours. Thank you for your advocacy. It really made a difference.

Jamie Leigh Jones will testify today at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in support of the bipartisan Arbitration Fairness Act (S. 931 / H.R. 1020). Sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), the Arbitration Fairness Act would ensure that the decision to arbitrate is made voluntarily and after a dispute has arisen, so corporations cannot manipulate the system in their favor at the expense of consumers and employees.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Al's looking good so far!

[ThePantaloon.com]

2. He's smart enough and, doggone it, he's good enough

[valerief]

5. And we like him!

:applause:

[ThePantaloon.com]

7. yes we do

[daleanime]

9. And we need more like him...

:toast:

[madokie]

18. I wish we could be so fortunate here in ok

[Triana]

3. I'm lovin me some Al these days. n/t

[myrna minx]

4. Excellent

:applause:

[slipslidingaway]

6. knr nt

[Vinnie From Indy]

8. Important work!

Thanks Al!

Halliburton embodies much of what is wrong with unrestrained Capitalism.

[Vidar]

10. Recommended for Al.

[ddeclue]

11. Republicans have no shame - they will filibuster it to death. nt

[ThePantaloon.com]

12. They'll lose

[phleshdef]

13. The amendment got 68 votes as is, filibuster will be impossible.

[dsc]

14. a slight correction

Halliburton will have to choose, presumedly going forward, whether to permit itself to be sued or have government contracts.

[mzmolly]

15. He's going to be a great

Senator. Heck, he already is.

[ThePantaloon.com]

16. It was on Rachel Maddow tonight

[spanone]

17. senator franken will not disappoint

r

[samsingh]

19. this is powerful and awesome. excellent Al.