The President has stated that he wants DOMA repealed. On 1/7/11, GregfromBoston <[email protected]> wrote: > Here's a nice easy one. > > Get POTUS to drop his challenge to DOMA unconstitutionality. > > > > On Jan 7, 11:43 am, Tommy News <[email protected]> wrote: >> LGBT Groups Scale Back Goals In 2011, Search For Smaller Victories >> With New Congress >> >> WASHINGTON -- Facing an emboldened Republican House unlikely to >> consider significant gay rights legislation in 2011, the nation's >> leading LGBT advocacy organizations are aiming to push for measures >> that advance pro-equality causes but are a far cry from historic bills >> like the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. >> >> A new analysis by the Human Rights Campaign, the country's largest >> LGBT advocacy group, argues that the 112th Congress will have 53 more >> lawmakers unlikely to vote on behalf of advancing gay rights than in >> the previous session; the Senate will have five more, bringing the >> total of such members in the new Congress to 265: >> >> "There will be some opportunities that will be presented to us," said >> Allison Herwitt, legislative director at HRC. "I think that going into >> the 112th Congress, generally, we'll be looking at, what are the >> bigger bills that will be moving that we can put pieces of >> pro-equality -- either amendments or provisions -- into those larger >> moving bills?" >> >> She said the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education >> Act might provide opportunities to include measures addressing >> bullying and harassment. The Older Americans Act could allow advocates >> to push for provisions that benefit older LGBT Americans. A piece of >> free-standing legislation, the Tax Equity for Health Plan >> Beneficiaries Act, would equalize tax treatment for employer-provided >> health coverage for domestic partners and other non-spouse, >> non-dependent beneficiaries. >> >> HRC will still work on larger pieces of legislation, like the >> Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Defense of Marriage Act, >> pushing to introduce the bills, educating lawmakers and holding >> hearings on the issues. >> >> R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, >> also acknowledges that major measures are unlikely to go anywhere but >> said there are opportunities to marry the fiscal concerns of the >> Republican Party with pro-equality legislation. Like Herwitt, he >> pointed to inequalities in the tax code. >> >> Currently under federal law, employers who offer health benefits for >> the domestic partners of their employees face unequal treatment: both >> the employers and employees are taxed at a higher rate and >> essentially, employers are rewarded for discriminating. >> >> We have drafted a tax reform bill that would address a 'donut hole' -- >> people call it different things -- there is currently a problem with >> the way the federal tax code is written that is punitive to employers, >> and employees who may have a same-sex partner," said Cooper, noting it >> would be LCR's first piece of legislation this Congress. "We figure, >> with the current appetite in Congress for tax reform, and the current >> appetite for economic growth and limiting the federal budget and >> balancing the budget, this may be an opportunity for a successful >> piece of legislation that could be introduced and sponsored by >> Republicans, with bipartisan support from Democrats." >> >> He is less pessimistic that Republicans will try to take away LGBT >> rights, pointing to 11 of LCR's endorsed candidates -- including five >> new members -- who will be in the 112th Congress. He also noted that >> on Dec. 15, the Republican Study Committee, run by the socially >> conservative Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), convened a meeting with >> conservative and Republican auxiliary organizations -- including the >> Heritage Foundation, National Rifle Association, and LCR -- and made >> clear the party will be focused on fiscal issues. >> >> "What Chairman Jordan shared with us is that all the priorities for >> this Congress are fiscal-related," said Cooper. "One could interpret >> it as there have been lessons learned either at a pragmatic or >> principled level by certain Republicans on social issues, that they're >> not good for the party; they are divisive. And frankly, in many >> respects, from a true definition of conservatism, social issues don't >> have a role in the government." >> >> The three priorities identified by Jordan, according to Cooper, were: >> 1) a rescission package that would eliminate previously approved >> spending; 2) balancing the federal budget; and 3) federal welfare >> reform. >> >> Herwitt is less optimistic. She said that LGBT advocates will have to >> look closely at budget numbers Republicans put out and where they >> decide to cut spending. Will they go after funding for HIV/AIDS >> programs? Hate crimes enforcement? >> >> Additionally, as the 2012 elections heat up, she said Republicans >> might bring social issues to the table again. >> >> "I think they're going to have to give some red meat to their base, >> and I assume it's either going to be anti-gay, anti-choice, or >> anti-immigrant, or all of the above," said Herwitt. "So I just think >> that when you have someone like Jeb Hensarling, who is chairman of the >> House Republican Conference, he's extremely connected and close to a >> lot the right-wing religious groups, so there's going to be pressure >> on the leadership to deliver on some of these issues." >> >> One branch of government that could hold major victories (or upsets) >> for the LGBT community: the judicial system. There currently are two >> major cases making their way through the courts, one challenging the >> constitutionality of DOMA, the other the constitutionality of >> California's same-sex marriage ban. Either could end up at the Supreme >> Court. >> >> There will also be action at the state level, with Maryland, New York >> and Rhode Island looking to advance marriage equality bills, and >> states like Tennessee, Arizona and Florida likely considering >> legislation to restrict adoption rights for same-sex parents. >> >> More:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/05/lgbt-groups-goals-2011-victo... >> -- >> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. >> Have a great day, >> Tommy > > -- > Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. > For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum > > * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ > * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. > * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
-- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
