Fights over LGBT rights measures break out in Congress
A battle over LGBT rights reached the U.S. House of Representatives in the past week, as pro-LGBT amendments have stalled multiple major spending bills.
The latest development in the saga occurred Thursday, when Republicans voted against their own energy-appropriations measure after language was added that would ban discrimination against LGBT employees working for federal contractors.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said the amendments, initiated by Democrats, were merely designed to derail the budget process.
“What we learned today is that the Democrats were not looking to advance an issue but to sabotage the appropriations process,” Ryan said after the energy appropriations bill failed by 305 votes to 112. “The mere fact that they passed their amendment and then voted against the bill containing their amendment proves this point.”
For their part, Democratic lawmakers opposed language introduced by House Republicans that would prevent any funding cut to North Carolina as retribution for that state’s controversial law limiting bathroom access for transgender people.
House Democrats also feuded with Republicans last week over a similar amendment, which was added to a Veterans Affairs spending bill. Rep. Sean Maloney, D-N.Y., who authored the language, accused seven Republicans of switching their vote on the LGBT rights amendment as it appeared to be on the verge of passage.
“They literally snatched discrimination out of the jaws of equality,” Maloney said after the amendment failed last Thursday. “We won this vote.”
The measure, which prohibits discrimination against contractors’ LGBT employees, eventually passed as a rider to the energy bill late Wednesday night. A number of Republicans voted for the amendment after assurances were given that funds could not be used to enforce it in an unconstitutional manner. With this bipartisan support, it passed the Republican-controlled chamber 223-195.
But Politico reported that Republicans pushed back on the vote in a private meeting Thursday, eventually dooming the full bill later that day.
A question now remains whether Ryan and other Republicans will move to end so-called open rules, in order to stop Democrats from continuing to push the LGBT rights amendment onto legislation.
According to The Hill, House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., told reporters Thursday that changes to the amendment process would “be considered” in an effort to avoid bogging down the budget effort.
But Ryan has been a staunch transparency advocate for House proceedings.
“If we’re going to have open rules in appropriations, which we have, which is regular order, people are going to have to take tough votes. And I think people are acknowledging this,” Ryan said last week.
But Ryan already took steps earlier this week to curb any surprise amendments on the floor. After the Memorial Day recess, lawmakers will have to provide more advance notice of their measures. The move is an apparent effort to prevent his members from being caught off guard, as they were by the LGBT riders.
In the meantime, the fight over pro-LGBT amendments may not be over. Maloney said after the Thursday vote that he will continue to pursue amendments designed to curb discrimination.
