Senate allows babies in chamber despite concerns from older, male senators

[ehrnst]

Progress, in spite of old men who are nervous around icky, diapered babies and nursing women...

The Senate has voted unanimously to let the babies of its members into the tradition-bound chamber.

The inspiration for the historic change of rules was Sen. Tammy Duckworth's daughter Maile Pearl, born April 9. Duckworth, now the only senator in U.S. history to give birth while in office, wants to resume voting and the Senate requires that votes be cast in person.

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Teleworking is not an option in the Senate, which requires members to vote in-person. So Duckworth raised a rare question that split her colleagues more along generational lines than well-worn partisan ones, according to interviews Wednesday. Duckworth proposed changing the rules to allow senators with newborns — not just Duckworth, and not just women — to bring their babies onto the floor of the Senate. This, recalls Sen. Amy Klobuchar, did not go entirely smoothly for the two months she privately took questions about the idea and its potential consequences — diaper changes, fussing and notably, nursing. More than one senator joked that those things happen on the Senate floor now.

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"Yes, you can vote from the doorway of the cloakroom, but how is she going to get to the cloakroom when it's not wheelchair accessible?" she asked. Some senators proposed making an exception for Duckworth. But her allies said the Senate should make work easier for new parents. "We believe strongly, and she did, that it should be a permanent rules change."

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There was more, voiced privately, Klobuchar said — including whether Duckworth intended to change Maile's diaper or nurse her new baby on the Senate floor.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-senate-babies-chamber-duckworth-20180418-story.html


I can see what the older men were really worried about...

[Farmer-Rick]

1. Good to hear

Excluding children and babies use to be a way to exclude women. Duckworth is an amazing person.

[ehrnst]

2. It seems that many here on DU are less progressive than a GOP led Senate on the issue.

Judging by recent discussions on Duckworth's efforts....

[Farmer-Rick]

4. Oh, yeah, well sometimes change is hard to accept.

But you would expect better from Dems.

[Girard442]

3. I can see why senators wouldn't want babies in the Senate.

They'll cry, throw tantrums, make messes, be disruptive, and need constant attention.

The babies are just going to have to deal with it.

[ehrnst]

5. LOL!!! (nt)

[tblue37]

7. Good one! nt

[IluvPitties]

6. I am sorry, but...

Babies can be super loud and disruptive. It's extremely disturbing having a baby screaming while you are trying to concentrate on something or conduct some important business.

Nothing related to gender or age in my view. More of a matter of decorum.

[ehrnst]

8. You think she's asking to park a crib on the Senate floor?

Really?

She just wanted the ban removed, and it was unanimously approved, even by the old republican men.

Did you read the article?

[IluvPitties]

13. If it's for nursing purposes, I don't care.

Just don't like the idea of babies screaming while official business is taking place.

[Blue_Adept]

14. You really need to look at what's going on and how it's going to be happening

It's not like she's going to be sitting there all day long with the baby. It's for votes.

And you may want to look at babies again as well because they don't scream constantly. They adapt to where they are pretty well for the most part. Watch some of CSPAN with voting periods to see how this actually goes down.

[ehrnst]

16. Somehow other countries manage babies during governmental business

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98699747/new-zealands-new-babyfriendly-parliament




https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/icelandic-mp-breastfeeds-baby-debate-parliament-al-ingi-a7358681.html

[MrsCoffee]

22. And yet they don't kick the Republicans out.

[Blue_Adept]

9. Yet it happens without issue in dozens of countries every day

Once again, a blow to American Exceptionalism.

[ehrnst]

12. Indeed - we're catching up

New Zealand's new baby-friendly Parliament



https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98699747/new-zealands-new-babyfriendly-parliament

[gollygee]

11. This is so people can have their babies brought to them when it's time to feed them

They aren't going to keep screaming babies on the senate floor. Babies can't nurse and scream at the same time. They eat and then they fall asleep.

[Blue_Adept]

15. You mean it's not like they show it on TV and in the movies?!

[MrsCoffee]

18. Too fucking bad.

That kind of thinking is outdated.

[IluvPitties]

23. What is outdated about not wanting disturbing background noise

in the middle of an important proceeding?

[EffieBlack]

21. Senate floor isn't an office

It's where the Senators convene to vote and interact with each other. They do their actual work in their Senate offices in the Senate office buildings.

The Senate floor is noisy, busy, and bustling. A crying, fussing baby is hardly likely to be noticed. In fact, the baby is more likely to be disturbed by the Senators than vice versa

[zeusdogmom]

17. women - and men - with babies in arms while conducting business

Are not disruptive. Wise parents leave with a disruptive child until said child is calm. And then return. People get their shorts in a knot over such silly things.

I'm glad the Senate is approaching the 21st century - albeit mighty slowly.

I am, however, weekly amazed at how many people - both men and women - find nursing babies in public offensive. And how difficult it can be to find a spot - any spot - to nurse a child. I battled this nearly 40 years ago when my kids were babies. I though by now we as a society would be a different place.

FWIW - I led church choir rehearsal with a 2 week old nursing babe in arms - and later directed the choir on Sunday mornings holding said baby 'cause she wasn't happy unless she was with momma. No one batted an eyebrow - and this was not a progressive, liberal congregation. But it had a strong focus on healthy families and thus healthy individuals.

[IluvPitties]

19. Nursing a child should not be offensive to anyone.

It's called feeding. I bet those who are offended by seeing a woman breastfeeding a child are not offended when they see baby calves sucking a cow's udder.

[Sampan]

20. Horror of horrors!

What if they see a nipple?? Those old farts would get the vapors!