Joe Manchin and Mark Pryor are the only two Democratic holdouts on ENDA

[marmar]

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) signed on as a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act on Monday night, meaning the legislation is just three votes away from being able to clear the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.

There are now just two Democratic senators -- Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) -- who are not co-sponsors of the legislation, which would bar workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It is already illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, nationality, religion, age or disability.

Only two Republicans -- Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) -- have so far signed on as co-sponsors, although Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted for the bill in committee in July. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/29/bill-nelson-enda_n_4173328.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037

[xchrom]

1. du rec.

[1-Old-Man]

2. As much as I dislike Manchin I think this post is just plain silly.

Not being a co-signer of the proposed legislation is not the same thing as not being willing to vote for it should it come to the Senate floor. The snippet seems dishonest in implying that they are one in the same, the co-signership and voting - they most certainly are not.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. The history of this bill really calls for full Democratic support.

The Blue Dogs have killed it in the past. Out of small minded bigotry. The first version of this legislation was introduced by Rep Bella Abzug in 1974. Nearly 40 years of obstruction by 'conservative Democrats' and Republicans. Silly is not a word that comes to mind for such heartless acts of aggression.

[1-Old-Man]

5. Why?

Do you not understand the difference between holding back on co-sponsership and actually voting for the bill? The only support that matters is when the Yeas and Nays are asked for, legislative 'history' be damned. Joe Manchin can get away with voting for that bill, should he ever get the chance, but if he put his name on it as a co-sponser he could count on his seat being taken by someone else about 3 years from now, and he knows it. So I can easily forgive him the cowardice needed to say no, so long as I'm not going to be plagued by a Republican Senator come the next election cycle.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Of course the hold outs are Blue Dogs

Both represent States that are among the 29 that allow such vicious discrimination. Both are from a region in which 100% of the States allow such discrimination.

[theHandpuppet]

6. Manchin is no suprise

Such a DINO!