March 08, 2004
WA Can Still Pass Equal Rights Bill
BREAKING NEWS 3/7/04, Courtesy of Discrimination Free Washington: The Civil Rights Bill can still pass...Please contact your Senator NOW!
We have just learned that the Civil Rights Bill could still pass this week, as part of a compromise between the House and the Senate.
Here's what we need to do NOW to help pass this critical legislation:
ALL of our senators need to hear that their constituents want them to pass the Civil Rights Bill, EHB 1809, but especially:
Esser (R-Bellevue, 48th district) Senate Floor Leader, who opposed the Bill's passage;
Finkbeiner (R-Eastside, 45th district) Majority Leader, who opposed the Bill's passage; Carlson (R-Vancouver, 49th district), who courageously broke ranks with his party and needs encouragement to continue to support the Bill's passage;
Deccio (R-Yakima, 14th district), who voted first to support, then subsequently voted so as to defeat the Bill's passage;
Hargrove (D-Hoquiam, 24th district), who opposed the Bill's passage; Tim Sheldon (D-Grays Harbor, 35th district) who opposed the Bill's passage, and
Winsley (R-Fircrest, 28th district), who also courageously broke ranks with her party, and voted to pass the Bill (please thank her also!).
Please mobilize your friends, family, coworkers and other allies who live in the districts above to contact their Senators again. Here are two easy ways to help ensure passage of the bill, this week:
Call the Washington State Legislative Hotline, 1-800-562-6000, to leave a message asking your Senator again to please support the passage of HB 1809. You don't have to know your district number or Senator's name to do this.
Email your Senator, asking her/him to again support the passage of HB 1809. Senators’ email addresses are located at: www.leg.wa.gov/email/members/Default.aspx?Chamber=S
This is a historic opportunity for Washingtonians to finally pass the Civil Rights Bill - which would provide protection for all people in our state from discrimination in employment, housing, credit, insurance, financial transactions and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation. Please take action NOW!
Background from Friday:
On Friday March 5th, the senate brought EHB 1809 out of committee and to the floor with a vote of 25-24 through the 9th Order procedure. Republicans who voted in support of EHB 1809 were Don Carlson (49th), Shirely Winsley (28th), and Alex Deccio (14th). All of the Democrats voted for the bill except Tim Sheldon (35th) and Jim Hargrove (24th). In an extraordinary move, Senator Esser made a motion to adjourn until Monday. This time Senator Deccio (R) voted with his party and the motion passed 25-24, killing EHB 1809 and nearly 100 other House bills. However, as part of a compromise between the House and the Senate there is still a chance that EHB 1809 will be brought to the floor and voted on. Please contact your senators NOW!
For more information, contact Discrimination Free Washington at (206) 324-2570, discriminationfreewashington2004@yahoo.com or www.seattlelgbt.org/dfw.html