WashBlade.com – Lou Chibbaro Jr
Outcome leaves many gay activists disappointed over trans omission
The House of Representatives Wednesday passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), marking the first time either chamber of Congress has approved a gay employment rights bill since such a measure was first introduced 33 years ago.
The vote was 235 to 184, with 35 Republicans joining 200 Democrats to pass the bill by what Capitol Hill observers called a respectable
margin of 51 votes. Twenty-five Democrats joined 159 Republicans in voting against the bill. Fourteen House members — eight Democrats and six Republicans — did not vote.
A motion introduced by Republican opponents to kill the bill by recommitting it to committee lost by a vote of 222 to 198.