Senate Clears Procedural Hurdle To LGBT Anti-Bias Bill, Setting Up Final Vote This Week
http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/senate-clears-cloture-hurdle-on-lgbt-anti-bias-bill-setting
Author: Chris Geider Source: BuzzFeed

The Senate overcame any threat of a filibuster to a bill banning discrimination against LGBT people on Monday, setting up a final vote on the bill in the coming days.

Seven Republicans broke ranks with their party in voting to block any filibusters against the bill, joined by all 55 Democrats in the Senate for a 61-30 vote. Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, returning from a funeral, did not vote.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has been pending in Congress [. . . ] would ban sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination in most workplaces.

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See also: Gay rights bill passes first major hurdle in Congress

Senate close to passing bill to ban discrimination against gay workers

Washington Post | Paul Kane

The Senate moved closer to passing a historic piece of legislation Monday that would ban discrimination against gay workers, signaling a dramatic shift in political attitudes on the issue.

Seven Republicans joined 54 members of the Democratic caucus in voting to formally begin considering the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The 61 to 30 margin virtually guarantees its passage this week.

It has been more than 17 years since the Senate voted on the issue, and Monday's vote was a vivid illustration of how new political currents have forced lawmakers from both parties to catch up with an electorate that is increasingly supportive of gay rights. Fourteen states have legalized same-sex marriage, and a majority of Americans believe gay couples should have the right to wed....

The roll call on the vote produced a rare moment of Senate drama, as a trio of prominent Republicans — Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Rob Portman (Ohio) and Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.) — holed up in the GOP cloakroom off the floor deciding at the last minute whether to back the legislation. Democrats needed those GOP votes to clear the 60-vote hurdle because a couple of supporters were absent.