Insist the ERA Be Placed on the Docket

We got through the Senate — though it was a bit like pulling teeth from a mule. 

 

Now the House P&E Committee refuses to put the ERA on the docket. This might be the end for this year.

 

Let’s insist that the ERA get a full and fair vote in the House of Delegates.

If you contact no one else, please at least contact the Chair of the committee, Delegate Mark Cole.

Send the whole email, or just the first paragraph.

Chairman – Delegate Cole  (804) 698-1088
email: DelMCole@house.virginia.gov

Copy this email address list to your TO line:

“Mark Cole” <DelMCole@house.virginia.gov>,
“Dave Albo” <DelDAlbo@house.virginia.gov>,
“Buddy Fowler” <DelBFowler@house.virginia.gov>,
“Mike Futrell” <DelMFutrell@house.virginia.gov>,
“Tim Hugo” <DelTHugo@house.virginia.gov>,
“Riley Ingram” <DelRIngram@house.virginia.gov>,
“Chris Jones” <DelCJones@house.virginia.gov>,
“Rob Krupicka” <DelRKrupicka@house.virginia.gov >,
“Steve Landes” <delslandes@house.virginia.gov >,
“Jackson Miller” <DelJMiller@house.virginia.gov >,
“Randy Minchew” <DelRMinchew@house.virginia.gov>,
“Israel O’Quinn” <DelIOQuinn@house.virginia.gov>,
“John O’Bannon” <DelJOBannon@house.virginia.gov>,
“David Ramadan” <DelDRamadan@house.virginia.gov>,
“Margaret Ransone” <DelMRansone@house.virginia.gov>,
“Sam Rasoul” <DelSRasoul@house.virginia.gov>,
“Nick Rush” <DelNRush@house.virginia.gov>,
“Mark Sickles” <DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov>,
“Joseph Yost” <DelJYost@house.virginia.gov>

Subject: Yes to SJ 216, Women Deserve a Full and Fair Vote!!!

Dear Chairman Cole and Honorable Members of the Committee,

I write to insist that the Privileges and Elections Committeeplace SJ 216 — the resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment — on the docket. Women’s civil rights deserve a full, fair, and public vote. Ratification is a win for everyone in Virginia and the nation. Please, do not duck out of a chance to be on the right side of history. This is a vote that should not even require courage.

Some think the 14th Amendment covers women. It explicitly does not. It includes only “male citizens” and “male inhabitants” in constitutional protections. Hence, theneed for the 19th Amendment enfranchising women with the vote.

The ERA means no need for further laws on equal pay, and moves the burden of proof in wage discrimination cases to the employer. It means something like a 23% more wages, increased 401(k) contributions and Social Security savings for retirement for women. Thus, fewer senior women in poverty. The ERA means fewer children in poverty, thanks to mothers’ increased wages. Thus,increased learning outcomes for children. It means similar, possibly greater, increases for women and communities of color.

The Equal Rights Amendment is not a stealth “abortion bill.” The ERA is a matter of civil rights – basically, it adds women to the 14th Amendment, and assures us of the full protection of the Constitution – all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The ERA says nothing about abortion or any medical procedure. Roe v. Wade was decided as a matter of privacy (under the 4th Amendment). So, in the same way that the 14th Amendment does not currently apply to women as we are not positively mentioned there, the ERA would have no constitutional effect on current abortion law.

Further, since the ERA makes education and employment more equal and secure, it will reduce the number abortions sought due to economic stress.This not only a well studied phenomenon, it’s just common sense. Most women who have abortions do so out of concern for their ability to support or help support their existing children.

As an amendment, the ERA cannot be easily changed by Congress or the Court. It lends lasting strength to the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, as well as to theseveral Equal Pay acts.

The ERA makes whole the current patchwork of laws that stitch together the rag-doll of women’s citizenship.

My gratitude for your service,

Your Name

City, State

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To tweet the House: @VaHouse.
To tweet the House GOP: @vahousegop.
To tweet the Hosue Dems: @VAHouseDems

#RatifyERA to floor. No hidden votes on civil rights. #Equality #VAyesERA

#RatifyERA is civil rights, family income and stability issue. No hidden votes. #DemandERA

HJ495 to the floor in 2015. No hidden votes on #civilrights issues! Stand by your vote. Stand by women!

(*)   (*)   (*) 

Tagged: #DemandERA, #RatifyERA, #VAyesERA, Equal Rights Amendment, General Assembly, Join In, VA House