Tag Archives: Boehner

John Boehner Tells LGBT Caucus: There Is ‘No Way’ ENDA Will Pass In 2014

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ENDASpeaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) told the 113-member LGBT Equality Caucus last week that there is “no way” the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would pass this year according to Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA).

Boehner has repeatedly claimed that the LGBT employment protections are “unnecessary” while  in reality, it remains legal in 29 states to fire people for their sexual orientation and and in 33 states to fire people for their gender identity.

Meanwhile Obama could issue the “promised” executive order protecting at least the LGBT employees of federal contractors, which would also apply to small businesses not covered by ENDA, but the White House insists it prefers a legislative approach even though it seems Boehner will not be allowing it to come up for a vote  soon.

Could this be the reason why President Obama who through out his tenure has not been known to use the “bully pulpit” did not mention the Employment Non-Discrimination Act last night in the State of the Union address because he knows its dead in the water?

H/T  Zach Ford – TPM

 

 

Boehner and House Republicans Secretly Raise DOMA Defense Budget, Pelosi Reacts

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Despite a looming “fiscal cliff” The Republican House led by John Boehner secretly raised their budget to defend DOMA by $500,000 according to September documents just revealed.

House Administration Chairman Dan Lungren, R-Calif., signed off in September on a $500,000 increase in the maximum value of the contract with the firm, Washington-based Bancroft. Republicans have raised the cap of the contract twice: first on Sept. 29, 2011, from its original maximum of $500,000 to $1.5 million, and again on Sept. 28 to its new maximum of $2 million. Although the latest lifting of the contract cap occurred almost three months ago, House Democrats — and the public — were in the dark about the move until this week.

Democratic House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi reacted strongly to the news on her official website:

Here they go again. It’s bad enough that Speaker Boehner and House Republicans are wasting taxpayer dollars to defend the indefensible Defense of Marriage Act – and losing in every case. Now, they have reached a new low – signing a secret contract to spend more public money on their legal boondoggle without informing Democrats. Their actions are simply unconscionable; their decisions are utterly irresponsible. “Hiding this contract from voters in the midst of an election season was a cynical move at best, and a betrayal of the public trust at worst. With Americans focused on the creation of jobs and the growth of our economy, Republicans should not be spending $2 million to defend discrimination in our country.

And the Repugs are the ones whining about irresponsible government spending.

Incidentally Rep Dan Lungren, R-Calif., who signed off on the DOMA hike in September got his ass throughly kicked in the November 2012 elections and will be replaced with replaced by  progressive Democrat Ami Bera