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House GOP Tanks Bill Over LGBT Protections, Maloney Says

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. – It’s back to the drawing board for Rep. Sean P. Maloney after a bill containing his anti-discrimination amendment was defeated by House of Representative Republicans on Thursday.

U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney

U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney

Photo Credit: File

According to the Democratic congressman’s communication director, Caitlin Girouard, the amendment barring federal government from paying contractors that discriminate against LGBT employees was included in the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

According to politico.com, the appropriations bill failed 305-112, with the GOP opposed because of the gay rights provision and Democrats voting against it because of GOP amendments, including one that would have protected North Carolina's so-called "bathroom bill."

Maloney, who is openly gay, said first version of his amendment, included in a defense spending bill, was downed by a vote of 213-212 last Thursday.

Maloney, accused the GOP leadership of rigging the vote on that measure because it would have removed wording that discriminated against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual workers.

Maloney then worked the amendment into the energy and water spending bill and it was passed by the House Wednesday night, 223-195.

Maloney’s office said Thursday that even though the bill was eventually defeated, they considered the amendment’s passage as a win for equality.

"The fight's not over," Girouard said.

“House Republicans responded to this victory for equality by including in the final bill an amendment from Rep. Robert Pittenger (NC-9) to protect North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law HB2,” Maloney said.

The so-called “bathroom bill” declares that state law overrides all local ordinances that govern employment, wages and public accommodations, like bathrooms.

It bars local municipalities from creating their own rules prohibiting discrimination in public places based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

“Republican Leadership is bending over backward to rig the process and protect discrimination. Last week, they got caught rigging a vote to beat equality, so this week they rigged their entire bill – loading it down with even more anti-LGBT garbage,” said Maloney, co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

“Now Republican leadership wants to change their own rules to rig the process even more. It’s time to end the games and level with America -- you either think it’s OK to discriminate against LGBT people or you don’t,” he added.

His district includes northeast Westchester, Putnam and Orange counties and parts of Dutchess.

Maloney and his husband, Randy Florke, live in Cold Spring with their three children.

To read the politico.com article, click here.

To read a related Daily Voice article, click here.

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