Sen. Boxer Calls The GOP Senators Out

“I thought they were the party of ‘family values.’ Show me where that’s true? Ripping families apart? I thought they were the party of ‘economic prosperity.’ Show me how that’s true, when we know from study after study that one of the greatest things we can do for our economy and job creation is get people out of the shadows so they can go buy a home and hold a good job. They (Republicans) can’t or won’t pass an immigration bill. They will not do their job. So when the president steps in and does his job, they say, ‘Oh, this is terrible! Let’s shut down a totally unrelated department. The Department of Homeland Security.”
-Sen. Barbara Boxer

Too bad Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is retiring in 2016.

She called out the Teapublicans in a blistering 20 minute floor speech that took them to task for the off the charts hatred of President Obama among other subjects that those of us sick of the GOP have long called their butts out for.

And yes, I have the video of Senator Boxer handling her US senate business.  Enjoy the verbal smackdown  she delivered.

Kamala's Running For US Senate!

You longtime TransGriot readers know I have much love for Kamala Harris, the current two term Attorney General for the state of California

She was an Alameda County prosecutor and a San Francisco city attorney before winning her first term as the California AG after a nasty Karl Rove run fear and smear campaign in 2010. 

With the retirement of Sen Barbara Boxer (D)  looming next year, she announced yesterday that she was going to run for the US Senate seat  currently occupied by Boxer in what it sure to be a crowded Democratic primary race.

“I’m excited to share with you that I’m launching my campaign to represent the People of California in the United States Senate,” Harris wrote in an email to supporters. “Your support has been crucial to me every step of the way, and I’m asking you to help me build a grassroots campaign that reaches every community of California.”

We haven't had a female senator of African heritage since Carol Moseley-Braun became the first (and so far only African-American woman) to do so in 1992.

Could Kamala Harris be the second?   Stay tuned.

Moni's Thoughts About The Trans Inclusive ENDA Passing The Senate

The renaissance of the trans human rights movement in the late 80s early 90's led to our first lobbying foray into Washington DC in 1994.  One of the things we asked for at that time was to have trans people covered in ENDA by adding gender identity language in the bill which the GL community and Gay, Inc. either ignored or was openly hostile to.   

In 1996 a non-inclusive sexual orientation only version of ENDA reached the final vote stage in a GOP controlled Senate and failed 50-49

It took a lot of work and lobbying by myself and a cross section of transpeople since 1994 to get us included in ENDA.  Many of those people who took up that cause are no longer here on this planet or are retired from the movement.  There were some bumps and bruises along the way as we continued the make the argument that ENDA would pass with transpeople in it and 'incremental progress' is unacceptable. 

Yesterday I cried a little when I saw the trans community's nearly two decades of lobbying work vindicated when S.815, the trans inclusive ENDA passed on a 64-32 vote with the support of 10 Republican senators, 2 independents and 52 Democratic senators.

Sen Bob Casey (D-PA) didn't vote because he is away with his wife in Boston who is having surgery to repair a heart valve according to a Washington Post story..

Who were those GOP Ten?    Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH.), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), Dean Heller (R-NV), Mark Kirk (R-IL), John McCain (R-AZ.), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Patrick J. Toomey (R-PA).

Sens. Hatch and McCain were in the Senate during the 1996 ENDA vote and voted NO at that time.  

The 32 ENDA NO votes were all GOP senators, so keep that in mind when they run for reelection in 2014, 2016 or 2018.

We still have much work to do.  It can't become law until it passes the Teapublican controlled House and receives President Obama's signature. 

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is too 'scurred' of the Tea Party to let that bill hit the House floor for a vote it could probably pass because he desperately wants to keep that speaker's gavel.

But before we roll up our sleeeves to do that, we take a moment to savor this legislative win before rolling up our sleeves for the tough battle ahead. 

Trans Inclusive ENDA Faces Key Senate Votes Today

According to my sources on Capitol Hill and the Senate Democrats page, the moves will be made today for final passage of S. 815, the trans inclusive Employment and Non Discrimination Act (ENDA)  

According to the Senate Democrats page, at 11:45 AM EST, there will be two roll call votes in relation to the following:

Toomey amendment #2013 (broadens the number of groups covered under the religious exemption) (60-vote threshold) and (the committee-reported substitute amendment will be agreed to by unanimous consent)

Motion to invoke cloture on S.815, ENDA, as amended 
(TransGriot update: Passed on a 64-34 YEA vote) 

If cloture is invoked, there will be a third roll call vote at 1:45 PM  EST on passage of S.815, ENDA, as amended.

(ENDA passed the final vote 64-32!)

Will history be made today?   You may wish to tune into C-SPAN 2 to find out.

ENDA Passes Key Senate Cloture Vote

By a 61-30 margin, the US Senate passed a procedural cloture vote on the trans inclusive Employment and Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) that shuts off the chances of a Republican filibuster and allows debate on the legislation to begin on the Senate floor.

It also increases the changes that ENDA will pass when it comes up for its final vote sometime on Wednesday.

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) was one of the first people to speak on behalf of this legislation. 




As soon as I get the list of who voted YEA and NAY, I'll add that to this post.   I already know my Texas Senate idiots both voted NAY.

US Senate Vote On Trans Inclusive ENDA Happening Later Tonight

For the first time since November 2007, a vote is scheduled to be taken on The Employment and Non Discrimination Act  (ENDA) later this evening.  

The passage of ENDA by Congress and its subsequent signing into law by President Obama would make it illegal to discriminate against someone in hiring or employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity

This trans inclusive version of the bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)  in the Senate and has the public support of all 53 Democratic senators, both independent Senators and four Republicans.  Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) are ENDA co-sponsors, while Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) voted for it in committee.  Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) has indicated he is 'inclined to support the bill' and has a gay son and it true, it would bring the bill to the 60 vote threashold needed to cut off GOP-Tea Party attempts to filibuster it.

The trans community has long and bitter memories of being cut out of ENDA in 2007 by then Rep. Barney Frank in controversial circumstances.  The trans free bill passed the House 235-184 but subsequently died in the Senate    In 1996 another trans free version of ENDA was voted on in the Senate and failed 50-49.

This cloture vote will pave the way for that to happen, with the final vote scheduled to happen sometime on Wednesday.  

We'll have to see what transpires (pun intended) in tonight's vote, but hope we get to witness history.  

Senator-Elect Cory Booker!

On behalf of the nation, thank you New Jersey for handling your electoral business yesterday and sending Newark Mayor Cory Booker to Washington as your next US senator. 

The rising Democratic political star entered this special election as a heavy favorite to claim the seat once held by the late Sen Frank Lautenberg and didn't disappoint. 

Booker crushed Steve Lonegan, the former state director of the Tea Baggers in New Jersey by garnering 713, 594 votes (54.6%) to Lonegan's 579,388 (44.3%) votes.

This special election was also taking place with the background noise of the GOP instigated government shutdown, something Booker noted when he spoke to his supporters in Newark. 


"It would have been easy to listen to this frustrating negativity and stay home today. But here in New Jersey, more than a million people rejected cynicism and came out on a Wednesday, in the middle of October, three weeks before we have another election, to fight the cynicism," he said.

"You didn't just vote, you believed that your vote and choice mattered," Senator-elect Booker said.

With the win Booker made a little African-American and political history.   He became the ninth African-American senator in US history, the first from New Jersey and the first Democratic senator elected from a state besides Illinois.   He is also only the fourth elected African-American senator in US history and the first elected since Barack Obama accomplished that feat in 2006.

Once he's sworn in, it will create for only the second occasion in US history two African-American senators serving in the Senate at the same time. More importantly, it restores the 55-45 Democratic edge in the Senate at least until November 4, 2014.

Senator-elect Booker will also have to run for the seat again next year since Sen. Lautenberg's term was due to expire in 2014.

Congratulations Senator-elect Booker on a historic night for you! 

Senator-elect Booker.   Gee, I love the sound of that!  

New Jersey, Handle Your Special Election Business!

Voters in New Jersey get to go to the polls today and handle their electoral business of selecting a new US senator to replace the late Sen Frank Lautenberg who passed away on June 3.

It's Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) squaring off against Tea Klux Klanner Steve Lonegan to fill out the remainder of Lautenberg's term.

For most of the campaign Booker has maintained a double digit lead of 13 points on Lonegan but the race has tightened over the last few days to a mere 10 points.  Booker is favored to win in this election, but where's Nate Silver when you need him?

Since Sen Lautenberg was a Class 2 senator whose term was due to expire next year, the winner will have to run for reelection in the 2014 midterms in order to secure a full six year US Senate term

Should Cory Booker emerge victorious, he'll make a little political and African-American history.  He will not only become the ninth African-American senator in US history, but the first from New Jersey and the first Democratic senator elected from a state besides Illinois. 

So good luck Cory Booker!   Hope you win tonight.   We need somebody who will stand up for the interests of African-Americans in the Senate since it's obvious that cookie chomping conservative knee-grow from South Carolina won't. 
   

ENDA Passes Out Of Senate Committee 15-7

The Employment and non Discrimination Act navigated a major hurdle yesterday by being successfully passed out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on a 15-7 vote.

In case you're keeping score for the 2014, 2016 and 2018 election cycles, all of the Democratic senators on the committee and three Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (AK) , Mark Kirk (IL) and Orrin Hatch (UT) voted YEA. 

Voting NAY (big surprise) were Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander (TN), Mike Enzi (WY), Richard Burr (NC), Johnny Isakson (GA), Rand Paul (KY), Pat Roberts (KS) and Tim Scott (SC)

The ENDA bill moves now to the Senate floor, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is expected to push for its passage in the fall.  

ENDA Set For July 10 Senate Committee Vote

The long delayed Employment and Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) will finally get a Senate committee vote.

The bill if passed would prevent discrimination by civilian non religious employers of 15 or more people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in hiring and employment.

I'd personally like to see religious employers added to this bill as well because as far as I'm concerned, you don't have a special right to discriminate. 

It was reintroduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers back in April and has been scheduled for a July 10 vote before the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee.

President Obama supports ENDA, wants to sign it and is urging action on the bill as a coalition of legislators and LG groups press him to sign an executive order that won't have the coverage that passed Congressional legislation will.   An executive order is also vulnerable to being overturned which is why the POTUS wants to go the legislative route.   
 

Historic Day For African-American US Senate Representation

With the confirmation of Sen John F. Kerry to become the next Secretary of State, his now empty Senate seat had to be filled by an appointment until the state of Massachusetts can elect his replacement.

After considering former Rep. Barney Frank for it, Gov Deval Patrick (D) appointed his former chief of staff  William 'Mo' Cowan to hold the seat until the election is held June 25

"Mo Cowan has been a trusted adviser, and professional colleague and friend for a very long time," Patrick said at a press conference at the Statehouse Wednesday. He lauded Cowan's law background and experience in the administration, in which Cowan has served since 2009.

Cowan unfortunately will not be a candidate in the special election to succeed Kerry, but reassured his new constituents that he will head to Washington "ever mindful of what matters to the people of Massachusetts." He noted jobs, education and affordable health care as top priorities for state voters.

By selecting him, Cowan made a little congressional and Black history.    He is the not only the second African-American US senator from Massachusetts after Republican Edward Brooke who served from 1967-1979, he is the first Democratic senator who hails from a state other than Illinois.

All three previous Democratic senators, Carol Moseley-Braun, Barack Obama, and Roland Burris all were residents of the Land of Lincoln.  .

Interestingly enough, with this appointment following South Carolina Gov Nikki Haley's (R) appointment of Tim Scott (R) to fill the remaining term of the resigned Jim DeMint, this is the first time ever in US history that we have had more than one African-American senator serving in the US senate during the same congress. 

Just wish Sen. Cowan was serving longer than June 25..    

Break Out The Oreos, We Have A Cookie-Chomping US Senator

To no ones surprise, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R) chose Rep Tim Scott (R-SC) yesterday to fill resigning Senator Jim DeMint's remaining term in the US Senate.  

The 47 year old Scott is a Tea Klux Klan favorite who was elected to the House in 2010 from a district that includes north Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC.  He beat the son of notorious segregationist Strom Thurmond in the GOP primary that year on his way to election..

Scott will be the first Black* senator from South Carolina, the seventh in US history and the first from the  South since Hiram Revels (1870) and Blanche K Bruce (1875-1881) represented Mississippi during Reconstruction. 

In addition to Revels and Bruce, the other Republican senator was Edward Brooke from Massachusetts.

He was the first African-American elected to the US senate by popular vote and represented the state from (1967-1979)  Brooke was a moderate Republican who championed mass transit, low-income housing and a higher minimum wage.  

The Democratic African-American senators all come from Illinois and includes the only Black female US senator in Carol Moseley Braun. She served from 1993-1999, was a prosecutor before winning political office and called for more restrictive gun laws during her tenure. Unfortunately she was defeated in her first re-election bid and was later appointed as the US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

We know about the second US senator from Illinois because he now lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  But before he became the 44th president of the United States in 2008,  in November 2004 Barack Obama was elected to the Senate in a landslide over his GOP opponent Alan Keyes.

When President Obama left the Senate, Roland W. Burris was appointed to Obama's seat on December. 31, 2008.  He served two years and was reprimanded by the Senate Ethics Committee for being misleading about his controversial appointment to the seat by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Now that I've discussed the history of African-Americans in the US Senate,  back to the conservanegro about to replace Jim DeMint.   Scott achieved a 92 percent score on the Club for Growth’s legislative scorecard, which meant that he was more conservative than all but 30 members of the House.  

He will have to run for the seat in 2014, so South Carolina Democrats, you have time to get a candidate to take him on.

So yeah, the Republicans can point to Scott's nomination to the US Senate and claim until they're red in the face it's an example of how diverse their party is. 

Knee-grow sycophants mouthing the same failed conservative policies as their white brethern not only will not get our votes, but it's an insult to our intelligence if you think the only reason we vote for candidates is based on the color of their skin. 

But then again, that's a play you vanillacentric privileged conservafools have perfected. 

It's even more of an insult when you nominate a guy who earned an F on the NAACP Congressional Report card and supports policies hostile to African-Americans.

Let me count the ways. Scott called for the impeachment of President Obama if he raised the debt ceiling, is virulently anti-gay, opposes a woman's right to choose, the labor movement, opposes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." 

And oh yeah, he's the first one along with Angela McGlowan and CL Bryant the Tea Klux Klan trot out when they need a knee-grow human shield to deflect attention from their racism. 

The conservafools are hailing Scott's Senate appointment, but many African-Americans aren't.   He's just another cookie-chomping knee-grow sellout to us. 

Break out the Oreos.