Equal Rights Amendment passes with help from Durkin
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller By Hannah Meisel * In a surprising move, House GOP Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) helped give the Equal Rights Amendment the extra boost needed to pass the House. Durkin is a pro-life Catholic, and one of the loudest arguments against the ERA is it will open the door for more abortions. Earlier today Rep. Silvana Tabares (D-Chicago) had an excused absence, and everyone I asked had no idea what was going to happen with the Equal Rights Amendment. Then just before 6 p.m., Lou Lang introduced the ERA. If you heard psychotic clacking down the hallway in the Capitol basement, that was me running for the elevator. Two hours of debate later, it passed. Here’s the roll call. Watch video of the board during the vote here. * GOP votes for the bill…
* Dem votes against the bill…
* Notable moments from the debate…
Everyone acknowledges that if Illinois’ passage of the ERA triggers another state to do the same, this will end up in a legal battle over whether the ratification deadline (originally 1979 and then pushed to 1982) is truly dead. Also other states have attempted to rescind their ratification votes. * More background…
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- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 8:30 pm:
“We don’t need something on a piece of paper.”
So that Bill of Rights…. extraneous?
That 19th Amendment certainly has come in handy, I would think.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 8:41 pm:
Congrats to all who worked so hard in the past and now. If it wasn’t for courageous effort, how many rights would be recognized and legally enshrined? Civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights—none of those have been just granted by those in power. They have to be fought for.
- Amalia - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 8:54 pm:
Mary Flowers, what the what?
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 8:59 pm:
I am not sure which react I crave more: Dan Proft, Jeanne Ives or Peter Breen.
I guess we know now whether Rauner is actually for the ERA.
- walker - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 9:07 pm:
Thank you.
- Amalia - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 9:13 pm:
love seeing a tweet with the name Otwell on it. I’m thinking she’s related to Janet Otwell, who was the President of the League of Women Voters of Illinois and who fought hard for the ERA back in the day.
- walker - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 9:13 pm:
Hearing Etta James in my head.
So long in coming, still so right.
- walker - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 9:20 pm:
Rich, good to note Durkin’s leadership. He’s a fundamentally decent man.
- A Young Person - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 9:29 pm:
What’s with Rita Mayfield and Mary Flowers voting no?
I have a lot of respect for Steve Andersson. Wish he was staying.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 9:35 pm:
Interesting that Winger was only GOP woman to vote yes and all but 1 of the Dem no votes cake from women. No clue what any of that means but I’m sculpting something out of mashed potatoes anyway https://goo.gl/images/tvPcun
- Soothsayer - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 9:37 pm:
Thanks Rep. Durkin for the bold votes during this session. I am not always a fan but must admit I find this movement towards the middle to be rather appealing. You might get my vote, once again, after all.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 9:42 pm:
Don’t get why any Dem voted against this.
Not optimistic this will ever actually result in meaningful legal protections for women but still glad it passed.
Too bad Illinois couldn’t have got this right in the ’70s when it mattered so much more. I suppose it’s weird holding a grudge against a political figure for actions from before I was born but even after she’s gone I still hold one for Phyllis Schlafly.
- LakeviewJ - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 10:15 pm:
Inspiring reminder that the Baby Boomers will force us to fight their pointless battles and relitigate their adolescence forever and ever and ever.
- Absence - Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 10:50 pm:
I am assuming Tabares made it back from her excused absence since she was recorded as a “yes” vote on a number of bills today including SJRCA4.
- Amalia - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 12:01 am:
“It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. ”
Susan B. Anthony, 1873
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 6:10 am:
==We don’t need something on a piece of paper==
Terri Bryant is married. Why didn’t she just shack up with her spouse instead of getting married. It’s just a piece of paper.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 9:15 am:
==Mary Flowers, what the what?==
Mary Flowers seems to think black women would somehow not be protected by the ERA.
“When the women finally got their right to vote, black women did not get our rights,” said Rep. Mary Flowers, a Chicago Democrat. “You want to say something (the ERA language) written in 1923 is going to protect me?”
I don’t get the logic, but I didn’t get the ERA promotes abortion argument either, so perhaps I’m a little dense.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 9:18 am:
Did she call the constitution a piece of paper?
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 9:23 am:
“We don’t need something on a piece of paper.”
What a strange thing for a lawmaker to say. Putting stuff on paper is what you do.
It’s nice that the Bill of Rights was committed to paper, in case you need to reference them.
I imagine Rep. Murphy thinks putting the 19th Amendment in writing was pretty nifty.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 10:13 am:
Steve Andersson
Dan Brady
Jim Durkin
David Harris
Chad Hays
David Olsen
Bob Pritchard
Grant Wehrli
David Welter
Christine Winger
Heroes.
As a Republican, I thank you all for showing leadership and your vote matters, not just because of its inclusion made the passage possible, your vote mattered because of doing what is right.
Oswego Willy.
To the Chamber, the leadership to the amendment, the caucuses… all,
I was proud of a chamber being thoughtful, to process and to subject, and showing Illinois how governing happens when the importance of the moment demanded that professionalism.
So proud.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 10:37 am:
==Inspiring reminder that the Baby Boomers will force us to fight their pointless battles and relitigate their adolescence forever and ever and ever.==
Ya know, all battles are pointless when you are content to live in a cave, wear leaves, and eat raw meat. Then some jerk has to discover how to make fire and ruin everything.
- nonBeliever - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 12:12 pm:
Did not the time limit expire in 1979?
If so, what is this all about?