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Virginia, let’s make history! VAratifyERA.orgVersion: August 26, 2018
One State to Thirty-Eight
Equal Rights AmendmentHistoryWhy we need itVirginia’s path to ratification
Virginia, let’s make history! VAratifyERA.orgVersion: August 26, 2018
Virginia, let’s make history! VAratifyERA.orgVersion: August 26, 2018
Why we need the Equal Rights Amendment
❖ The American Bar Association, in a letter dated June 6, 2018 and sent to the Honorable Carolyn Maloney, identified three immediate effects of ratification:
❖ Establishes gender equality under the law as a fundamental and irrevocable tenet of our society
❖ Requires all judges to apply the highest standard of scrutiny when deciding cases involving sex discrimination; would mean gender discrimination receives the same standard of review as when deciding cases involving discrimination based on race, religion, and national origin
❖ Protects and reinvigorates enforcement of existing gender equality laws
“Certainly the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex.The only, issue is whether it prohibits it. It doesn’t.”
— the late Justice Scalia, 2010, UC Hastings College of Law
Virginia, let’s make history! VAratifyERA.orgVersion: August 26, 2018
2018 General Assembly Overview❖ Equal Rights Amendment passed the Virginia Senate five times since 2011,
most recently in 2016
❖ In 2018 the patron listing achieved levels never previously seen in Virginia
❖ 21 of 40 Senators signed on as patrons 19 Democrats, 2 Republicans
❖ 52 of 100 Delegates signed on as patrons48 Democrats, 4 Republicans
❖ The Equal Rights Amendment had additional supporters besides the above patron lists and would have passed easily if it had made it to the floor in either/both the House and Senate
Virginia, let’s make history! VAratifyERA.orgVersion: August 26, 2018
2019 Path to the Floor❖ One of two committees: Privileges & Elections / Rules
❖ House Speaker Kirk Cox indicates preference by assignment❖ P&E (chaired by Mark Cole-R) = not likely to pass
❖ Rules (chaired by Kirk Cox-R) = likely to pass❖ Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment indicates preference by assignment
❖ P&E (chaired by Jill Vogel-R) = likely to pass❖ Rules (chaired by Ryan McDougle-R) = not likely to pass
❖ Rules committee chairs can move the ERA resolution directly to the floor
Virginia, let’s make history! VAratifyERA.orgVersion: August 26, 2018