Sen. Lisa Murkowski is hoping to help Democrats jump start a decades-long effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the U.S. Constitution. Seen by those on both the right and left as a way to enshrine abortion and gender identity into the bedrock of American law, the ERA has been a priority issue for Murkowski for years.
In 2020 and 2021 she introduced resolutions in the U.S. Senate to approve the ERA Amendment. While the measure failed to gain the needed support, Murkowski is, once again, joining with Democrats to give it another go.
On Jan. 31, she joined a press conference with all Democratic colleagues who are all pushing for the ERA to become part of the U.S. Constitution.
Introduced in 1972, the ERA required 38 states to ratify it before 1979. Only 35 states agreed before the deadline passed. That, however, has not stopped liberal activists from pushing the agenda.
In 2020, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA, although seven states have since rescinded their ratification and so it remains a legal question as to whether the three-fourths threshold of all states has actually been achieved. While three states ratified the ERA after the 1979 deadline, supporters of the measure say that should not matter.
But even if the Senate passes the resolution to ratify the ERA, the U.S. Supreme Court would likely need to determine whether the seven states that have since rescinded their approval of the ERA are still on the hook.
On the surface, the amendment seems redundant, but both supporters and opponents admit it has the potential to fundamentally change abortion law, while expanding LGBTQ rights and eroding religious liberties. It states simply: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
Many political liberals and conservatives agree, that in addition to enshrining abortion in the U.S. Constitution the Equal Rights Amendment could easily be interpreted by federal courts to expand the military draft to women, ban sex-segregated prisons, and eliminate female only restrooms. In short, it would open Pandora’s box to a massive roll back of pro-life laws, and the rapid advance of special LGBTQ rights which often run afoul of religious liberties and free speech.
Murkowski attended the Jan. 31 press conference, where she claimed the ERA was really just about preventing discrimination against women.
“Men and women should be treated equally under the law,” she added. “It’s as simple as that.”
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Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono, however, pulled no punches about how the ERA could advance the LGBTQ political agenda.
“This long-fought battle has a special connection to my home state of Hawaii — Hawaii was the first state to ratify the ERA,” Sen. Hirono said. “Our next generation of all women, including transgender women and gender non-conforming individuals, deserve better. We cannot wait any longer to formalize the ERA.”
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said he’s planning to push the ERA resolution in the coming weeks.
“We’re gonna start in the Senate Judiciary Committee with a hearing so the people of America know what’s at stake here and what we’re really fighting for,” Durbin said. “And then we’re gonna bring it to the floor and we’re gonna get a vote.”
Whether the bill stands a chance in the Republican-controlled House, is another matter.
25 Comments
And the AkGOP gives Murkowski a pass…the good ole GOP isn’t what it used to be! Sorry Alaskans your state is turning blue…from lack of oxygen!!
I would suggest that she is actually a democrat, simply joining her colleagues … Get rid of “Rigged Choice Voting”,.. and BEFORE the next voting scheduled events.
She voted with the Republicans 90% of the time.
Dominion Rank Choice Abomination…
The evil democrat Lisa Murkowski and definitely a black stain on the state of Alaska. I wish some one would toss a pail of water on her.
If that happened she be crying: I’m shrinking, I’m shrinking! I think I have a pale you can borrow.
It’s so sad that Lisa turned her back on Alaska. There is no body that can get through to her anylonger. Then Rigged Choice voting because she knew she could win on her own merits anylonger. It was wrong that daddy Frank put her in their in tge first place. Now we suffer with her because she rigged the system in her favor. She knew she was out if she didn’t come up with something. The part that gets me is how the democrats published to not vote for her in round one and they didn’t. It’s to bad Kelly didn’t get just a few more votes or she’d of won in round one! It was her only chance. I guess in 6 more years we can try again IF we are allowed to vote ever again.
Anything she does anymore is not a surprise. We know that she is a demorat who is somehow getting away with a Republican title.
Just accept the fact the Lisa is evil.
I have accepted that she is evil. Her turn.
Lisa and all those supposed repukelicans that joined up with the demoncrats in our legislature should all be censured by the RNC and the ARNC and stripped of their republican status.
What rights don’t LGBTQ people already have? Nobody ever asks that question.
China and other nations are excelling in mathematics, science and quantum physics and our elected officials worry about teaching our children with drag queens, who has a Penis or Vagina and what pronouns to use after our names so we use the correct bathroom. Yeah, keep pushing that rainbow flag Murkowski.
They need the right to have as much fentanyl as they want! The governor needs to sign an executive order immediately! After all, it’s their right!!!
As far as murky is concerned, dunleavy is happy she stays in the headlines! Otherwise the people would ask hard questions of him, causing intolerable problems!!
Results of Stolen Elections!! Never will be a honest Elections until Dominion machines, Mail In Voting and Rank Choice voting is removed. usa is a communist country.
Meet Democrat Senator Lisa Murkowski!
This is promising news!
“BOMBSHELL: HOLDING THEM TO ACCOUNT FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY — PASCAL NAJADI & TODD CALLENDER”
https://www.sgtreport.com/2023/02/bombshell-holding-them-to-account-for-crimes-against-humanity-pascal-najadi-todd-callender/
There seems to be no rock Lisa will not turn over or evil act she will not sign on to to advance the agenda of those out to destroy the moral fiber of the Nation so her merchants of dealth can continue to flourish.
RCV cannot be completely to blame for Murkowski being in the senate. Daddy dearest (can you say NEPOTISM?!) put her there decades ago, and STOOPID Alaskans kept voting for the name. Anyone who has ever voted for her should be ashamed and start doing everything in their power to get her out of there!
For those on the Kenai, there is a meeting tomorrow night (February 7th) @ 6 with Kelly Tshibaka at Paradisos in Kenai to fight against ranked choice voting… although the flyer should say Preserve the REPUBLIC, not democracy…I wish people would learn and UNDERSTAND the difference!!
Thank you , Lisa, for being for women’s rights. The GQP wants to take them away.
Yes, it’s pretty incredible how the evil GOP wants to strip you of your right to kill unborn babies. I mean, just what the heck are they thinking?
murky is garbage
Hers is the face that put HAG in HAggerad.
Voted for Kelly, for exactly this reason!
I don’t see any issue with granting equal rights to anyone, no matter how they identify. If someone is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, or Asexual, it isn’t a choice that they have made! So as citizens of our country, they ought to be protected just as anyone else that is Heterosexual and Cisgender – as those aren’t someone’s choice either. The US Constitution grants rights for people to practice a religion of their own choosing, which is a choice.