State Sovereignty
'Non-Discrimination' Law will Impose Radical Vision of Society on 38 States
May 6, 2010 -WASHINGTON, DC - As the federal government continues its assault on the rights of states to legislate in matters designated to them by the Constitution, House Members have formed the Tenth Amendment Task Force to combat federal intrusion into states and to direct legislative power back to its rightful owner. One example of a violation of state sovereignty is the benign-sounding Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which will overturn the laws of 38 states by forcing them to make "gender identity" a protected status.
"ENDA is the latest stealth attack by the radical Left, in concert with their allies in Congress, to impose their vision of society on the states," said Andrea Lafferty, Executive Director of the Traditional Values Coalition.
"If passed, all businesses with more than 15 employees and state and local governments, including schools, will lose all authority to determine whether they want to hire or continue to employ someone who undergoes a sex change operation, for instance. The inclusion of a phony religious exemption does nothing to protect any businessperson, religious or not, from endless litigation and court battles from those who aim to cripple the rights of conscience and religious liberty.
"Ultimately states, empowered by the 10th Amendment to make laws regarding hiring practices within their borders, will be stripped of their authority to decide for themselves whether they think the owner of Christian radio station, for example, should be forced to hire someone whose actions and lifestyle run contrary to his or her beliefs. We are grateful to the Tenth Amendment Task Force for working to restore the proper constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states."
H.R. 3017, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, is under consideration by the House Committee on Education and Labor and could come up for full committee markup very soon, with a full House vote possibly soon thereafter. The act adds "gender identity" to protected statuses which will put it on equal footing with race and age in hiring practices. "Gender identity" can include a wide range of individuals, including transgendered persons and cross-dressers.
Traditional Values Coalition is the largest non-denominational, grassroots church lobby in America, speaking on behalf of more than 43,000 churches. Founded in 1980 by Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, Chairman, TVC has sought to empower people of faith through knowledge.
