Poliquin changes position again, supports Obama order on LGBT discrimination

[jpak]

http://www.pressherald.com/2016/05/26/poliquin-changes-position-again-supports-obama-order-on-lgbt-discrimination/

Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin forcefully defended his voting record Thursday on a measure prohibiting discrimination against gays and other groups as Democrats accused him of flip-flopping on the issue.

The U.S. House reversed course late Wednesday and approved a measure upholding an executive order that bars discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees by federal contractors. More than 40 Republicans, including Poliquin, helped Democrats power the gay rights measure through, despite the opposition of Republican conservatives who dominate the House.

But Democrats and their congressional candidate, Emily Cain, pounced on Poliquin, who cast the vote after voting against a similar measure on the House floor last week. Poliquin was one of seven Republican lawmakers who switched their votes under pressure from House Republican leaders on the anti-discrimination measure offered by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York.

That incident has escalated the political feud between Poliquin and Cain as the issue of LGBT rights grows in prominence nationally ahead of the November election. Poliquin defeated Cain in the 2014 election, putting the 2nd District seat under Republican control for the first time in 20 years.

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