Maine Republicans block new statewide Equal Rights Amendment vote
Source: Bangor Daily News
AUGUSTA, Maine — Republicans in the Legislature have essentially shut the door on the possibility of a referendum to enshrine gender equality in the Maine Constitution.
The bill calling for the measure has received majority votes in both chambers of the Legislature but failed to garner two-thirds support, which is necessary to send a constitutional amendment to a statewide vote. A bid to kill the bill failed 16-19 in the Senate on Tuesday with Republican Sens. Roger Katz of Augusta and Dana Dow of Waldoboro joining with Democrats in favor of the bill, which passed on a 78-65 party-line vote in the House on Thursday.
Supporters argue that gender inequality shows itself on a range of issues, from unequal pay for men and women to divorce and domestic violence laws. Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, said Maine women remain at a disadvantage in a number of ways.
“I have seen how these cultural biases work,” Vitelli said during Senate debate Tuesday. “Words matter.”
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Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2017/05/16/politics/maine-republicans-block-new-statewide-equal-rights-amendment-vote/
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This should be a no brainer for both sides, but the GOP wants to keep the division going because they hate liberals because the radio told them to. 
Because I really can't see any other reason for voting against this. 
