ERA Bill HCR 8003 is to get a hearing finally??

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN lobbies Florida's House Speaker to HOLD A HEARING ON THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT RATIFICATION BILL on Monday, March 22, 2010


Subject: Deadline tomorrow for ERA on House Committee Agenda
Please note this letter sent to Rep. Carl Domino (850) 488-0322 --

March 18, 2010

Representative Carl Domino
Chair, Civil Justice & Courts Committee
Florida House of Representatives
By Facsimile/Email

Representative Domino:

We are acutely aware that you have not yet put HCR 8003 (Ratification of the ERA) on the agenda of the Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee. This is extremely troubling.

We also understand that a concern is that time to ratify the ERA may have expired, regardless of the ratification of the Madison Amendment in 1992 after being considered for more than 200 years. While some might argue that the Madison amendment is not relevant to the ERA, no one who serves in public office can honestly argue that women should be denied equal rights under the U.S. Constitution.

The matter of expiration must be decided by Congress and perhaps the courts – and so there is simply no acceptable reason not to hear the bill and forward the matter of equality for women. In 1998, Florida voters voted by 65-35 for Revision 9 to the Florida Constitution for equal rights for women; thus ratification of the ERA would now be consistent with the will of the people of Florida.

ERA ratification bills have been reintroduced each year since 2003, and every year the result in the House has been the same: no action whatsoever. Doing nothing only serves to perpetuate ongoing discrimination. Is that the goal of those who say Florida shouldn’t proceed with these bills?

It is time for Florida Legislature to do the right thing and finally stand for equality for women, a right denied for far too long. Otherwise, we must surmise that you, your colleagues simply do not support the rights of women – some of whom are your sisters, wives, daughters, and granddaughters. As we see it, silence and inaction on HCR 8003 are exactly the same as voting no, and those who do nothing must be held accountable in this election year.

Hopefully you and House leadership can turn this very unfortunate situation around before time runs out again.

Sincerely,
Carmen Elias-Levinson
Chair, Miami-Dade Commission for Women

cc: Speaker of the House, Rep. Larry Cretul
Speaker Pro-Tempore, Rep. Ron Reagan
Members of the Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee
Representative Evan Jenne