Legislation creates conflict between one's right to religious freedom, and another's right to sue you for exercising it
Contact: Antonia Ferrier, Amos Snead, both for the Office of the Republican Whip, 202-226-7022
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /Christian Newswire/ -- House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement today after Democrats failed to secure a veto-proof majority on the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would erode one's right to religious freedom by strengthening another's right to sue you for practicing it:
"The structure of the bill before us today is eerily similar to legislation we've seen from this majority all year: a favorable, purposefully misleading title applied to a bill that's poorly assembled and oblivious to its own consequences.
"In this case, the so-called 'Employment Non-Discrimination Act' creates a legal quagmire for employees who practice, or even acknowledge, their religious beliefs - depending on where they happen to work, and subject to judicial interpretation. In the process, it erodes a basic, fundamental right bestowed upon us by our Creator - and a right guaranteed to every American under the U.S. Constitution.
"As a former president of a Baptist college in Missouri, supporters of this bill have been quick to assure me that its most onerous provisions would not apply to that school. But no such exemption is available for Christian bookstore owners, as an example, or any other small business in which people of faith and deep religious conviction are relied upon as an integral part of the workforce.
"Thankfully, Republicans secured the votes necessary this afternoon to uphold a presidential veto. It's my hope now that this Congress can move forward on the real priorities affecting American families. Though a clear boon to trial lawyers, this bill does not meet that standard."
NOTE: Blunt penned a column on the majority's ENDA legislation this week for Human Events, available here. His speech on the floor of the House can be viewed by visiting: http://youtube.com/watch?v=y0FOPw8vKqY
