Illinois passes Equal Rights Amendment,
more than three decades after deadline
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[May 31, 2018]
By Brendan O'Brien
(Reuters) - Illinois joined 36 U.S. states
on Wednesday when it ratified an U.S. constitution Equal Rights
Amendment (ERA) intended to ensure women are treated the same as men
under state and federal laws, more than three decades after a deadline
to approve it.
The state's House of Representatives passed a resolution 72-45 to ratify
the ERA amendment after the state Senate passed the measure in April.
Illinois' passage of the amendment comes at a time when support for
women's rights is gaining momentum. In addition to the #Metoo movement,
issues like equal pay in the workplace for women are at the forefront of
the political and social landscape in the United States.
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The U.S. constitution does not currently guarantee equal rights for
women, but many federal and state laws prohibit discrimination based on
gender.
"By ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment we can provide a strong legal
protection for women’s rights and prevent rollbacks from Congress or
presidential administrations," said State Senator Heather Steans in a
statement. "This amendment is still relevant and necessary."
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Illinois State Rep. Peter Breen of Lombard, who voted against the
measure, told the Chicago Tribune the amendment was intended to expand
taxpayer funding for abortions and to roll back abortion regulations.
The U.S. Congress approved the amendment in 1972, sending it to
states for ratification. At least 38 states needed to ratify it by
1979 for it to be enacted. Congress, however, pushed the deadline to
1982 when only 35 states approved the amendment.
Nevada became the 36th state to ratify the amendment in 2017, but
Virginia failed to pass it earlier this year.
Supporters argue that Congress could enact the amendment once the
38th state passes it since it has the power to "maintain the legal
viability" of the amendment's existing state ratifications,
according to EqualRightsAmendment.org.
To complicate matters, five states rescinded previous ratifications.
It is unclear how those retractions will play a role in the total
state count.
The last change to the U.S. Constitution was made in 1992 when the
27th amendment regarding congressional compensation was ratified.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Mark Potter)
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