Thursday, February 18 – Counting to twelve and to four

It’s an unusual position for me to be in.

I’m a liberal. I think government is a force for good. I try to pass bills.

Not this time.

I want to kill any legislation that would make it easier for the state to execute someone.

Last year, when we wanted to pass a bill repealing the death penalty, we had to count to twelve. That’s a majority of the members of the Judiciary Committee.

This, year, the other side has to count to twelve.

We’re working to make sure they can’t.

----

I was worried I would refer to the 4th Amendment.

The bill did not require a search warrant.

It required that employers allow their workers to use their leave time to observe the Sabbath.

So I began my testimony by saying: “The 4th Commandment says, ‘Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.’ Our civil rights laws say that an employer must reasonably accommodate employees’ religious beliefs.”

Public and Private and Action

Lots of questions from committee members at my green jobs bill hearing.

I took that as a sign of interest, until my GOP friends started asking why we were singling out former and current recipients of cash assistance for job training.

“The heart of welfare reform is providing incentives for people to join the work force,” I stated. “This bill builds on the legislation we passed a decade ago.”

----

I received the legal memo on whether a court is likely to require accommodation of those hypothetical religious practices in a multi-family dwelling.

Not to use a legal term, it’s common sense. You don’t make exceptions for a religious practice that violates a law, such as those dealing with treatment of animals or fire hazards.

The subcommittee is supposed to consider the bill tomorrow. My staff hand delivered the memo to members’ offices. I added a handwritten note - not to sway anyone’s vote but to get their attention.

---

Lilly Ledbetter is moving in both houses – favorable subcommittee action on the House bill and floor debate on the Senate version. Both have been amended but in different ways.

I’ve offered advice on how to allay Republicans’ concerns and then reach agreement between the two houses on identical language.

Visualizing an Issue

I always try to have a witness who can personalize the issue my bill addresses.

This person will benefit from the legislation or has been harmed by the situation I’m trying to correct.

It’s far more effective than my speaking in abstract terms about the problem.

Today I realized I have a bill I can visualize.

I met with a woman whose landlord has prohibited her and others from having a sukkah outside her apartment. In observance of the harvest festival, Jews eat their meals in a sukkah.

They’re don’t inconvenience any other tenant and cost the property owner nothing.

Photos of these sukkahs will help tell the story at the hearing on my bill to require a landlord to make reasonable accommodation for tenants’ religious expression.