Senator Dole's position on the Equal Rights Amendment in a speech draft

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s-leg_622_007_001_tr

Transcription (Scripto)

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Extent (Dublin Core)

2 Pages

File Name (Dublin Core)

s-leg_622_007_001

Title (Dublin Core)

Senator Dole's position on the Equal Rights Amendment in a speech draft

Description (Dublin Core)

Statement by Senator Dole titled "Dole's Position on ERA." Explains Senator Dole's position on extending the deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

Date (Dublin Core)

1978

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1978

Congress (Dublin Core)

95th (1977-1979)

Topics (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueEqual rights amendments--United States

See all items with this valueSex discrimination against women

Policy Area (Curation)

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Creator (Dublin Core)

Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021

Record Type (Dublin Core)

speech (document)

Names (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueDole, Robert J., 1923-2021

Rights (Dublin Core)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core)

https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=23&q=

Physical Location (Dublin Core)

Collection 003, Box 622, Folder 7

Institution (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Senate Papers-Legislative Relations, 1969-1996

Full Text (Extract Text)

[Prepared by Dick, 11/31/78 for the Northwest Airlines Passenger Magazine]
Dole’s Position on ERA
I supported the Equal Rights Amendment when it passed Congress in 1972. I supported it as a member of the Republican Platform Committee in 1976, and I support its principles today. As the centerpiece of our fight against discrimination based on sex, it would be an important addition to our Constitution.
Of course, ERA has become a hotly debated public issue with very vocal advocates and opponents. Many opponents feel as they do out of fear that it will damage the fabric of American society. While I respect that view, I do not feel that our commitment to equality can do anything but improve and strengthen America. There should be no discrimination based on race, religion, age, handicap, or sex.
Originally, Congress imposed a deadline of March 22, 1979 for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. However, it has become apparent that the required number of states will not have ratified it by that date. Therefore, a number of colleagues who support ERA managed to pass a measure in Congress extending the deadline. Since that measure did not include a provision expressly allowing states to rescind their prior ratification of the amendment, it had the effect of changing the rules without allowing state legislators to change their minds. In my view, that is fundamentally unfair. I supported a change that would have expressly permitted rescissions. When that did not pass, I had to vote against the extension itself.

-2-

Support for a measure on its merits does not logically require support for all procedural matters designed to keep the measure alive. America's commitment to fairness is the bulwark of our democracy. and lawmakers have a duty to defend that principle. However, my concern about the procedural aspects of the extension do not, in any way, dim my support for the principle of ERA.

[Prepared by Dick, 11/31/78 for the Northwest Airlines Passenger Magazine]
Dole’s Position on ERA
I supported the Equal Rights Amendment when it passed Congress in 1972. I supported it as a member of the Republican Platform Committee in 1976, and I support its principles today. As the centerpiece of our fight against discrimination based on sex, it would be an important addition to our Constitution.
Of course, ERA has become a hotly debated public issue with very vocal advocates and opponents. Many opponents feel as they do out of fear that it will damage the fabric of American society. While I respect that view, I do not feel that our commitment to equality can do anything but improve and strengthen America. There should be no discrimination based on race, religion, age, handicap, or sex.
Originally, Congress imposed a deadline of March 22, 1979 for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. However, it has become apparent that the required number of states will not have ratified it by that date. Therefore, a number of colleagues who support ERA managed to pass a measure in Congress extending the deadline. Since that measure did not include a provision expressly allowing states to rescind their prior ratification of the amendment, it had the effect of changing the rules without allowing state legislators to change their minds. In my view, that is fundamentally unfair. I supported a change that would have expressly permitted rescissions. When that did not pass, I had to vote against the extension itself.

-2-

Support for a measure on its merits does not logically require support for all procedural matters designed to keep the measure alive. America's commitment to fairness is the bulwark of our democracy. and lawmakers have a duty to defend that principle. However, my concern about the procedural aspects of the extension do not, in any way, dim my support for the principle of ERA.

[Prepared by Dick, 11/31/78 for the Northwest Airlines Passenger Magazine]
Dole’s Position on ERA
I supported the Equal Rights Amendment when it passed Congress in 1972. I supported it as a member of the Republican Platform Committee in 1976, and I support its principles today. As the centerpiece of our fight against discrimination based on sex, it would be an important addition to our Constitution.
Of course, ERA has become a hotly debated public issue with very vocal advocates and opponents. Many opponents feel as they do out of fear that it will damage the fabric of American society. While I respect that view, I do not feel that our commitment to equality can do anything but improve and strengthen America. There should be no discrimination based on race, religion, age, handicap, or sex.
Originally, Congress imposed a deadline of March 22, 1979 for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. However, it has become apparent that the required number of states will not have ratified it by that date. Therefore, a number of colleagues who support ERA managed to pass a measure in Congress extending the deadline. Since that measure did not include a provision expressly allowing states to rescind their prior ratification of the amendment, it had the effect of changing the rules without allowing state legislators to change their minds. In my view, that is fundamentally unfair. I supported a change that would have expressly permitted rescissions. When that did not pass, I had to vote against the extension itself.

-2-

Support for a measure on its merits does not logically require support for all procedural matters designed to keep the measure alive. America's commitment to fairness is the bulwark of our democracy. and lawmakers have a duty to defend that principle. However, my concern about the procedural aspects of the extension do not, in any way, dim my support for the principle of ERA.