Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment fails in acrimonious end to legislative session
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers failed to pass a state Equal Rights Amendment that would have enshrined protections for abortion and LGBTQ+ rights in the state Constitution as the 2024 legislative session came to an acrimonious end.
The Minnesota ERA was the one of the biggest casualties as partisan rancor, lengthy debates and filibusters were fueled by the continued participation of a Democratic senator who was arrested on a burglary charge. Democrats, who hold just a one-vote majority in the Senate, needed her vote to pass any legislation that lacked bipartisan support.
A compromise to legalize sports betting also failed to cross the finish line by the midnight Sunday deadline. So did a public infrastructure borrowing package known as a bonding bill that was supposed to be the centerpiece of the session. Neither could pass without at least some GOP support. But Republicans who said they were frozen out were unwilling to supply the votes needed for the 60% supermajorities required for new debt unless Democrats dropped the ERA. And enough Democrats were opposed to sports betting, so that some GOP votes were essential.
Related articles
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Russian court on Monday opened the trial of a theater director and a playw2024-05-22Indonesian and Singaporean leaders hold annual talks, joined this year by their successors
BOGOR, Indonesia (AP) — Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Joko Wid2024-05-22Xijin ferry historical and cultural block
Once a bustling hub on the Yangtze River, the Xijin Ferry in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province helped shap2024-05-22Mike Trout is healthy and producing. That hasn't been enough for the Shohei Ohtani
Mike Trout has been healthy this year and is leading the major leagues in home runs.So far, that has2024-05-22Abbey Clancy, 38, shows off a new set of train track braces as she's left red
Abbey Clancy revealed she'd had a set of train track braces fitted as she showed off her pearly whit2024-05-22Lebanon's Hezbollah launches attacks targeting Israeli positions: statement
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said on Tuesday that it launched a drone attack targeting position2024-05-22
atest comment