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Chaos Erupts in Congress As Republicans Block Measure That Would Protect LGBT Workers – WATCH

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In a chaotic floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, an amendment to a defense authorization bill that would have blocked funding to anti-LGBT government contractors was rejected after a last minute rally from Republicans.

The amendment was put forth by openly gay Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney. Maloney initially had the votes to pass the measure until Republicans made a last ditch effort to block it, which they did narrowly by one vote.

Maloney’s amendment would have voided a provision in the defense authorization bill passed Wednesday by Republicans which provides broad “religious freedom” exemptions for religious and religiously affiliated organizations that receive federal contracts. Those exemptions can be used to discriminate against LGBT people.

PREVIOUSLY: House Approves Defense Bill That Would Undo Obama’s LGBT Executive Orders on Job Bias

Maloney’s amendment also would have blocked funding from going to any company that would not comply with President Obama’s executive order banning discrimination among federal contractors against LGBT workers.

The Hill reports: 

GOP leaders held the vote open as they pressured members to change sides. Infuriating Democrats, they let lawmakers switch their votes without coming to the House floor.

“Shame! Shame! Shame!” Democrats chanted as they watched the vote tally go from passage of Maloney’s amendment to narrow failure.

Twenty-nine Republicans voted for Maloney’s amendment to a spending bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, along with all Democrats in the final roll call.

“This is one of the ugliest episodes I’ve experienced in my three-plus years as a member of this House,” Maloney, who is openly gay, said while offering his amendment.

House Democrats took to Twitter following the defeat to express furor over Republican intransigence against LGBT rights.

https://twitter.com/RepMurphyFL/status/733337428040241152

Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan denied knowing whether his team pressured House Republicans to switch their votes. “I don’t know the answer. I don’t even know,” Ryan said. He then defended the provision that Maloney was trying to gut: “This is federalism; the states should do this. The federal government shouldn’t stick its nose in its business.”

When Maloney confronted Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) aout the vote reversals, McCarthy reportedly told Maloney, “Get back on your own side of the aisle.” To which Maloney responded, “What side of the aisle am I supposed to stand on to support equality?”

Watch video of House Democrats chanting “Shame!” at House Republicans.

Maloney was quick to condemn the Republicans who switched sides.

Watch Maloney’s speech on the House floor here:

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Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer also blasted the GOP representatives who switched their votes.

Hoyer was also reportedly furious that Republican House members were allowed to change their votes without entering the chamber, thus having to face the chorus of Democratic members chanting at them.

Hoyer had this to say in a statement: 

“Today, House Republicans defeated an amendment by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney that would ensure that federal contractors cannot discriminate against LGBT employees.  Several Republican Members initially cast votes in favor of Rep. Maloney’s amendment but shamefully changed their votes after it was clear the amendment would pass, leading the amendment to fail by just a single vote.  Not only did they vote against equality and inclusion, but those who switched their votes did not even have the courage to do so openly in the well of the House.  They did so quietly from the back benches, contrary to established practice that requires vote-switching to be done in person at the Clerk’s desk, and House Republican leaders held a two-minute vote open for nearly eight minutes.

“But the action they hoped would slip quietly under the radar will instead surely be heard loudly and clearly across the nation as a rallying cry to all who cherish equality, justice, and civil rights – that those who stand against the full inclusion and protection of LGBT individuals and their families ought to be called out and held accountable.  House Democrats will continue to hold them accountable for their anti-LGBT record and their actions as long as it takes to ensure that the words of our Declaration ring true across this land:  that all ‘are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’”

The Human Rights Campaign has also confirmed the 7 Republican congressmen who switched their votes:

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