House passes landmark civil rights bill; battle moves to the Senate

On June 5 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 273-158 for passage of a key civil rights bill. The legislation was designed to restore the scope and effectiveness of civil rights protections against employment discrimination undermined by six recent Supreme Court decisions.

The House bill was a substitute measure introduced by Democratic leaders in hopes of garnering a two-thirds majority, or enough votes to override the promised presidential veto. While passing by a margin of more than 100 votes, the bill fell 15 votes short of that goal.

In a letter to House members CC Chairman Archibald Cox called the bill crucial to civil rights in America. "Discrimination is the reverse of equality. How we define discrimination, what we require as proof of discrimination, determines whether we shall have true equality of opportunity in the United States...," Cox wrote.

The "Civil Rights and Women's Equity in Employment Act of 1991" is designed to guard against discrimination in the workplace. It would allow victims of intentional employment discrimination to receive monetary awards, reduce the burden of proof on workers who believe they've been discriminated against, clarify rules for determining when job practices are discriminatory, outlaw job quotas and establish a cap for punitive damages.

The Bush administration has attacked the House bill as a "quota bill." Those words "play to racial prejudice," Cox said in his letter, and "the charge is false. The bill explicitly states that nothing contained therein shall be construed to require or encourage quotas. But the attack, even though false, poses the question of whether the United States will retreat from the broad progress toward equality generated by the civil rights movement."

Sen. John Danforth (RMo.) and eight other Republican senators have proposed a compromise version for Senate consideration. Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Maine) has appointed a task force to explore the alternatives.

Common Cause is continuing its work on this issue in conjunction with a large coalition of national groups headed by the Leadership Coalition on Civil Rights, which remains hopeful that a strong Senate bill will win a two-thirds, veto-proof majority.

Nominations Sought

The Nominating Committee of the National Governing Board is seeking candidates for election to the 60-member board.

The board plays a central role in establishing CC's organizational policies and priorities. Nominees should be able to attend four two-day meetings a year. Members serve three-year terms.

The Nominating Committee will select 30 names from those suggested. Other candidates may run for the board by gathering the signatures of at least 20 CC members. (It's a good idea to have more than 20 signatures because new signatures cannot be substituted for any found invalid.) Two individuals may sign for each family membership. Petitions must be postmarked by September 23.

The names of those selected by the Nominating Committee, plus the names of all petition candidates, will appear on the ballot sent in late January to CC members who will, in turn, elect the 20 new board members.

Send nominations to Dorothy Cecelski, Secretary of the National Governing Board, Common Cause, 2030 M St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. She may be called collect at the national office, (202) 833-1200, with questions or suggestions.

COPYRIGHT 1991 Common Cause Magazine
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