Toomey votes to support workplace anti-discrimination bill

 Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., was one of a handful of Republicans who voted with the Democratic caucus to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)(J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo, file)

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., was one of a handful of Republicans who voted with the Democratic caucus to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)(J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo, file)

Thursday, the United States Senate passed legislation which would ban discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey was one of a handful of Republicans who voted with the Democratic caucus to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

On Monday night, Toomey had supported a procedural vote on the condition that the Senate consider his amendment which would expand religious exemptions to more employers.

In a statement yesterday, Toomey said: “While my amendment was not accepted, I voted for final passage to help move the legislative process forward.”

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Toomey said he hopes the House will consider expanding the religious exemptions currently in the bill. But House Speaker John Boehner has said he will not bring ENDA up for a vote.

Senator Bob Casey’s office released a statement that he was unable to be in Washington on Thursday but expressed his support.

“Workers should be judged on the quality of the job they do, nothing more, nothing less,” it read.  “I urge Speaker Boehner to bring this bill to allow an up or down vote on this bill in the House floor before the end of the year.”

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