'This bill is about equality. Period': Nevada OKs the ERA
Forty-five years to the day after Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment, Nevada became the first state in 40 years to approve the provision that would enshrine womens rights in the U.S. Constitution.
It only took a simple voice vote with little debate for the Senate to concur with the Assembly and pass the Equal Rights Amendment or the ERA making Nevada the first state since 1977 to approve the resolution.
The votes throughout the process were mostly along party lines, with Democrats in favor. State Sen. Heidi Gansert and Assemblywoman Jill Tolles, both of Reno, were the only Republican lawmakers to vote in favor, though Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval also said he favored its passage.
State Sen. Pat Spearman, D-Las Vegas, carried the legislation and said some of the arguments around the amendment were misdirection.
Read more: http://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/22/bill-equality-period-nevada-oks-era/99503484/