U.S. Senators - It Gets Better

Thirteen U.S. Senators for the It Gets Better Project!

Our First Openly Gay U.S. Senator?

Openly gay Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is reportedly mulling a run to replace the retiring Sen. Herb Kohl, who leaves office in 2012. If successful, Baldwin would become the first openly gay U.S. Senator in history. The Victory Fund is already promising Baldwin their full support.

“This would obviously be a top priority for us. Tammy Baldwin has been an outstanding congresswoman, and she’d be an outstanding senator,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which has endorsed Baldwin repeatedly. In 1998, when Baldwin became the first openly LGBT candidate to win election to the U.S. Congress as a freshman, the Victory Fund raised nearly a quarter million dollars for her campaign.

GOP Sen. John Ensign To Resign

Last month beleaguered GOP Sen. John Ensign announced that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2012. But today his aides revealed that Ensign will resign tomorrow.

Ensign has fallen under investigation by the ethics committee in the wake of an alleged sexual relationship with an aide and accusations that he steered business to her lobbyist husband. His departure could clear the way for Nevada's Republican governor to appoint Rep. Dean Heller (R) to the seat, giving the GOP an incumbent in 2012.

DOMA Repeal To Advance In Senate

Responding to pressure from the Courage Campaign, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) has agreed to become the tenth and final vote needed to advance the bill to repeal DOMA out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. While the repeal effort has a reasonable chance of success in the Senate, it is, of course, doomed in the GOP-dominated House.

ENDA Reintroduced In U.S. Senate

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act will be reintroduced in the Senate today.

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mark Kirk, R-Ill., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, announced that they introduced the fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit most employers across the country from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers. The bill, known as ENDA, would make it illegal under federal law for employers with at least 15 employees to discriminate against, harass, or fire anyone due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. While surveys show that over 60 percent of Americans overwhelmingly support workplace protections for LGBT people, it still remains legal in more than half the country for employees and job applicants to be discriminated against based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

While ENDA has a slim chance of success in the Senate, it is doomed in the House, where it was reintroduced last week.

Tony Perkins Attacks Sen. Chuck Schumer

Perkins can't even tell the truth with his own YouTube headlines: "Tony Perkins Responds to Sen. Chuck Schumer's Praise of FRC." Praise? Where?

Feinstein & Gillibrand Intro DOMA Repeal

Quote Of The Day - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

"All children should always feel safe and secure in our schools. While at school to learn, some students are forced to endure harassment, violence, bullying, and intimidation because of their sexual orientation. This is completely unacceptable. Our laws ensure that all students have access to public education in a safe environment free from discrimination, and these laws must guarantee these same protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students." - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, announcing today's reintroduction of the federal anti-bullying Student Non-Discrimination Act, which died in committee in 2010.

Gillbrand is one of 21 Senate cosponsors of the bill.

The Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) would establish a comprehensive federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It would forbid schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring harassing behavior. SNDA would also provide meaningful and effective remedies (loss of federal funding and a legal cause of action for victims) for discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, modeled after Title IX.

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) To Retire

Scandal-plagued adulterer and defender of marriage Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) announced today that he will not seek reelection in 2012.

Nevada Sen. John Ensign, facing an ethics investigation stemming from an affair with a campaign aide, said Monday he would not seek reelection because he wanted to spare his family from an "exceptionally ugly" campaign. "At this point in my life, I have to put my family first," Ensign told reporters at a news conference in Las Vegas. Just two months into the 112th Congress, Ensign is the eighth Senate incumbent to opt out of running for a new term, out of 33 seats up in 2012. The announcement is welcome news to national Republicans who have admitted the two-term Republican would be vulnerable in the race. GOP Rep. Dean Heller, who won three statewide elections as secretary of State, is considered the party's best candidate to retain the seat.

Sen. Scott Brown Asks Billionaire Tea Party Kingpin David Koch For Campaign Dough

Think Progress has the full story.

Quote Of The Day - Sen. Marco Rubio

"I want to thank Speaker Boehner and the House Republican leadership for taking action to defend this critical law that was enacted by a bipartisan majority in Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton. It is unfortunate that President Obama decided to no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act. While much of the debate in Washington is focused on creating jobs and growing our economy, we should not sit by while this administration makes profound and regrettable decisions based more upon the politics of the day than the words of our Founding Fathers. This law protects one of our most sacred institutions and because of the House’s actions today, it will be defended." - Tea Party-backed GOP Sen. Marco Rubio (FL), in a message posted on his official page.

Another Classic Rant From Sen. Sanders

It's a pity no one was there to hear him.

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) To Retire

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) announced tonight that he will not run for reelection in 2012, making him the fifth Senate Democrat to declare their retirement at the end of the current term. Akaka was first appointed to the Senate in 1990 after Sen. Spark Matsunaga died of prostate cancer.

After months of thinking about my political future, I am announcing today that I have decided not to run for re-election in 2012. As many of you can imagine, it was a very difficult decision for me. However, I feel that the end of this Congress is the right time for me to step aside. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the people of Hawaii. In 2006, the people of Hawaii gave me an opportunity to continue my service in the United States Senate and I fully intend to serve the last two years of my term in office.

I guess it's time for another look at the below worrisome map. Democrats have 23 Senate seats up for election in 2012, the GOP has only ten.

Quote Of The Day - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

"Dear Mr. Speaker, In a letter to you last week, the Attorney General advised that the Administration has concluded that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional and therefore will cease to defend the statute in pending litigation. It is in the best interests of taxpayers and the constitution for you to refrain from appointing special counsel to defend this law. A decision to appoint special counsel would be an unnecessary cost to taxpayers, and would detract from our shared goal of cutting wasteful spending and creating jobs.

"The executive branch’s responsibility to defend federal laws is not absolute, particularly in instances such as the present case, where the federal law is in direct conflict with the confines of the Constitution. At this critical economic juncture in our nation’s history, it is imperative that we as legislators do not devote resources to defending an antiquated and unconstitutional law."- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, in a letter sent today to House Speaker John Boehner.

Gillibrand Launches RepealDOMA.com

Just launched by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Via Huffington Post:

We must repeal this discriminatory law. There is no reason same-sex couples should be denied the same rights that my husband and I and so many other straight Americans enjoy. For me it comes down to the very simple principles that every American should be able to marry the person they love, and that discrimination against LGBT Americans is unconstitutional and wrong. The law as it currently stands denies federal benefits to thousands of legally married couples -- more than 1,100 federal rights and privileges enjoyed by straight couples, including hospital visitation, inheritance and some health care benefits. It discourages states from recognizing these legal marriages and it denies millions more Americans the right to marry the person they love. This is wrong.

Gillibrand has also pledged to cosponsor Feinstein's coming repeal bill.

Sen Patrick Leahy: I Will Cosponsor Feinstein's Bill To Repeal DOMA

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) emailed his constituents today with a promise to cosponsor Sen. Dianne Feinstein's coming bill to repeal DOMA.

As a Vermonter who has been married for 48 years, I believe it is important to encourage and to sanction committed relationships; relationships that encourage us all to give back to our community; and relationships that complete our lives. Vermont led the way by being the first state to adopt a same-sex marriage law through a legislative process. Now that several states that have voted to give full marriage rights to same-sex couples, I believe that the Federal government should not interfere with those laws or discriminate between marriages sanctioned by State law. Vermont and other states have determined that committed same-sex couples and their families should be entitled to all the protection of that state-sanctioned union. The Defense of Marriage Act denies some Vermont families equal treatment, creating a system of second-class citizens. This goes against American values and it must end. In the coming days, I will join with Senator Dianne Feinstein to introduce legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. It is a core American value that all people should be treated equally by their government. Vermont has been leading the nation on this important civil rights issue and this week, President Obama and Attorney General Holder moved the Federal government in the right direction.

(Tipped by JMG reader Matthew)

Feinstein Promises DOMA Overturn Bill

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today vowed to introduce a bill to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act.

"My own belief is that when two people love each other and enter the contract of marriage, the Federal government should honor that. I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It was the wrong law then; it is the wrong law now; and it should be repealed," the California lawmaker said in an e-mailed press statement.

Feinstein's bill will likely have a decent shot of passing in the Senate, but any companion House bill would be dead in the water.

Email Of The Day - Eugene Delguadio

"Harry Reid is dangerously close to the 51 votes he needs to pass literally anything he wants through the Senate. That would virtually nullify the gains Republicans made in November! And Joe, the sad fact is that without this rule, the Homosexual Lobby would have already rammed through every last bit of their anti-family legislation: The Homosexual Classrooms Act, the Gay Bill of Special Rights, the Entry for Homosexual Aliens Act, and Nationwide Mandatory Homosexual Marriage. I shudder at the thought. And that's why I need you to take action immediately." - Eugene Delguadio, the self-titled Public Advocate Of The U.S., writing to complain that Harry Reid is attempting to reform Senate filibuster rules.

Nationwide Mandatory Homosexual Marriage! Squee!

Sen. Joe Lieberman To Retire In 2012

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), the frequent bane of both Democrats and Republicans and an unlikely hero in the repeal of DADT, will announce his retirement tomorrow.

Lieberman's long awaited decision means an end to a political career that took from the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate to a speaking role at the 2008 Republican National Convention in support of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Lieberman's increased alienation from the Democratic party -- primarily over his ardent support for the war in Iraq -- led to his defeat at the hands of cable television executive Ned Lamont in 2006. But, Lieberman formed his own independent party and beat Lamont in a general election to win a fourth term. His numbers among Democrats only declined since that time, however, making it next-to-impossible for Lieberman to run and win as a Democrat in 2012.

In less high-profile Senate news, North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad (D) also announced his 2012 retirement today.

GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson To Retire

Three-term moderate GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (Texas) told supporters today that she will not seek reelection in 2012. Hutchinson was trounced in her 2010 bid to unseat Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Hutchison is one of the Republican Party's brightest stars, often appearing on political talk shows to press the GOP agenda. Still, she broke ranks during the health care debate and opposed an attempt to stall the bill in the Senate. But on most issues, she stands by her party. Just last month, she said she would not support the DREAM Act and voted against the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell." In 2006, she received more campaign contributions from members of large oil and gas corporations than any other member of Congress. Just this week, in a press release from her office, she "cautioned against putting American energy jobs at risk through new layers of bureaucracy recommended in the National Oil Spill Commission's report on the BP oil spill."

By waiting until her term expires, Hutchinson prevents Gov. Perry from selecting her replacement.