The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) bills - HF13, SF200 and HF71, SF208 - are doing well in the MN House but need a hearing in the Senate.

HF13/SF200 puts an ERA into the Minnesota Constitution. HF71/SF208 resolves that the deadline in the Federal ERA be removed and that ratification of the ERA in the US Constitution advances.

Both bills have been referred to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, but the Chair of that committee - Sen. Warren Limmer - is not scheduling either bill for a hearing. He is leaving it up to Senate Majority Leader, Paul Gazelka to decide whether these bills should move forward. See this good update from ERA MN on the situation.

Time to get busy!

1. Urge your senator to support these bills. If s/he is the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee , ask them to pressure their chair to grant these bills a hearing

2. Urge Senator Limmer, Chair of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, to give SF200 and SF208 a hearing

3. Urge Senate Majority Leader Gazelka to make sure that both ERA bills (SF200 and SF208) get a hearing in the Senate, as well as a vote

4. Attend ERA Lobby Day at the Capitol, THIS FRIDAY, March 8th, 9:00 - noon to lobby your legislators and to rally support. Followed by lunch at Best Western Capitol Ridge, Peddler's Pub, 12-2pm. Rally at 10:00 am, Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda. Confirmed speakers include: Governor Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Sen. Dick Cohen, Sen. Sandy Pappas, Sen. Scott Dibble, Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein, Rep. Rena Moran, Rep. Kaohly Her, and Rep. Hunter Cantrell. See FB event page.

Things to mention in your messages to senators:

• As a woman/mother/sister/aunt/grandmother/father/grandfather, etc., securing equal rights for women is a top priority for me, and getting the ERA into the US Constitution is long overdue.

• This is not and should not be a partisan issue.

• Both women and men have been denied equality in the Constitution, because it does not expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex or gender. This amendment is for all people of Minnesota and this country.

• Twenty-four other states in the United States (including Texas) have added an Equal Rights Amendment to their state constitutions. It is time to give Minnesotans the opportunity to vote for an Equal Rights Amendment for our state.

• Recent events have shown clearly that despite claims of equality, women still face inequality due to sexual harassment, inequitable pay and unequal treatment in the courts. Our courts are an uncertain place to determine the equality of over half our population.

• Now is the time to ensure equal justice for all Minnesotans.