House Lawmakers Spar Over Discrimination

[Desperadoe]

WASHINGTON (AP) - House GOP leaders have stepped in to help a Democratic congresswoman who is facing a discrimination lawsuit, arguing that lawmakers are shielded under a clause in the Constitution that was derived from British parliamentarians concerned about royal persecution.

But Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts said Friday that such a finding would nullify one of the first acts passed after the GOP captured control of the House in 1995 - one subjecting lawmakers to the same employment laws that private employers must obey.

A clause of the Constitution, Frank said at a news conference, "is being distorted to give an effective complete immunity to members who are accused of violating the laws against discrimination."

The "speech or debate" clause, inherited from the British Parliament, states that, except for cases of treason, felony and breach of the peace, lawmakers will not be arrested when attending a congressional session and "for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place."<snip>

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050114/D87K28T02.html

[Erika]

1. Breyer and Scaila debated this topic

Most of our laws and their intent were based on British laws.

[Voltaire99]

2. Our oligarchs are keen to limit liability, keen to hide...

...behind any available cover.

Beware the support of scum like Hastert, Delay and Blum, whose careers are dedicated to amassing greater power with less representation and accountability--the very antithesis of democracy.

And for a Democrat to be claiming immunity from employment law? Disgusting. Here's hoping the ass is sued and sued well.