Justus

JEFFERSON CITY — Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, has  sponsored a resolution that would urge the U.S. Congress to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.

“It sends the message that Missouri doesn’t tolerate discrimination of any sort, that in Missouri men and women are equal,” Justus said to the Rules Committee today.

If the bill passed, Missouri would be the 36^th out of 38 states necessary to ratify the amendment.

But the amendment might not be valid even if the required 38 states pass it. Congress passed a time limit – until 1982 – when they first passed the amendment.

Justus and Missouri Women’s Network Chairwoman Shirley Breeze said they hope that sunset will be overturned.

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-, said it would be more valid to start over than to try to ratify the old amendment.

Justus said the bill would move sex discrimination from medium to strict scrutiny.

This means that to defend against allegations of discrimination, the alleged discriminator would have to prove a compelling reason rather than a rational basis for the discrimination, Justus said.

This, she said, would put sex discrimination in line with racial and religious discrimination.

Justus said the bill would not affect abortion funding, gay marriage or other issues such as requiring men and women to use the same bathroom.

Several people from groups opposing abortion rights testified, however, to register their opposition of the bill on the groups that it could require states to “bolster the legal status of abortion,” as Susan Klein of Missouri Right to Life said.

The committee, which is composed of three men and two woman, did not vote on the amendment today.

The bill is SCR 3.