By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Published: June 13, 2013
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed an excellent 10-point bill to protect women’s rights in New York State. The problem now is that legislators are trying to chip away at his effort, piece by piece, nibble by nibble.
State Senate leaders, for example, are trying to remove crucial sections of the bill that would ensure abortion rights in New York even if the United States Supreme Court erodes or overturns those protections in Roe v. Wade. It’s particularly distressing that Senator Diane Savino, who has been an abortion rights proponent and is part of a breakaway group of Democrats in the Senate, has said it’s time to set aside the abortion issue for now and pass the rest of the bill. There are others in the Senate and Assembly who are trying to weaken protections, including those for young victims of sex trafficking.
Some in the Assembly apparently object to raising the penalty for sex trafficking to make it a violent felony crime. That is the wrong move. They are also wrong to try to remove sections that would make certain drivers who deliver prostitutes in “brothels on wheels” covered in the trafficking statute. And, Senate leaders are inexplicably resisting a section that would make sure girls ages 16 and 17 engaging in prostitution would be treated as victims, not criminals.
Governor Cuomo’s entire bill, which pushes for equal pay for women and provides safeguards against housing discrimination among other features, deserves to be passed as is. With less than a week to go before the official end of the session, lawmakers should stop trying to dismantle the Women’s Equality Act.
From The NY Times
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário