Reply #82: Agreed- we need a dem in that seat! Still-For a republican, Sen Smith is pretty good on LGBT issues [View All]

During the previous congress (108th), he was a stronger voice for LGBT individuals- more legislation introduced overall, both positive and negative.
Smith's LGBT record from the 108th congress:
2 - DENOTES CO-SPONSORSHIP OF DOMESTIC PARTNER HEALTH BENEFITS
EQUITY ACT, S.1702
Under the current tax code, employees are taxed on the benefi ts provided to their domestic
partners while benefi ts for spouses are tax-free. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., introduced a bill that
would amend the current tax code, allowing employees to exclude from their gross income the
costs of employee-provided health coverage provided to other eligible designated benefi ciaries, in
addition to spouses and dependent children. As of Oct. 1, 2004, ten senators have co-sponsored
this legislation: Democrats — 8; Republicans — 1; Independents — 1.

2 SMITH-KENNEDY AMENDMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL,
S. AMDT. 3183
An amendment by Sens. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was offered
during debate on S.2400, the Department of Defense authorization bill, to attach the Local Law
Enforcement Enhancement Act (a hate crimes prevention measure) to the bill. Th e amendment
passed the Senate with a vote of 65-33, with two senators absent: Democrats — 47 yes, 0 no;
Republicans — 18 yes, 33 no. HRC supported the amendment.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2003, S.966
(CO-SPONSORSHIP)
Senators were asked to co-sponsor legislation introduced May 1, 2003, that would update and
expand federal hate crimes laws to cover serious, violent hate crimes committed because of
real or perceived sexual orientation, gender or disability to cover the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender community.

4 EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT, S.1705 (CO-SPONSORSHIP)
Senators were asked to co-sponsor legislation introduced Oct. 2, 2003, that would prohibit
discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace. As of Oct. 1, 2004, S.1705 had
44 co-sponsors: Democrats — 39; Republicans — 4; Independents — 1.

6 EARLY TREATMENT FOR HIV ACT OF 2003, S.847 (CO-SPONSORSHIP)

7 POLICY PLEDGE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION G. Smith- aye
This Congress, the Human Rights Campaign and the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition worked
together and asked every senator to adopt, voluntarily, a written policy for their own offi ces indicating
that sexual orientation and gender identity and expression are not factors in their employment
decisions. As of Oct. 1, 2004, 26 senators in the 108th Congress have adopted this policy:
Democrats -- 22; Republicans -- 3; Independents -- 1.
from HRC's Congressional Scorecard for 109th congress: Voted for HRC positions on both of the following.


109th Congress

D Lautenberg Amendment to Child Custody Protection Act (S. 403)- G. Smith- aye
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., offered an amendment to the anti-choice Child
Custody Protection Act (S. 403) that contained provisions from the HRC-supported
Responsible Education About Life Act (S. 368). The amendment would create a
federal funding stream for states to teach comprehensive sex education. The only
current federal funding available to teach sex education in schools mandates the
teaching of abstinence-only until marriage. The Senate rejected this amendment by a
vote of 48-51 (Senate Roll Call Vote 214, 2nd Session). Democrats — 42 yes, 1 no,
1 not voting; Republicans — 5 yes, 50 no; Independents — 1 yes. HRC supported
this amendment.

E. Early Treatment for HIV Act (S. 311) (Co-Sponsorship)
Senators were asked to co-sponsor legislation that would offer states the option to
provide Medicaid coverage to low-income, HIV-positive Americans as “categorically
needy.”