On Wednesday night, the House approved a measure banning the federal government from paying contractors that discriminate due to sexual orientation or gender identity. The amendment to energy and water spending legislation, proposed by Rep. Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.), passed, 223-195, with modified language from Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) dictating that the White House "must not run afoul of the 1st amendment, the 14th amendment, and Article One of the Constitution" in anti-discrimination actions. The House also passed, 233-186, a measure from Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) that shields religious groups from President Obama's directives on transgender bathrooms in schools and anti-LGBT federal contractors. Last week, the House nearly passed Maloney's measure, but fell one vote short after unusual parliamentary maneuvering by Republicans.
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