Senate GOP blocks Equal Rights Amendment and sex discrimination prohibition.

Senate Republicans blocked a joint resolution to remove an expired deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which has never been added to the Constitution, a century after it was first introduced to Congress. The procedural vote Thursday needed 60 in support for the Senate to formally take up the measure. The White House issued a statement supporting the Senate measure, saying the administration “strongly supports” nixing the 1982 deadline. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine were the lone GOP senators to vote to move to the measure.