Democrats pushed to get a constitutional amendment on New York’s ballot this November because they believed it could energize liberals eager to protect abortion rights.

A New York judge says he won’t force state election officials to tell voters that a proposed antidiscrimination amendment to the state’s constitution would protect abortion rights.

Let no one say “Suffs” lacks timing.

Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic measure to revive the Equal Rights Amendment, dealing yet another blow to supporters who have pushed for more than five decades to amend the Constitution to prohibit discrimination based on sex.

The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act passed 244-172 with 29 Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the legislation. The White House announced its support earlier Wednesday for reauthorizing VAWA, which aims to reduce domestic and sexual violence and improve the response to it through a variety of grant programs. AdPresident Joe Biden introduced the original Violence Against Women Act in June 1990 when serving as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. A subsequent version was eventually included in a sweeping crime bill that President Bill Clinton would sign into law four years later. Congress has reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act three times since.

(AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit filed by three Democratic state attorneys general that had sought to force the federal government to recognize Virginia's vote last year to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and add it to the Constitution. Constitutional amendments must be ratified by three-quarters of the states, or 38, but Congress enacted a ratification deadline for the ERA that passed decades ago. An emailed message seeking comment from the press office of the National Archives and Records Administration was not immediately returned. Ford in Nevada said in a statement Friday that women have always been endowed with equal rights but it's past time for the country to recognize that. Opponents of the measure warn it could be used to erase protections such as workplace accommodations during pregnancy.

ROANOKE, Va – Just one year ago, Virginia become the 38th and final state needed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). “It’s shameful that 250 years after our nation was founded, women still do not have constitutional guarantee of equal rights in our foundational document,” Herring said. But during its journey to becoming the 28th amendment, the equal rights amendment has hit some roadblocks. “Unfortunately, the Trump administration was so opposed to the notion of constitutional guarantees for women’s equality and strong arms, the National archivist is not recognizing this amendment,” Herring said. Herring is hopeful that the future will look a lot different for equal rights protection for women.

One hundred years ago, American women gained the guaranteed right to vote, with ratification of the 19th Amendment. She introduced that amendment now known as the Equal Rights Amendment in Congress in 1923. Of course, the ERA, finally passed by Congress in 1972 only to stumble during a circuitous ratification effort, still isnt law. ERA advocates were deeply disappointed, though, when in February, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she thought the entire state ratification process should be started over, dealing current efforts a potentially serious blow. Were celebrating the anniversary of the 19th Amendment that really only gave the right to vote to white women, she says.

Those experiences shape her deep support for the Equal Rights Amendment, the change to the U.S. Constitution proposed five decades ago to ban discrimination on the basis of sex. But nearly the same amount, 72%, incorrectly believe the Constitution now guarantees men and women equal rights under the law. She believes women face less discrimination now than they did then, a view shared by about 7 in 10 Americans, according to the poll. The poll shows nearly half of Americans, 46%, share Hirashima’s view that women have a tougher time getting high-paying jobs. About a quarter think women today have more political opportunities.

RICHMOND, Va. – With the start to the new legislative session in the General Assembly Wednesday, major changes could be on the way in Virginia, including new gun laws. The fiery debate over stricter gun laws is expected to begin early this session. “More gun control laws will be followed by all of these people because we’re law-abiding citizens, but the very criminals that break the laws now, will not follow these new laws,” said Franklin County resident Steve Huff. “We need to find at least two Democrats who believe the Second Amendment is as important as every other amendment. Democrats will also look at increasing education funding, which may be an issue where both parties can find common ground.

Earlier this year, the state Senate voted to advance the ERA. The new Democratic legislative majority is poised now to finish the job -- and make Virginia the critical 38th state to back the amendment. "One thing we are going to need to do right away is pass the Equal Rights Amendment in a Virginia," state Senate Democratic leader Dick Saslaw told a cheering crowd. "In January of 2020, these elected officials will take up ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Ralph Northam in 2017 to succeed fellow Democrat Terry McAuliffe as the party made gains in the state House.