Republican Louie Gohmert Blasts American Jobs Act For Banning Unemployment Discrimination

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) is no fan of a proposal for the federal government to forbid employers from discriminating against the jobless based on their employment status.

"We're adding in this bill a new protected class called 'unemployed,'" Gohmert said on the floor of the House Tuesday. "I think this will help trial lawyers who are not having enough work. We heard from our friends across the aisle, 14 million people out of work -- that's 14 million new clients."

The American Jobs Act, submitted by President Obama to Congress this week, has a section that would prohibit employers from not hiring someone just because they are jobless.

According to the National Employment Law Project, Gohmert is incorrect: The proposal would not make employment status a protected class like race or sex. It simply bans hiring discrimination against the jobless, and is modeled off of legislation drafted by Democrats in Congress earlier this year.

As The Huffington Post has documented, employers are routinely telling the unemployed they need not apply in job ads. As unemployment remains stagnant and 14 million Americans are out of work, this sort of discrimination pushes back against those who are desperately trying to get back in the workforce.

Some major job board websites have conceded to pressure from activists and agreed to stop running job ads that include discrimination against the unemployed.

Republican leadership has not weighed in on whether they would support the provision, but Gohmert made a point to criticize it.

"So the good news is, if you're unemployed and you go to apply for a job and you're not hired for that job, see a lawyer -- you may be able to file for a claim because you were discriminated against because you were unemployed."

Columnists have also weighed in on the proposal, suggesting it would be a boost only for trial lawyers.

Gohmert's comments were made in the midst of a lengthy rant against the American Jobs Act and Obama's policies. To further make his point, Gohmert beat Democrats to actually filing Obama's bill, instead replacing it with his own legislation titled "The American Jobs Act of 2011." Gohmert's version is simply a two page document that would create massive tax cuts for corporations.

WATCH:

Comments

[TheCycad]

12:06 AM on 09/21/2011

Gohmert, more like Gohldemort.

[BNB]

09:24 PM on 09/20/2011

It's almost scary how dumb you liberals are. "The GOP clearly wants to discriminate" "The GOP wants everyone unemployed".

None of you seem to have any understanding of business. None of you even seem to be able to reason or think logically.

Let's think about this. If a company posts that if you are unemployed over 3 months, they won't hire you. They publicly post this. At least you know you won't have a chance. By making this "discriminatory" - now they can't post this requirement, they still won't hire you because of your unemployment status because it's their business and they can easily say you aren't a good candidate for other reasons, but now you have wasted your time applying for a job that you never had a chance of getting.

This won't stop businesses, well, AT ALL, from not hiring people because of their job history. It only makes it that much more difficult to find a job if you are looking and the ONLY thing it really does is provide opportunity for law suits.

[TheCycad]

01:48 AM on 09/21/2011

Yep, you got buddy. Wow. I wish I could "think" like you. Good job.

[TheCycad]

01:49 AM on 09/21/2011

You really do not know what you are talking about.

[stekathy]

10:48 AM on 09/19/2011

Dewts: an employer should have the right to hire or fire anyone they want for any reason. that doesn't make it right though.

I disagree! Your logic could lead to massive discrimination law suits.

[cookcar]

09:28 PM on 09/17/2011

I do not understand how someone not rich and with half a brain would support the GOP

[BNB]

08:37 AM on 09/21/2011

That's because you don't understand that a majority of poor, unsuccessful people don't support the GOP. You fail to see the connection. Those who support the GOP and think more conservatively, tend to also have the mental traits that make them more successful. But even still, you will probably never understand the connection. What can the government do for YOU today?

[DBG Enterprises]

11:34 AM on 09/16/2011

WoW! "Unemployed Need Not Apply" is constitutional in Republicanland...and this decreases unemployment how?

[BNB]

08:42 AM on 09/21/2011

It is constitutional. Have you read it?

It's not about YOUR opinion or the GOVERNMENTS opinion, this is where you fail to understand. It's about someone who created their own business and should be able to decide, for their own reasons, who is the best candidate for their position.

Louie Gohmert is merely pointing out that this won't actually stop companies from hiring based on job history, it only creates opportunities for garbage lawsuits.

So please, explain how this protection will actually increase employment ... because dumb conservatives like me just don't see it.

[Neets101]

10:10 AM on 09/16/2011

Okay folks so if you sense the slightest hint of a slowdown at your job, it's time to jump ship, before you become unemployed. Once that ship is jumped, if you sense the slightest hint of a slowdown on your new ship it's time to jump ship, etc. you get the picture.

Then you jump the shark, right?

[BNB]

08:39 AM on 09/21/2011

Do you think making it illegal to discriminate based on job history, will actually stop companies from using your job history as a criteria?

[Neets101]

10:43 AM on 09/21/2011

The job posting are stating up front they will not consider an unemployed applicant, that is open discrimination.

You don't even have a chance.

As I said to all those lucky enough to have a job, if the republicans get their way the best thing for you to do is abandon your employer at the first hint of a possible slowdown.

/consequences... results....

LOL

[Tleilaxu Ghola]

08:41 AM on 09/16/2011

sorry about my bad proofreading in post below-- should read-

"How mature of Louie to "steal" the title of Obama's "American Jobs Act" by submitting a worthless piece of junk to congress in the most petty-spir­ited way possible. How mature. Nice to see how these guys are spending their time.

Is it me, or are Texas politician­s especially annnoying? Gohmnert, Jeb Hensarling and Jon Cornyn are always the most disingenuo­us of liars whenever they open thier mouths."

[Tleilaxu Ghola]

08:37 AM on 09/16/2011

How mature of Louie to "steal" the title of Obama's "American Jobs Act" by submitting a worthless piece of junk to in the most petty-spirited way possible. How mature.

Is it me, or are Texas politicians especially annnoying. Gohmnert, Jeb Hensarling and Jon Cornyn are always the most disingenuous of liars whenever they open thier mouths?

[antdogg24]

10:23 PM on 09/15/2011

WHAT? LOL This is too funny. So the jobs bill prohibits employers from discriminating against people who are unemployed. While the same bill encourages discrimination against people who haven't been unemployed long enough. How stupid are these people? Oh yeah..very stupid!

[tristonm79]

10:17 AM on 09/16/2011

I may be wrong, but I think its referring to companies (which I have seen postings on Monster) which say "If you have been unemployed more than 3 months you need not apply.

[antdogg24]

03:47 PM on 09/16/2011

I never wrong, but I'm referring to the part of the bill which states "we will give tax breaks to companies which hire people who have been unemployed for 6 months or longer. But if your comapny hires someone who has been unemployed for a mere 5 months..don't bother asking us for a tax break.

[ThermoChemist]

10:03 PM on 09/15/2011

"Gohmert said on the floor of the House Tuesday. "I think this will help trial lawyers who are not having enough work. We heard from our friends across the aisle, 14 million people out of work -- that's 14 million new clients."
=======

So, he's AGAINST giving lawyers any new business?

Aren't Repubs "supposedly" the Pro-Business Party?
[sarc]

[Mary Eyer]

09:32 PM on 09/15/2011

Are Republicans in some sort of competition to see who can be the most heartless jerk on the planet? Cause otherwise, this makes no sense.

[Aprama]

09:17 PM on 09/15/2011

It's great when republicans come out for bigotry, discrimination and racism. I feel so much cleaner being a Democrat!

Join The Facebook Page | https://www.facebook.com/APostRacialAmericaMyAss

[moethebartender]

08:47 PM on 09/15/2011

Does anybody here think denying someone a job just because they've been unemployed too long is a right and just thing to do to a fellow human being? Never mind whether it should be legal or not, or how it should be dealt with. It's just plain wrong. And so is denying someone a job because of their bad credit. How do you think someone's credit is going to be after becoming a victim of this economy.

[synbadd]

10:45 PM on 09/16/2011

I think a person hiring should be able to hire or not hire who ever they would like. They write the checks it is their decision not anyone elses.

[cookcar]

09:29 PM on 09/17/2011

...and I am sure they sleep well at night too in their fine home. Enjoy it. Hell will not be as comfortable...

[mauserk98]

10:02 PM on 09/18/2011

So you don'r believe that America is the land of equal oportunity.

[MarkJudiGoet]

04:23 PM on 09/15/2011

That's what he comes up with, that he objects to an anti-discrimination clause favoring the unemployed? In a jobs bill proposed to put Americans back to work? Could he be more obtuse?
What next, a public health bill that promotes discrimination against sick people?

[workerpower]

08:46 PM on 09/15/2011

Hey, stop giving them more ideas!

[mortrefuge]

03:20 PM on 09/15/2011

If the Right Wing gets their wish and take over control of the government, and finally begin implementing their complete dismantling of the government including the elimination of social security, medicare, public education and medicade, how will they cope with the mass protests that are sure to follow? Let me give you a hint. The military and the internal security apparatus will not be cut.