Equal Rights Amendment: Illinois House delays vote

The Illinois House put off a May 14 vote on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) for at least another week, and possibly until after the November elections, Monitor correspondent Jonathan Harsch reports. The bill's sponsor indicated that more support needed to be gathered to pass the bill. Pro-ERA workers led by Eleanor Smeal, president of the National Organization for Women, explained they could not afford to risk losing the Illinois vote because a loss here could end hopes for national ratification -- which now depends on at least three more states ratifying ERA before June 30, 1982. So far 35 states have ratified ERA -- with 5 of these trying to rescind their votes.