There has been some major traction in the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act as a bipartisan committee, the Senate HELP Committee, easily passed the piece of legislation in a 15-7 vote. Three Republicans voted to move the bill forward (Republican Sens. Mark Kirk [Ill.], Lisa Murkowski [Alaska], and most importantly, Orrin Hatch [Utah]), which is a good sign for ENDA’s future. In order to avoid a filibuster on the Senate floor, it will need more Republicans to vote with Democrats. The bill’s growing momentum holds promise that the two-decades’ old bill will make it through the Senate and even the Republican-controlled House. [MaddowBlog]