Rep. McGregor wants GOP to have bigger tent

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8:55 PM Thursday, June 4, 2009

If the GOP wants to save itself from being just the party of old white men, it might want to listen to some of its less ideologically pure members.

For example, in a move that might flummox many in the right wing of the party, Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, is pushing a bill in the Ohio House that would protect gays from discrimination.

He is unapologetic about breaking with the social conservatives on the issue. He is one of two Republicans in the House to co-sponsor the bill.

He thinks it’s right to protect people who are lesbian, gay, bisexuals or transgendered and right for Republicans to break out of their current narrow mold.

And he doesn’t think he’s alone.

He expects many of the older Republicans in the Statehouse to be against the bill, but many of the younger GOP staffers tell him informally that they believe discrimination against gays is wrong.

If his party can only spot a demographic trend, McGregor thinks it would recognize that younger people of all political views are increasingly accepting of people who don’t share their sexual orientation.

McGregor thinks that enough Republican votes can be found to pass the bill in the GOP-controlled Senate and he intends to lobby for the bill there.

This is not to state that McGregor has turned into a flaming liberal. He backs the bill, but he also backed provisions that made sure it wouldn’t unduly burden businesses.

He also makes an economic point. The state needs to attract and retain talented people if it wants to see its economy grow.

“Ohio can’t afford to discriminate against anyone,” he said.

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Ross McGregor is right and I'm a conservative. There's no sense in discriminating because of someone's sexual orientation.

reader
12:14 PM, 6/14/2009

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This isn't the first thing Ross had gone against his constituents best interest on. We need a real conservative to run against him. Sorry Ross, Oh wait you're not sorry so why should I be?!

Becky
9:04 AM, 6/12/2009

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