This is absolutely mind boggling. In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was gang-raped by her co-workers while she was working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad... Jones was prevented from bringing charges in court against KBR because her employment contract stipulated that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration.
I simply do not understand how this is even possible. Obviously a civil contract between 2 parties cannot prevent a district attorney from calling a grand jury and seeking an indictment. However he/she probably would not do so without the victim's testimony. Surely it is not possible to waive your right to speak at a trial? Has a judge ever order a rape victim to appear in court or give testimony? Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) proposed an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that would withhold defense contracts from companies like KBR “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.” On the Senate floor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) spoke against the amendment, calling it “a political attack directed at Halliburton.” In the end, Franken won the debate. His amendment passed by a 68-30 vote, earning the support of 10 Republican senators including that of newly-minted Florida Sen. George LeMieux.
Who in their right fucking mind would vote *against* an amendment like this? It not as if these senators voted against a bill that already had this amendment because the bill also had another utterly insane amendment they could not in good conscience vote for. These people voted against the amendment. I mean really. This is not about right vs. left. I don't give a fuck if its the lame-duck Dems scoring points off a defense contractor. Be the better man. Corporations should not be allowed to place forced arbitration clauses into employment contracts for cover any type of violent criminal offense. Period. End of discuss. 30 fucking percent of those who represent the American people voted against this? Just let that sink in. ... Both Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, the 2 senators from Georgia voted against this ammendment. I will be calling their Washington offices tomorrow to express my shock and outrage. Please feel free to do the same: Johnny Isakson: 202-224-3643
Saxby Chambliss: 202-224-3521 Calling Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss | 
