Rep. Maloney Applauds All-Male Augusta National Invitation for Women to Join

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) today praised Augusta National Golf Club’s invitation to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina businesswoman Darla Moore to become the first female members when the club opens for a new season in October 2012.

“I applaud Augusta National for realizing that women deserve equal opportunities—in work, life and on the golf course,” Maloney said. “I have long called for them to end their exclusionary policy. Women today head corporations, are renowned as experts in their field, and own nearly one-third of American businesses, so it makes absolutely no sense to ban women from club ranks. Augusta National's membership rules have been stuck in the bunker for years—but by welcoming these two distinguished women, they managed to save par.”

Earlier this year, Maloney re-introduced H.R. 4376, the “Ending Tax Breaks for Discrimination Act of 2012,” legislation that would end tax breaks for doing business at clubs that discriminate, such as Augusta National Golf Club. In 2003, she joined Martha Burk, Chair of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, at Augusta to protest during that year’s Masters.
###