The G.O.P. And Violence Against Women
Source: The New York Times
November 25, 2012
In an editorial Sunday The New York Times calls on Republicans in Congress to allow final action on the bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, authored by chief sponsor Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The lead Republican cosponsor of the Leahy-Crapo bill is Senator Michael Crapo (R-Idaho).
Excerpts:
"If Republicans are serious about repairing their party's standing among women, gay and Hispanic voters, they need to adjust some policies and stop sending hostile messages. A good place to start would be for Republicans in the House to stop blocking reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act over provisions deemed too protective of gay and immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault."
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"A thoughtful renewal measure introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat and Judiciary Committee chairman, and Senator Michael Crapo, an Idaho Republican, cleared the Senate in April with strong bipartisan support. But it has hit a wall in the Republican-led House. Instead, House Republicans pushed through a regressive version of the measure that omits new protections for gay, bisexual or transgender victims of abuse."
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"The act's reauthorization is must-do business for the lame-duck session. Failure to agree on a bill would mean having to start the legislative process all over again next year. Mr. Boehner should relent and allow the House to vote on the Senate bill. There is a chance it would not muster sufficient Republican votes to pass. But at least it would give Republican representatives who value moderation a chance to dissociate themselves from the narrow-minded prejudices and politics hurting their party."
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