Breaking: Senate Approves Expansion Of Hate Crimes Legislation

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http://www.americablog.com/2007/09/senate-approves-expansion-of-hate.html

Senate approves expansion of hate crimes legislation
by Pam Spaulding · 9/27/2007 11:59:00 AM ET

The big hurdle facing hate crimes legislation in the Senate as been overcome. In a 60-39 vote to proceed to adoption, the Senate approved the Kennedy amendment which adds sexual orientation, gender identity and disability to the existing hate crimes legislation.

Among the Republicans that crossed the aisle to move the legislation forward:

John Warner
Richard Lugar
Susan Collins
Olympia Snowe
George Voinovich
Arlen Specter
Norm Coleman
Gordon Smith (co-sponsor)

Kennedy then asked for a voice vote on the amendment and that subsequently passed. The measure is part of the defense reauthorization bill, which is slated to go up for a vote in the near future.

As you might imagine, Diaper Dave Vitter voted no, as did Toe Tapping Larry Craig.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/27/breaking-senate-passes-hate-crimes-bill/

Breaking: Senate passes hate crimes bill.Moments ago, the Senate voted to expand the hate crimes law to include crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victims. The vote retained the 60 votes necessary to prevent a filibuster, and it will pass as an attachment to the defense authorization bill.


Opponents of the measure immediately predicted it “ultimately would fail either in negotiations with the House or by presidential veto. ‘The president is not going to agree to this social legislation on the defense authorization bill’ said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. ‘This bill will get vetoed.’” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, “Our troops are on the front lines in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere fighting against evil and hate. We owe it to them to uphold those same principles here at home.”

(For a backgrounder on the hate crimes bill, see here and here.)

UPDATE: Human Rights Campaign’s Joe Solmonese heralds the passage:

For over a decade our community has worked tirelessly to ensure protections to combat violence motivated by hate and today we are the closest we have ever been to seeing that become a reality. Congress has taken an historic step forward and moved our country closer to the realization that all Americans, including the GLBT community, are part of the fabric of our nation. The new leadership in Congress fully understands that for too long our community has been terrorized by hate violence. And today, the US Senate has sent a clear message to every corner of our country that we will no longer turn a blind eye to anti-gay violence in America.

UPDATE II: Sen. Larry Craig voted against the hate crimes bill. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was not present to vote.

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