Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Senate Hides Hate Crimes Bill in Defense Appropriation

Late Monday, Senate Democrats told their homosexualist base that they'd attempt to sneak the hate crimes bill (S. 909) past the public as an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill – a must-pass measure (S. 1390)

UPDATE 7/17/09: Hate crimes amendment passes in the dark of night with the help of five GOP senators

UPDATE 7/16/09: Sen. Reid anticipates enough GOP support for hate crimes amendment

UPDATE 7/15/09: Sen. McCain Blasts Dems for Hate Crimes amendment

UPDATE 7/14/09 (late): Vote this week, Senator Reid says at press conference

Illinois residents, click here to E-mail Sens. Burris & Durbin (sponsor of this bill), this takes only a minute, and then click here for their phone numbers.

-- From "Senate Democrats Attach Hate Crimes Law to Defense Bill" by David M. Herszenhorn, New York Times 7/13/09

Senate Democrats said on Monday that they would seek to broaden the federal hate crimes law to protect victims of attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disabilities.

The Senate approved the legislation last year, also as part of the military authorization bill, but it was never reconciled with a similar House-passed bill. [President Bush promised to veto ANY bill that included hate crimes legislation.]

Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said that he would introduce the bill as a bipartisan amendment to the defense authorization measure. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, is also a prime sponsor.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.