Dems Sneak Hate Crimes Bill In Defense Initative
Democrats are expected to sneak the hate crimes bill through the Senate as early as tomorrow after they offered it as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill.
The Senate approved the same hate crime legislation last year as part of the military funding bill, but it was never reconciled with the House’s bill.
The current House version – H.R. 1913, or the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 – was passed April 29 and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Now the Senate is considering the military appropriations bill, or S.1390, and the Senate “hate crimes” act, or S. 909, may be passed as an amendment soon.
The “hate crimes” legislation now faces its best chance in years to become federal law.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced Senate consideration of S.909, or the “Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act” on Tuesday.
“For the last decade, Matthew Shepard’s name has been associated with hate crimes. When this bill passes, his name will thereafter be associated with justice,” Reid said, according to a Politico report.
Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz, blasted the hate crimes amendment today, saying it is unrelated to the defense bill
