The US House passed Thursday a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. It enjoyed universal support from Democrats, but split the GOP caucus.
The bill passed 286 to 138.
Two versions of the bill went to a vote Thursday. The first, the one passed by the Senate earlier in February, was the broadest. It reauthorized VAWA and added protections for gays and lesbians, illegal immigrants as well as native Americans who are victims of violence.
Both Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey voted in favor of the Senate version earlier February. The expanded version of the bill failed in 2012, when all but 2 Republicans voted no.
The second version, introduced by the GOP via an amendment, also reauthorized VAWA but was far more modest in its expansion of the law. It did not specifically address those groups, though it did broaden categories of what constitutes abuse.
The delegation broke down into three groups. All 5 Democrats voted for the final passage of VAWA and against the GOP amendment. They were joined by all for southeastern Pa. Republicans: Reps. Charlie Dent (R-Lehigh), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks), Jim Gerlach (R-Chester) and Pat Meehan (R-Delaware).
Three Republicans voted in favor of both versions: Reps. Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne), Bill Shuster (R-Blair) and GT Thompson (R-Centre).
6 Republicans voted yes on the GOP amendment but no on the final VAWA passage: Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Butler), Tom Marino (R-Lycoming), Tim Murphy (R-Allegheny), Scott Perry (R-York), Joe Pitts (R-Chester) and Keith Rothfus (R-Allegheny).
“It is important to prevent and prosecute violence against women. The bill that I voted for today increases oversight and ensures that funds actually go to prosecuting perpetrators and providing much-needed services to victims,” said Rothfus of the GOP version.
“Unfortunately, the Senate bill raises constitutional questions and could deprive certain Americans of Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights. Without the opportunity for the House Judiciary Committee to conduct hearings on the Senate bill, I could not support it.”
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6 Responses
This vote is telling about the Rothfus kitchen cabinent: Faith Based matter-Pat Robertson; Fiscal matters-Grover Norquist; foreign affairs-John Bolton. Mr. Rothfus, why did Pat Meehan a former federal prosecutor and no panderer to the Gay-Lesbian lobby vote in favor of these measures? Pa 12th women-stock on your birth control pills, before it’s too late.
Not so sure that “Democrat maybe” understands the judicial process. The Congress does not have control over the military justice system. This confused person seems to be proposing that having no legislation deterring violence against women is preferable.
So by all means, Democrat maybe, let’s take away the legal protections for women. Because that will help.
This bill and the hype around it is a joke. It’s just a piece of paper with words on it. Look at how rampant rape is in and by the US military, and that’s by the DoD’s own admission. Violence against women hasn’t changed since this bill was passed originally. Not one person came forward and said it helped them. It was and is a joke that democrats used against republicans to make it look like they hated women.
When Congress and the Senate go after the military for raping women and hold them accountable then I will know they mean business.
http://www.theusmarinesrape.com/HideTheTruth.html
Once again some of the republicans show they are out of the mainstream.
Unbelievable. Ladies, time to write some letters of displeasure.