BREAKING: Congress Finally Reauthorizes Violence Against Women Act

[CajunRaven]

How would VAWA make women unequal? No one is saying violence against women is worse than anyone else, but domestic violence against women is a widespread problem that needs to be addressed. VAWA was a way of doing so.

Illegal immigrants would only receive protections when their lives were in danger, and in that instance, VAWA would help them get a temporary visa.

Here's a list of the many ways VAWA has helped the lives of domestic violence survivors: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/defa..._factsheet.pdf

Violence against all law abiding citizens is widespread.

[CajunRaven]

This is merely the opening salvo in the right wing plot to throw women back in the kitchen. It's rooted in anger over White female support for Obama. Really, it is.

Oyyyy veyyyy.

Time for the tin foil.

[Sprightly]

Since you now say that you support the Act, I thought you would take care of that. You're so good at it.

Yeah. I'm not going to argue for something that I don't fully support. Mostly, I just wanted to end my portion of the discussion. You go for it. I think we know why you won't though.

[EmDot]

They are not being given jurisdiction over all crimes committed on the tribal lands. The Native American community claims that the Fed's don't take these charges seriously if they are committed against Native American women by non-Indians (i.e. white males). In a substantial number of cases, the claim is that the U.S. Attorney refuses to prosecute. Well, there's your problem. It's an enforcement issue. That can be fixed without creating any new laws.

I remembered reading earlier where the police took a long time to respond to crimes because they weren't in close proximity to the reservation so I looked again to find the article or a similar one and I found this. I'm not going to necessarily place blame on lack of prosecution when it's possible it's a manpower problem on on policing end.

Washington Steps Back From Policing Indian Lands, Even as Crime Rises

The federal government has cut the size of its police force in Indian country, reduced financing for law enforcement and begun fewer investigations of violent felony crime, even as rates of murder and rape there have increased to more than 20 times the national average, according to data.

<snip>

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, for instance, which along with the Justice Department is responsible for law enforcement for 1.6 million residents spread over 56 million acres of Indian country, distributed $322 million to tribal law enforcement programs in 2012, according to budget outlays.

But both Philadelphia, which has a population of 1.5 million and a police budget of $552 million, and Phoenix, with 1.4 million people and a $540 million police budget, spend far more on public safety despite having smaller populations and less area to patrol. (Phoenix employs 3,100 officers, while Philadelphia has about 6,400 officers.)

The original article I saw also mentioned that the reason many cases weren't prosecuted is because suspects left the reservation and a problem with evidence gathering.

[kudzu]

Yup...female victims are have endured horrific abuse and need support.

Wait for it...

...This will surely be extended to the "female" male in homosexual relationships...

[Gopher]

I remembered reading earlier where the police took a long time to respond to crimes because they weren't in close proximity to the reservation so I looked again to find the article or a similar one and I found this. I'm not going to necessarily place blame on lack of prosecution when it's possible it's a manpower problem on on policing end.

Washington Steps Back From Policing Indian Lands, Even as Crime Rises
The original article I saw also mentioned that the reason many cases weren't prosecuted is because suspects left the reservation and a problem with evidence gathering.

The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 was passed to address some of the issues facing law enforcement (or lack thereof) in tribal areas and may very well address some of the concerns expressed on this thread.

http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/pu...er-act-of-2010

[Calamari]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...-women-act.php

After nearly a year of resistance that has damaged them politically with women voters, House Republicans have found a clever way to back down on the reauthorization of an expanded Violence Against Women Act, aides confirmed to TPM late Tuesday.

The original plan was for the Republican majority in the House to pass its version of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization and then go to conference conference committee with the Senate. The Senate has already overwhelmingly passed a more aggressive bill, with protections for LGBT, Native American and undocumented women that have been at the heart of the dispute with House Republicans.

But all that changed Tuesday night. The Rules Committee instead sent the House GOP’s version of the Violence Against Women Act to the floor with a key caveat: if that legislation fails, then the Senate-passed version will get an up-or-down vote.

Not sure how they thought opposing this was a winner.

[georjec2]

How do you vote against something called "Violence Against Women Act" and then expect women to vote for you ???

Whether they are here legally or not whether they live on a reservation our not violence against women should not be tolerated anywhere in the US.

[Grindelwald]

Violence against all law abiding citizens is widespread.

What's your point? I mean, even a blind kool-aid drinker like yourself couldn't possibly defend the GOP on this one.

[Calamari]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/201...1/vawa-passes/

After nearly a year of partisan infighting on Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives and the Senate have finally agreed to send a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act to President Obama’s desk.

On Thursday, by a vote of 286 to 138, the House passed the bipartisan Senate-approved version of the bill — one that includes added protections for LGBT, Native American, and undocumented victims of domestic violence. All 138 votes against the bill were Republicans.

A watered down Republican version of the bill, which was offered as a substitute amendment, failed to garner enough votes to slow the process. It was struck down by a vote of 257 to 166. Sixty Republicans voted against their own party’s replacement measure.

Again, it's amazing that the Republicans fought so hard against this. Sometimes I'm ashamed of my party.

[kudzu]

Wait for it...

...This will surely be extended to the "female" male in homosexual relationships...

What, no dissenting opinions ?

[RavnFreek]

How do you vote against something called "Violence Against Women Act" and then expect women to vote for you ???

Whether they are here legally or not whether they live on a reservation our not violence against women should not be tolerated anywhere in the US.

Exaclty why they brought up the VAWA in the first place. How could you vote against it? Well, because its not necessary. Like other have said violence against people is already against the law regardless of sex or race or immigration status. So when the dems introduce such a law and the repubs realize how this is just not needed, the dems cry WAR ON WOMEN!

I don't have time to read the proposed act but could any one here who supports the act please explain what new protections a woman would receive under this new law? Also please explain why these new protections should not be afforded to all citizens? not just women?

I'm being serious

[CajunRaven]

What's your point? I mean, even a blind kool-aid drinker like yourself couldn't possibly defend the GOP on this one.

ROTFLMAO - You're calling me blind kool-aid drinker. Are you fricking serious. You of all people!

Show me where I constantly defend the GOP, please. I'll bet I can find as many where I criticize them. LMAO. You on OTOH. Do you have a tatt of Donkey on your shoulder.

My God. You're too much.

[RavnFreek]

So its been 5 hrs now and no one answered my question. Speaks volumes.

[Calamari]

Right Upset Violence Against Women Act will stop them from threatening their wives, gays, minoritiesI

am not making these comments up. My favorite is the fear of the Federal govt sending a “minority woman” to your door to talk to you (comment #27). Which also proves one of my thesis that the reason the right wing hates govt related jobs like in Amtrak or the Postal Service is that they tend to employ minorities. What right wing hatred of women, gays, people of color (aka Minorities) and so on?????
...

Like most of the right wing’s ideological actions at the root of all their animosity to ‘federal govt”, big govt” etc has to do with them being against laws that deprive them of the ability to act out their racism, sexism and white entitlement they assume is their birthright, Everything else, all theories on limited govt economics etc is window dressing to hide their bigotry.

That explains everything rather neatly, doesn't it?