Wednesday This & That: Open Thread
by: Autumn Sandeen
Wed Jul 15, 2009 at 03:05:00 AM EDT
http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/12035/wednesday-this-that-open-thread (http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/12035/wednesday-this-that-open-thread)
• New York Times' Senate Democrats Attach Hate Crimes Law to Defense Bill:
To lift the chances of passage, Democrats said the legislation, known as the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, would be attached as an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill - a must-pass measure.
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.
Didn't we try this last session (2007/2008)? The House Democrats wanted a stand alone bill, while the Senate Democrats connected the bill to the Defense Appropriation Act. Nothing ever made it to President Bush's desk.