Washington Blade
Senate Democratic leader withdraws 'vehicle' for measure
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | Jul 18, 4:45 PM

A vote in the U.S. Senate on a gay- and transgender-inclusive hate crimes bill was put on hold this week after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) abruptly withdrew a controversial defense authorization bill to which the hate crimes measure was to be considered as an amendment.

Reid pulled the defense bill from the Senate floor on Wednesday, minutes after Democrats were unable to break a Republican-led filibuster that blocked passage of a Democrat-supported amendment calling for removing U.S. combat troops from Iraq by next spring.