House extends hate crime law to cover gays, the measure is attached to a $680B defense policy bill

[BigBearJohn]

WASHINGTON - The House voted Thursday to make it a federal crime to assault people because of their sexual orientation, significantly expanding the hate crimes law enacted in the days after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968.

With expected passage by the Senate, federal prosecutors will for the first time be able to intervene in cases of violence perpetrated against gays.

Civil rights groups and their Democratic allies have been trying for more than a decade to broaden the reach of hate crimes law. This time it appears they will succeed. The measure is attached to a must-pass $680 billion defense policy bill and President Barack Obama — unlike President George W. Bush — is a strong supporter. The House passed the defense bill 281-146, with 15 Democrats and 131 Republicans in opposition.

"It's a very exciting day for us here in the Capitol," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., saying hate crimes legislation was on her agenda when she first entered Congress 22 years ago.

She said it's been 11 years since the gay Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard, whose name was attached to the legislation, was murdered.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33228688/ns/politics-capitol_hill

[thunder rising]

1. Very good use of that appropriations bill.

Of course the bill itself screams "WE HATE THE MUSLIMS" but what'cha gonna.

[BuyingThyme]

2. Checkmate.

[Rex]

3. $680 billion?

Wow, just wow.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

4. K+R.

[Obamanaut]

5. Why must so many things be attached to so many bills that have

nothing to do with the actual bill.

Last year, Harry Reid stuck a pay raise for federal judges on the auto bail-out bill, because judges aren't included on the annual automatatic congressional pay increase.

<snip> House and Senate negotiators agreed earlier this week to attach the hate-crimes provision to the conference report for the $680 billion Defense Department authorization bill. The combined bill passed the House on Thursday, 281 to 146, with 131 Republicans and 15 Democrats in opposition. The measure must pass the Senate, in a vote that could come as early as next week, before it can head to President Obama's desk for his signature.


<link>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/10/house_approves_hate_crimes_mea.html?hpid=topnews