Hatch still hazy on hate crimes.The future of a federal hate-crimes bill remained unclear after a May 11 hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee The U.S. Senate established the Committee on the Judiciary on December 10, 1816, as one of the original 11 standing committees. It is also one of the most powerful committees in Congress; among its wide range of jurisdictions is investigation of federal judicial nominees and oversight of , chaired by Republican senator Orrin Hatch Orrin Grant Hatch (born March 22, 1934) is a Republican United States Senator from Utah, serving since 1977. Hatch is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, where he serves on the subcommittees on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure and Taxation and IRS , who sent mixed signals about his intentions for the legislation. Hatch said the Senate "must act and speak against hate crimes," but he demanded additional data from the Justice Department on the volume of such crimes and expressed reservations about the federal government entering an area typically reserved for states: criminal prosecutions. "I don't want any hate crimes to exist in our country, but I also don't want to overdo the law," Hatch said. The legislation, sponsored by Republican senator Arlen Specter Arlen "Phil" Specter (born February 12 1930) is a United States Senator from Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Republican Party, and was first elected in 1980. Biography Early life and career and Democratic senator Edward Kennedy, would add gender, disability, and sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. to existing hate-crimes law and make it easier for the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute To follow through; to commence and continue an action or judicial proceeding to its ultimate conclusion. To proceed against a defendant by charging that person with a crime and bringing him or her to trial. such crimes. After the hearing, which featured the testimony of Matthew Shepard's mother, Judy Shepard, a committee spokeswoman said Hatch was employing a "wait and see" approach to the bill, noting that the panel's primary focus this session is juvenile justice and gun control legislation. Winnie Stachelberg, political director of the Human Rights Campaign, called the hearing and Hatch's refusal to reject a hate-crimes bill a positive signal that the issue could move forward this congressional session. |
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