Still no hate crimes bill.Byline: The Register-Guard Maybe one of these years, Congress will summon the political and moral courage necessary to expand the federal hate crime law to cover offenses based on 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. , gender and disabilities. But it's unlikely to happen this year, even though a bipartisan Senate majority earlier this year approved an amendment, sponsored by Oregon Republican Gordon Smith
Gordon Harold Smith (born May 25, 1952) is Oregon's junior United States Senator, currently serving his second term. He is a member of the Republican Party. and Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy For other persons named Ted Kennedy, see Ted Kennedy (disambiguation). Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (born February 22, 1932) is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. , to strengthen and expand the federal hate crimes law. House Republican leaders object to lumping the hate-crimes provision in with the "must-pass" 2005 defense authorization bill. Such sudden passion for procedural order is amusing from a group that doesn't hesitate to stuff industry tax breaks into defense, homeland security Noun 1. Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Department of Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States , transportation or any other appropriations bills that happen to be within grasping distance. Republican leaders on the House Judiciary Committee Judiciary Committee may refer to:
tr.v. crim·i·nal·ized, crim·i·nal·iz·ing, crim·i·nal·iz·es 1. To impose a criminal penalty on or for; outlaw. 2. To treat as a criminal. socially unacceptable beliefs - they merely increase the penalties for only those actual crimes that flow out of such beliefs. As any reader of John Grisham “Grisham” redirects here. For other uses, see Grisham (disambiguation). John Ray Grisham (born February 8, 1955) is a former politician, retired attorney, American novelist and author best known for his works of modern legal drama. novels or fan of TV courtroom dramas can attest, motive has long been accepted as a key factor in determining punishment. The Senate measure also would eliminate a restriction in the existing civil-rights era federal hate crimes law that permits prosecutions only in cases where victims were engaged in federally protected activities, such as voting. Instead, it would provide federal assistance for state and local authorities that request assistance in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. The Smith-Kennedy measure is supported by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who will chair the House-Senate conference on the defense bill. Warner says he'll try to persuade his House colleagues not to drop the hate-crimes provision but adds that he won't allow the issue to impede passage of the military authorization measure. Translation from Senatespeak: "Fuhgiddaboudit. It ain't gonna happen." More than five years have now passed since the appalling murder of Matthew Shepard Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998) was an American student at the University of Wyoming who was fatally attacked near Laramie, on the night of October 6 – October 7, 1998 in what was widely reported by international news media as a savage , the gay Wyoming college student whose death prompted Smith to become one of the first congressional Republicans to champion expanding the hate-crimes law. Many other Republican and Democratic lawmakers also pledged action after Shepard's death. But so far, those promises have yet to become reality. |
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