The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill is one step closer to being reality. My prediction is that on Saturday night, at the HRC Annual Dinner, President Obama will sign it into law. Of course, it is attached to a Defense Depsrtment Appropriations Reauthorization Spending bill, so if Obama signs it and there’s no mention of DADT repeal, it will be, to say the least, awkward.
Nevertheless, today the House voted on what is called a Conference Report, titled, “Department of Defense Authorization, FY 2010.” It passed by a 281-146 vote. But 15 Democrats and 131 Republicans voted against it. The Republican votes are unsurprising. The Republicans are voting against almost everything. The Democrat votes aren’t. Democrats voting against the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill?
Who are they?
Glad you asked!
Perhaps most surprising on the list is John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Personally, I’d like to understand his vote more.
Here’s the list of Democrats who voted against the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill:
Brian Baird (Washington)
Dan Boren (Oklahoma)
Bobby Bright (Alabama)
John Conyers (Michigan)
Lincoln Davis (Tennessee)
Bob Filner (California)
Parker Griffith (Alabama)
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (Illinois)
Dennis Kucinich (Ohio)
Mike McIntyre (North Carolina)
Mike Michaud (Maine)
Collin Peterson (Minnesota)
Heath Shuler (North Carolina)
Pete Stark (California)
Peter Welch (Vermont)
See the full list, including the Republican votes, here.
Keep in mind the vote was also a vote for the Department of Defense Spending Authorization Bill, so they could have felt it more important to vote against the spending bill than for the Hate Crimes Bill. Or not.