Idaho Reps. On Matthew Shepard Act

Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives voted to expand current hate-crime laws, passing H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act.  The measure passed on a 249 to 175 vote with just 18 Republicans joining the majority of Democrats voting in favor.  Idaho's Representatives split their votes along party lines with 1st District Congressman Walt Minnick joining a majority of Democrats voting in favor and 2nd District Congressman Mike Simpson voting with the majority of Republicans against the bill.

The act would expand current hate-crime laws and amend the federal criminal code to "prohibit willfully causing bodily injury to any person because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of such person," and authorizes the attorney general "to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution" of such crimes including violations of state, local, or tribal hate crime laws.

In an interesting twist, on several procedural votes prior to the vote on final passage (including on considering the measure and on sending it back to committee), Rep. Minnick was one of just a handful of Democrats joining the Republicans on the losing side in those votes.

The legislation now moves on to the Senate.

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HR 1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act — To provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes.

Clerk of the House
Congressman Minnick — Yes
Congressman Simpson — No
Republican Position — No
Democratic Position — Yes
Result — Passed 249-175 with 10 not voting

Among other things, this legislation (from the bill summary):

• Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that: (1) constitutes a crime of violence under federal law or a felony under state, local, or Indian tribal law; and (2) is motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of the state, local, or tribal hate crime laws
• Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to assist state, local, and Indian law enforcement agencies with such extraordinary expenses. Directs the Office of Justice Programs to: (1) work closely with funded jurisdictions to ensure that the concerns and needs of all affected parties are addressed; and (2) award grants to state and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles.
• Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit willfully causing bodily injury to any person because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of such person.
• Amends the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to expand data collection and reporting requirements under such Act to include: (1) crimes manifesting prejudice based on gender and gender identity; and (2) hate crimes committed by and against juveniles.
• Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the exercise of constitutionally-protected free speech

Comments

[thepoliticalgame]

And all those procedural votes were attempts to get rid of the bill itself. Ugh.

[Michael Blankenship]

Several Republicans spoke out on this bill, denying that Shepard was a victim of a hate crime. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) claimed that the murder of Shepard was a "hoax." See video here - http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid81685.asp

[Jay]

Glad that bill passed. Oh and several Republicans don't think Shepard was a victim of a hate crime? Absolutely disgusting.