Domestic violence bill stokes social issues fight

Sen. Patty Murray on Washington spoke on the Senate floor March 15, 2012, in support of reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. / P Photo/Elaine Thompson

(AP) Democrats in the U.S. Senate opened a new line of attack on Thursday in their quest to win critical support from women voters in the Nov. 6 elections, calling for quick renewal of a program aimed at protecting women from domestic violence.

The call came from six female Democratic senators, accompanied by moderate Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski. The normally bipartisan issue has gotten entangled in election-year tensions that have Democrats and Republicans squaring off on nearly every piece of legislation.

The domestic violence bill, which could come up for Senate debate this month, is the latest in a series of fights that have erupted in recent weeks on social issues centered on women.

The issues have taken on new weight as the two parties delineate themselves in a quest for voter support before presidential and congressional elections. Democratic political analysts consider independent women voters as key to the election success of either party.

Last month, the Senate spent weeks debating whether to exempt employers such as Roman Catholic hospitals from a controversial Obama administration rule requiring free birth control coverage in workers' healthcare plans. A Republican proposal allowing employers to opt out of providing insurance coverage for anything to which they morally object failed in the Senate.

Efforts to advance a similar proposal have since sputtered in the House of Representatives as Republicans there try to figure out the best way to frame the debate around religious freedom rather than women's rights. Public opinion polls show conflicting voter views on the birth control issue depending on how it is framed.

The contraception issue has also resonated in the Republican presidential race, with candidates accusing Democratic President Barack Obama of imposing government controls that trampled religious freedoms.

Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said women's issues had become a "volatile" ingredient in this year's political campaigns. "It's an early stage but one in which both sides are trying to push the issues in their direction before a hard narrative forms," Hess said.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray urged renewal of the Violence Against Women Act that expired last September. "This one shouldn't be about politics. Protecting women against violence shouldn't be a partisan issue," she said in a Senate speech.

The 18-year-old law, first pushed through Congress by Senator Joe Biden, who is now Obama's vice president, had until recently enjoyed deep bipartisan support in Washington.

But the latest renewal of the bill faced a wall of opposition from Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans as Democrats broadened the bill, including expanding visas to illegal immigrants who are attack victims and adding protections to same-sex couples.

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats argued the visa expansion was designed to give law enforcement officials more time to investigate crimes.

Senator Charles Grassley, the senior Republican on the Judiciary panel, said that while his party's leaders did not plan to block the legislation, he wanted to tighten the Justice Department's oversight of grant programs under the law.

Grassley said alternative ideas needed to be considered to ensure "more money goes to victims rather than bureaucrats and helps root out more of the well-documented fraud in the program."

Republicans point out that while the law expired six months ago, its programs are still funded at least through Sept. 30, 2012, by separate legislation.

A Senate Republican aide also cited concerns over the proposed expanded visas and the bill's failure to address immigration fraud .

A senior Senate Democratic aide countered that the legislation had not changed significantly, but "the Republican Party has shifted dramatically to the right."

Democrats might see political advantage in pushing the legislation on the heels of the contraceptives fight.

In the 2010 congressional elections, Democrats and Republicans split the women's vote. But polls in recent months showed women favoring Democrats in the wake of what has been seen as Republican efforts to restrict reproductive rights.

A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey found that 51 percent of women favored Democratic control of Congress, compared with 36 percent wanting Republicans in charge.

[ogwriter]

I will not support this bill as it is poorly craftedand biased against certain sectors of society and protects women who abuse women and who abuse men.Feminism has little credibility on this issue and has shown that their leadership is only concerned with protecting specific groups. We know that lesbians rape their partners in as much as 50% of lesbian relationships, yet we seldom hear about it publicly. These same lesbians make careers out vilifying men over domestic violence and rape and when they do it an get busted they hide like cowards.Add to this mix, the straight women who abuse and we have real problem.They don't do the right honorable thing and come clean. I have little to no respect for these women, gay and straight, because they lack the kind of integrity, character and honesty they have demanded from men. I will never follow heinous hypocrits like these people. These same people, who for as long as then want my support for same sex marriage? How does that work?

[nogovinmybusiness]

I am a woman that was abused by my husband but yet I went to jail for fighting back. I find this law to be a more of a problem vs a fix, and another way for government to be in my business and make a profit off the tax payers and not have worry about protecting women. I am spending thousands on attorneys, fighting to keep my job, and still trying to support my family. The police walked into my home after my daughter called the police to report her father and I fighting, I was in the shower getting ready for work when the police took me out of the shower. My arm was covered in bruises my lip busted and I had choke marks around my neck, but because my husband had a scratch on his face I went to jail for 3 days, and was charged with domestic violence while he stayed home. I never called the police nor did my husband. Now the state is deciding what is best for our family and what my future will hold. This law in my opinion has made it difficult on women and men and given the government control in a couples personal life.

[RobAla]

A Senate Republican aide also cited concerns over the proposed expanded visas and the bill's failure to address immigration fraud.

So, why are Democrats stating that this is an issue about protecting women? The objection by Republicans is about illegal immigration and visas. This is purely a political move by Democrats to do what Collins has stated - an attempt to drive a wedge between Republicans and women voters. The policies of President Obama are indefensible, so Democrats are attempting change the subject with controversial bills. They are playing politics.

[retm-w]

Gee rob is that any different then the republicans adding the pipline to bills.

[raydar2]

Back in the late 80s when the first domestic violence against woman laws went on the books I had a run in with them.I married young and found out it was lust and not love. I separated with my wife by my choice. She didn't like it and couldn't find me for good reasons. She was served with divorce papers. In trying to find me she would pick up the phone and dial 911 and say that I assaulted her. 9 times in about 3 months. Of course after so many they turn into a felony charge and was pickup. I posted a bond costing me over 20k and hired an attorney costing me anther 20k. Since I traveled for work I was restricted to town. Well since none of the assaults happened she did not want to go to court. After a year and a half she still didnt show up in court for the 5th time the judge sent the DA to go get her by 1pm that day or he would drop the charges. They did and of course she told the truth on the stand. The judge response as he pointed at the DA was This should have never gone to court and found me not guilty. Even though I have a not guilty verdict my record shows I was arrested for 9 domestic assaults charges even when I had them purged. I was out over 50k and missed work. My attorney always said look on the bright side you could have slept with her and she could turn around and filed rape instead. Then it would have been a sexual assault charge.
Man on woman, man on man, woman on woman any assault is wrong and should be treated the same. I know it has gotten worst. Recently I had an employee go through the exact same thing including the out come. I sat enough of putting one race or sex above another for political gain is wrong. After all is that what we want equal justice for all.

[Lindag10]

Having been a victim of domestic violence myself, you story doesn't ring true. I survived TWO attempts on my life, years of stalking and harassment but legal remedy for what I suffered was almost non-existant. On three occasions the marshal in charge of security tried to have my ex-husband prosecuted for threatening the life of a judge, stalking my attorney and harassing me, but the City Attorney declined to prosecute. My case was VERY typical of domestic violence cases in the city in which I lived. Getting someone prosecuted is VERY difficult and seldom happens. Nice story you told though.

[wdrussell1]

GOP. the new, he-man woman haters club

[kenandpatty]

Woman haters club? Very insightful comment. And explain it to my niece. She told her boyfriend she was moving out so he made some minor cuts on his arm that didn't require a trip to the hospital and called 911. Under the law somebody has to go to jail and it was her. He has since recanted but the judge said she needs a mental evaluation because she was on medication. So she's sat in jail for seven weeks so far because a spot hasn't opened up for her at the county hospital to get the evaluation. They even charged her originally with attempted murder but dropped it. Now it's assault but bail is still a half million bucks. Her past? She once got caught shoplifting a 60 dollar dress. Some protection this law provided my 23 year old niece from her abusive boyfriend.

[nehicks]

When the Democrats decided to try an "amnesty" program with this law, by including illegal aliens, they lost my vote. Every person deserves to be safe from domestic abuse, but, that should not include ignoring the fact that the illegal aliens are breaking other laws, just by being here. When they have had their time to testify in court, in order to punish the abuser, they need to be forced to return to their country of origin. We have no obligation to support them, after the "case" has been closed and resolved.

[retm-w]

Open season on all illegal females right.