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Hate crimes bill passes senate today
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Senate Bill 909, the “hate crimes bill,” passed in the senate today with a 63-28 vote. Five Republicans are included in the yes vote, giving the bill more than the sixty votes required to pass. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley voted against the measure, while Senator Tom Harkin supported the bill.
The Associated Press reports that although Republicans may propose changes to the bill on Monday, the bill’s status will remain unaffected as a part of the “must-pass” Defense Reauthorization bill.
Senate Democrats maintain that the bill will not affect first amendment rights. According to the AP report, the Senate did pass provisions “restating that the bill does not prohibit constitutionally protected speech and that free speech is guaranteed unless it is intended to plan or prepare for an act of violence.”
Many conservatives, however, still argue that the potential exists for the federal government to, at the least, intimidate pastors and others who speak unfavorably about homosexuality. Others believe the law unnecessarily expands federal powers, and that evidence demonstrating need for such a far-reaching federal law was not provided.
The new law will provide federal funding and expand the role of federal involvement in the prosecution of hate crimes cases, and it will expand the protected classes on the basis not only of gender and disability, but also on the basis of undefined sexual preferences.
The AP report also cites FBI stats: "nearly 8,000 hate crimes...are reported... each year. Of those, about 15 percent are linked to sexual orientation, which ranks third after those involving race and religion.”
For More Info:
Background on Senate Bill 909
Why are homeschoolers concerned about S.909?
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