Anyone surprised the GOP/TP is still over-using and abusing "holds"? ~ if you want to vote "no", then vote "no" ~ but I see not allowing bills or candidates/nominees up-or-down votes without valid cause as a significant abuse of process ~ ~ emphasis/bolding below is mine ~ Sooz

Eight Senators Vote To Block Violence Against Women Act
By Annie-Rose Strasser posted from ThinkProgress Justice on Feb 4, 2013 at 6:50 pm

Eight Senators on Monday voted not to consider the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a bill that protects victims of domestic violence. The Senators who voted against moving to debate on the bill were: Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tim Scott (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and James Risch (R-ID).

VAWA’s reauthorization has been caught up in partisan gridlock over added provisions that would protect undocumented immigrants, as well as LGBT and Native American victims of domestic violence. Congress failed to reauthorize the bill by the end of 2012, and the Senate is now considering the same legislation again, in its new legislative session.

All of the women in the Senate, with the exception of Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), co-sponsored the legislation.

Once Senators consent to take up the measure, it will be voted on in its entirety. It is expected to pass, but will face a tougher battle in the House.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/02/04/1540321/senators-block-vawa/

So more Repugnants will be tossed out in the mid terms.

I guess they want to be able to abuse their hired help without compunction. As for the "queers", they don't deserve to be protected. After all, they are perverts. Native Americans should have learned "their place" by now, right? Only the lily white, Christian women deserve any protection.

Obviously, these 22 GOP/TP male senators haven't learned that women do NOT forget blatantly anti-female votes ~ bolding/emphasis below is mine ~ Sooz

Senate Passes Violence Against Women Act, With No Help From 22 Republican Male Senators
By Annie-Rose Strasser and Adam Peck on Feb 12, 2013 at 2:56 pm

The Violence Against Women Act reauthorization passed through the Senate on Tuesday afternoon, by a vote of 78 to 22. Of those opposing the legislation, all 22 were Republican men. Every female Senator supported the bill.

Among the most notable votes against the bill were Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). Here’s a look at all 22 opponents of VAWA:



VAWA expired during the previous Congress, and because of Republican opposition to provisions for Native American, undocumented, and LGBT victims of domestic violence, the different versions approved by the House and by the Senate were never reconciled, and the bill died without final passage at the end of 2012.

Since its inception in 1994, VAWA has established a system for helping women in danger. The law created the National Domestic Violence Hotline, made stalking illegal, and helped drive down the number of partner homicides.

Two Senators — Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) — also offered significant amendments to the VAWA bill. Grassley’s amendment stripped all Native American, LGBT, and undocumented victim protections. It was voted down on Thursday of last week. Cornyn’s, aimed exclusively on the bill’s language relating to tribal lands, failed on Monday.

Last week, eight Senators voted against even moving to debate on the revived legislation, and they are among those who voted against its passage. Four of them did so because their radical interpretation of the constitution precludes federal protection for domestic violence victims.

The version passed by the Senate today will next go to the House for a vote, where it is expected to encounter some difficulties, particularly over the protections of tribal women included in the bill.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/02/12/1556601/senate-passes-vawa-again/

These guys are determined to lose, eh?
Such commitment.

Helping more Democrats get elected is fine with me. Hope these guys keep it up.

Too bad there couldn't be posters all over the USA with the 22 poster children's images along with their vote ....