Chief Patrick Leahy
Update: 16:00: The House passed the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act, rejecting the House version which omitted the Native-American tribal court provision.
No one wants to see Native-American, LGBT, and “undocumented” women hurt. All the protections we can afford them within the Constitution should be afforded them. Unfortunately, this bill puts tribal law before our Constitution.
Native-Americans presented documentation to the effect that when a non-Native-Americans abuse a Native-American, the case is referred to federal court. They say that the cases are often not prosecuted and are bumped back to the tribe where the abuser faces only a misdemeanor charge.
Prior to this bill, only minor cases were allowed to be tried in tribal courts.
In an effort to protect women, Congress has passed yet another law, and this time it is a law that cedes US sovereignty.
It would have been far better for them to find a way to properly enforce the laws we now have. As Ben Franklin said, He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither. The Constitution provides us with the ultimate protection of the rule of law. This act tears away at it just a bit.
Details can be found at Politico.
And, as previously stated in this post, what’s next? Sharia’h law?
Original Story: 2/28: 9:32: The House GOP is voting on a Senate bill today that is allegedly to protect women – it is the Violence Against Women Act. It will, if allowed to become law, strip constitutional rights from Americans who are tried by Indian tribes for alleged domestic violence.
What’s next? Sharia’h law trumps the Bill of Rights?
Dr. Patrick Leahy, the self-described Socialist, sponsored the bill.
If you want to know why the GOP is opposed to some of these bills masquerading as pro-women bills, this is why.
Following snapshot from CNS News:
It was opposed by the conservative bloc in the Republican Senate Conference–as well as by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senate conservatives Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Marco Rubio of Florida, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin all voted against it.
The Congressional Research Service said that the bill states “the Constitution will not apply” to Americans tried by Indian tribes for alleged acts of domestic violence. These Americans, according to the CRS, will not have recourse to the Bill of Rights.
Was that now famous 1/32nd, Indian, Elizabeth Warren a co-sponsor? If someone “used a loud voice” against her would the offending party be tried in a U.S. court of law, or on a reservation of her choosing?
This bad joke of a bill should be renamed the VIOLENCE AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION ACT.
As an attorney, you’d think Leahy would have better research done on such legislation, but apparently he’s been away from the practice of law so long he’s out to lunch.
I’m not sure if it was research or it is that he agrees with it.
Dr. Patrick Leahy…..Ohhhhh, a doctor….What?….Oh, the other than a real doctor, doctor…
But wait, he was an attorney/lawyer, he must be really smart ’cause there are so few of them…
As with most in politics, it doesn’t matter since it never effects them anyhow..The worst that can happen to them is they don’t get re-elected, yet continue to recieve nearly a full paycheck, plus all the other benefits..So it’s a win/win for them..
These are the things not seen, or at least not understood by the low-information voters, all they hear is Rethuglicans don’t care about women..
Oh wait, maybe they will become illegal immigrants, then they can qualify for much better benefits. Especially when it comes to their government healthcare. It a very sad disgrace. The democrats have kept them down for many years and have hid the atrocity they call healthcare for Native Americans.