Wednesday, April 29, 2009

One Step Forward

The House has passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, 249 to 175. 18 Republicans joined 231 Democrats to pass the bill. And just who are those Republicans who risked the wrath of their party?
  • Rep. Judy Biggert [R, IL-13] 
  • Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45] 
  • Rep. Anh Cao [R, LA-2] 
  • Rep. Bill Cassidy [R, LA-6] 
  • Rep. Michael Castle [R, DE-0] 
  • Rep. Mike Coffman [R, CO-6] 
  • Rep. Charles Dent [R, PA-15] 
  • Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart [R, FL-25] 
  • Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart [R, FL-21] 
  • Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R, NJ-11] 
  • Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6] 
  • Rep. Mark Kirk [R, IL-10] 
  • Rep. Leonard Lance [R, NJ-7] 
  • Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R, NJ-2] 
  • Rep. Todd Platts [R, PA-19] 
  • Rep. Dave Reichert [R, WA-8] 
  • Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R, FL-18] 
  • Rep. Greg Walden [R, OR-2]
And these are the Democrats who voted AGAINST the bill:

  • Rep. Dan Boren [D, OK-2]
  • Rep. Bobby Bright [D, AL-2]
  • Rep. Christopher Carney [D, PA-10]
  • Rep. Travis Childers [D, MS-1]
  • Rep. Artur Davis [D, AL-7]
  • Rep. Lincoln Davis [D, TN-4]
  • Rep. Joe Donnelly [D, IN-2]
  • Rep. Brad Ellsworth [D, IN-8]
  • Rep. Barton Gordon [D, TN-6]
  • Rep. Parker Griffith [D, AL-5]
  • Rep. Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7]
  • Rep. Charles Melancon [D, LA-3]
  • Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
  • Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
  • Rep. Heath Shuler [D, NC-11]
  • Rep. John Tanner [D, TN-8]
  • Rep. Gene Taylor [D, MS-4]
An almost even trade.  While those Republicans will almost certainly face opposition from the Right Wing of the party in 2010, perhaps we should look closely at those Dems. I know I will be watching them.  

If you're interested in following these or other members of Congress, check out OpenCongress.org

4 comments:

ZIRGAR said...

Hallelujah! Great news!

Grandpa Eddie said...

Yes, that is fantastic news.

I see the Rethugs from here in Wisconsin voted the party line....a**hats.

Stacy Hackenberg said...

You'll notice that none of the Texas republicans voted Yay either. I didn't really expect them to and even though I called my Rep and let him know I supported the bill I am not surprised at how he voted. At least he now knows that not everyone in his district is a Conservative.

Monica Roberts said...

TB Texan,
I knew my rep John Yarmuth up here in KY was voting for it.

But what I'm happiest about is that it adds 'gender identity' as a protected class.

It blows away the conservaqueer 'hate crimes won't pass with transgender people in the bill' myth'.

We've had a hard time back home being added to the James Byrd Hate Crime law in Texas we were cut out of by gay activists in 2001.