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.