Thursday, February 7, 2013

The men opposing the Violence Against Women Act

If you think that domestic violence is history, think again.

A few days ago, a young acquaintance, age 20, in the early stages of pregnancy, reported to me that in the midst of an argument with her partner, he kicked her in the stomach and caused her to miscarry.  At the time I spoke to her, he was already in jail. She had pressed charges and was prepared to go to court to see justice done. Her experience motivated me to sign Credo's petition below in support of the Violence Against Women Act, and I'm hoping that hundreds of you will do the same











Right now, the Senate is poised to pass the Violence Against Women Act with bipartisan support. But the overwhelmingly male House Republicans caucus, led by Eric Cantor and John Boehner, stand in the way of protecting victims of domestic violence. We need you to act now to ensure that the Senate bill is passed quickly by the Republican-controlled House.
Momentum is on our side. Last year, ten Republicans in the House broke rank with their party and joined Democrats in support of reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Eight of those Republicans remain in Congress. On the Senate side, Republican women Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Kelly Ayotte are all co-sponsoring the bill. It's time to increase the public pressure on the 212 male Republicans in the House to get with their Republican women colleagues and pass the strong Senate version of the VAWA reauthorization bill.
Women's lives are at risk, and there is no more time for partisan delay.
The Senate version of the bill is expected to handily pass a floor vote this week with the help of new women Senators from both parties who were elected amidst a national backlash against Tea Party extremists like rape-apologists Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock.
VAWA is an incredibly popular and successful program that has reduced domestic violence rates by 58% since it was first passed in 1994. And it was approved in bipartisan votes every year since it was originally passed — until the radical takeover of the House by extremist, anti-women Republicans in 2010.
We know that we can't count on Republican men to vote in the interest of their constituents without enormous public pressure from us. House Republican men have voted for shameful bills to redefine rape, defund Planned Parenthood, and to let women die. Despite their appalling record on women's issues, there is hope that men in the Republican caucus in the House will join with their Republican women colleagues in the senate and show concern for domestic violence survivors.
Tell Republican men in the House: Stop blocking the Violence Against Women Act. Click below to automatically sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6993722&p=cantor_vawa&id=54425-4150669-qOgOUox&t=4
Thank you for standing up for women.
Becky Bond, Political Director
CREDO Action from Working Assets
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