News from Senator Liz Krueger

New York State Senate | 26th District For Immediate Release: March 7, 2012 Please Contact: Andrew Goldston | agoldston@gmail.com | 917.720.7895

Senate Republicans Continue Bizarre Censorship Campaign, Refuse Votes on Resolutions Supporting Women
Albany, NY The New York State Senates Republican leaders are again censoring legislative resolutions, barely a month after getting caught rewriting a resolution on womens reproductive rights to edit out references to abortion, reproductive rights and contraceptives. The Republican leaders are now refusing to allow votes on resolutions in support of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and siting a Womens History Museum. Republican leaders have also blocked a resolution in support of the federal DREAM Act. The Violence Against Women Act provides grants for law enforcement and social service programs fighting domestic violence and helping women in every corner of our state, said Sen. Liz Krueger (DManhattan), the sponsor of the resolution (J. 3490) in support of the Violence Against Women Act. First Republicans censored a discussion of womens reproductive health and rights, and now, in the middle of Womens History Month, we cant vote on a resolution about combating domestic violence? What is it about these issues that scares the Republican leaders? Sen. Kruegers resolution, which has 13 cosponsors including Republican Senators Mark Grisanti and Jack Martins, simply urges New Yorks Congressional delegation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The law was first passed in 1994, and according to the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, most local domestic violence programs receive funding through VAWA grants. The reauthorization bill was introduced in the United States Senate by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID). On the floor of the Senate today, Republican Deputy Majority Leader Sen. Tom Libous described resolution calendars as being wholly subject to the discretion of the president pro tempore, and that resolutions that are not brought to the floor have not been rejected they simply have not been brought to the floor. This begs the question why is Senate Majority Leader holding back these resolutions and refusing to allow a floor vote? asked Sen. Krueger. Senate Republican leaders have also failed to allow a vote on a resolution sponsored by Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson urging New Yorks Congressional delegation to support the National Womens History Museums efforts to find a permanent home (J. 3505), as well as a resolution in support of the federal DREAM Act, sponsored by Sen. Bill Perkins (J. 3513). ###
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