The Votes: Crossing party lines on Violence Against Women Act

Friday, May 18, 2012  

The House voted largely along party lines on Wednesday to approve H.R.4970, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, with a few defections on both sides of the aisle.

Tribes urged lawmakers to vote against the bill. They said it fails to protect American Indian and Alaska Native women from non-Indian abusers.

Of the 23 Republicans who heeded the call, some come from districts with significant Indian populations. They include Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona), whose district covers several Apache reservations and parts of the Navajo Nation.

Others, like Rep. Tom McClintock (R-California), are known for their favorable records on Indian issues. McClintock's district includes at least one reservation but otherwise lacks a large Indian population.

Another notable Republican "no" vote came from Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), who has effectively suspended his presidential campaign. His district lacks a significant Indian presence.

On the Democratic side, there were six votes in favor of the bill despite the tribal objections. The most surprising came from Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma), the ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs.

Every other Democrat on the subcommittee voted against the bill.

Another Democrat who defected was Rep. Michael McIntyre (D-North Carolina), whose district includes the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. And two other "ayes" came from other lawmakers with tribes in their districts -- Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Rep. Colin Peterson (D-Minnesota).

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