Kirsten Gillibrand’s sexual assault bill derailed

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand came up short Thursday in her yearlong campaign to overhaul military sexual assault policies, falling five votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster.

The New York Democrat’s bill that would have removed the chain of command from prosecuting sexual assaults and other major military crimes was derailed in the Senate on a 55-45 vote, closing out one chapter in a debate that divided the Senate but not along typical partisan lines.

Ten Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 2016 presidential hopefuls Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, backed Gillibrand’s controversial chain of command bill. But that wasn’t enough to overcome 10 Democratic votes against her, including prominent defense hawks like Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) also opposed the bill.

Gillibrand’s campaign went down to the final hours before the vote, and the outcome remained uncertain to the end as about a half-dozen Republicans and one Democrat — Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia — refused to say publicly where they’d fall.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/senate-military-sexual-assault-vote-104372.html?hp=t1_3

---

Voting seems to be all over the place:

Democrats voting "No"
Carper (D-DE)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Levin (D-MI)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Nelson (D-FL)
Reed (D-RI)
Tester (D-MT)
Warner (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)

Republicans voting "Yes"
Collins (R-ME)
Cruz (R-TX)
Enzi (R-WY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Heller (R-NV)
Johanns (R-NE)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Vitter (R-LA)

[DonViejo]

1. Here's the list of how Senators voted...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024618928

[Tx4obama]

4. A link to the roll call below

Here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00059

[villager]

2. So it failed, in this instance, because of the "Democratic" votes

Ah, how nice to have "two" parties...!

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Who needs the republicans?

Enough democrats manage to torpedo just about everything.

[gussmith]

11. Senate "Rules"

We heard lots of comment from Sen. Reid about majority rules. What happened to that?

[msanthrope]

15. Actually, it failed because McCaskill's bill was better written and addresed the comand/prosecutor

problem in a way that helped ensure more, not less prosecutions.

[Tx4obama]

3. There were two different sexual assault bills: one from Gillibrand and one from McCaskill

Gillibrand bill: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00059

McCaskill bill: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00060

The Gillibrand bill was the best one - it is sad that it failed.

The McCaskill bill will not solve the problem.

[msanthrope]

16. I disagree...McCaskill's bill was the better one. nt

[Ash_F]

6. Rape nation. /nt

[kwassa]

7. ALL HAIL KIRSTEN GILLEBRAND!!!!!

She is so right on this issue, and the issue will never be solved unless it is solved this way. I can't believe the other Democratic women senators are sabotaging her the way they are.

My very conservative neighbor, who served as a military MD in Iraq, would never allow his own daughters to enter the military, as he is so concerned about the way the men treat the women. And his politics are far right, and his religion is evangelical.

[Deep13]

8. So there's a pro-rape lobby? nt

[Beacool]

9. So it lost thanks to the Democrats who voted against it???

Shame on them!!! Oh, and screw McCaskill!!! I can't stand that woman.

[littlewolf]

10. IMHO she beats the H*LL out of that POS

that would have replaced her.

[Beacool]

14. I haven't liked her since 2008.

Of course the guy that wanted to replace her was 1,000 times worse. Still, I'm no fan of hers.

[Earth_First]

12. Thank you for your tireless efforts, Senator!

It's unfortunate that your efforts were derailed by members of your own party.

[bullwinkle428]

13. Infuriating. Shame on those Democrats that voted NO. This should have

been a slam-dunk when you have fucking CRUZ & PAUL willing to vote with you!

[msanthrope]

17. Actually, I think McCaskill's bill is the way to go. nt