Guess which Senator led the opposition to VAWA? Yep, Marco Rubio
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Florida senator Marco Rubio, who will deliver the official GOP response to the state of the union address on Tuesday night, led a group of 22 male Republicans who voted against the bill, which established a system for helping women in danger from domestic violence. No women or Democrats opposed the bill and it passed 78-22. It will now head to the House, where Republican leaders are resisting some of its provisions.
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In a statement released on Tuesday, Rubio said that though he continues to support programmes "to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking", he did not support all elements of the expanded bill. He objected to programmes that would divert funding from domestic violence to sexual assault programmes.
Women's groups were scathing about Rubio's attempts to derail the bill and said that it would cause problems for the Republican party among women voters, a key demographic that deserted them in the last election.
Susan Scanlan, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, which has 12 million members, said: "Can you believe it? Sixty-two co-sponsors. It passes overwhelmingly. Domestic violence and violence against women is a scourge, especially in Florida. He voted against a bill that has been a bipartisan effort since 1994. What is he thinking?"
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/12/rubio-violence-against-women-bill
