Violence Against Women Act Breezes Through House

The House today overwhelmingly approved the Senate's version of the Violence Against Women Act, by a vote of 286-138. Included in that tally were every Democrat and 87 Republicans; all 138 opposing votes were Republicans. The GOP leadership had opposed the Senate version of the bill, but changed their tune after the election when they realized they didn't have the votes to pass the House version, the Hill reports.

House Republicans tried to pass their version anyway, putting forward an amendment that would have subbed it in, but it failed on a 166-257 vote, with 60 Republicans voting against it and only two Democrats voting for it. The Senate also tossed Republicans a bone by removing a key provision from the version of the bill they passed in the last Congress, which would have made it easier for non-citizens who were victims of domestic abuse to obtain visas. (More violence against women stories.)