Dems Attach Hate Crimes Legislation To Defense Bill

Jillian Bandes | October 21, 2009 8:49 AM

The Department of Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2647) is going to a vote on Thursday. It's caused significant strife among Republican Senators who want to vote to fund our troops, but will also be forced to vote for

controversial hate crimes legislation if they do so.

Some legislators have said they will withhold their vote; others said they're going to just bite their tongue, but whatever the case, it's a dirty tactic on an issue that deserves a separate, Democratic vote by itself.