Violence Against Women Policy Trends Report 12
March 27, 2001
David M. Heger
National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Political Analyst
Federal
Violence against women issues continue
to simmer on the backburner while the Senate debates the funding of
national elections and the House considers President Bush's budget blueprint.
After making campaign finance reform the signature issue of his bid
for the presidency last year, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) has finally
received his day in the sun. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Mississippi)
has reserved two weeks in the upper chamber for deliberations on Mr.
McCain's proposed ban of "soft money" contributions to national candidates.
Federal election law permits individuals, corporations, and other groups
to give large, undisclosed sums of cash, known as "soft money," to political
parties, which often redirect the funds to specific candidates. Some
believe the current system allows wealthy individuals and well-funded
groups to buy political influence.
After approving Mr. Bush's plan
for income tax reduction, the House recently moved on to the President's
fiscal spending outline. By a party-line vote of 23 to 19, the House
Budget Committee adopted a $1.9 trillion budget resolution that closely
mirrors the chief executive's blueprint. The proposal also sets the
floor on tax cuts at $1.62 trillion over 10 years. Because it does not
have the effect of law, the annual budget resolution is largely symbolic;
however, it establishes the parameters on the debate over appropriations
in the coming months.
President Bush is expected to release
his detailed budget request in early to mid-April. In anticipation of
the appropriations battles that will ensue, advocates and supportive
lawmakers have recently taken to voicing their desire for full funding
of Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA '00) programs. In addition
to floor testimony from individual members of Congress, the House Judiciary
Committee and the Congressional Women's Caucus have submitted written
requests for full VAWA funding to appropriators. On March 22, the National
Coalition Against Domestic Violence held its 3rd Annual Lobby
Day and Congressional Briefing. During the event, victims advocates
went directly to their representatives to urge them not to make "the
same mistake" as last year when they appropriated less than was authorized
by VAWA '00 for programs to address domestic violence and sexual assault.
Senator Joseph Biden (D-Delaware)
recently introduced a bill to permanently create the Violence Against
Women Office in the Department of Justice, the second bill this year
in the Senate to address the issue. Analysts on Capitol Hill indicate
that there is strong Republican support for the measure and that Senator
Biden plans to move the act quickly through the Senate Judiciary Committee.
However, insiders note that some key lawmakers have expressed hesitation
to vote in favor of the bill.
The House recently held a hearing
on medical privacy rules issued by the Clinton Administration and subsequently
delayed by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. The new
rules require patient authorization for the use or disclosure of medical
information and create penalties for the improper use of health records.
Advocates hope the regulations will allow full medical documentation
of domestic violence without placing women in fear of discrimination
from employers or retaliation from their abusers. Industry leaders complain
that the rules will raise costs and worsen patient care. Secretary Thompson
delayed implementation until April and has indicated it may be pushed
back further "if we make some major changes."
State
With many states set to adjourn
in April and May, lawmakers turn an eye toward wrapping up official
business. Time sensitive legislation, such as appropriations and political
redistricting, takes precedence towards the end of a regular session,
often pushing social issues like violence against women to the back
of the docket. A handful of states have already dropped the gavel on
this year's work. California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will be engaged
in regular session activity for several more months.
Few proposals addressing violence
against women have garnered substantial attention from lawmakers or
local media in the past several days. New Hampshire provides an exception,
as several legislators in the state recently moved to strengthen a law
that prohibits individuals under restraining orders from purchasing
guns. Legislation moving through the New Hampshire House increases the
penalty for buying a firearm when under a restraining order from a misdemeanor
to a felony.