Mandel Position Makes Clear He Would Vote No On S. 1925

Bipartisan S. 1925 Already Has 60 Cosponsors, Including 8 Republicans

COLUMBUS, OHIO – With reauthorization pending, Ohioans found out yesterday that Josh Mandel does not support the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that already has eight Republican cosponsors. In an interview with the Plain Dealer yesterday, Mandel’s answer made clear that he would vote no on S. 1925.

Senator Sherrod Brown is a long time supporter of VAWA, which strengthens prevention efforts and law-enforcement and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence and assault, while building on previous authorizations.

Mandel, who spent his first year as Ohio’s Treasurer ignoring his job, surrounding himself with unqualified political cronies, and repeatedly launching one blatantly false attack against Sen. Brown after another has in the past felt “no obligations to share his views on important legislation.”
Mandel’s refusal to support S. 1925 is clearly one of the many reasons he has hid his positions for so long.

“Josh Mandel should stop playing partisan politics at the behest of his D.C. bosses and join Democrats and Republicans in voicing support for reauthorization of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act, S.1925,” said Sadie Weiner, spokesperson for Friends of Sherrod Brown. “Mandel’s position makes clear that he would vote no on this bipartisan bill to enhance and improve domestic violence protections, and that’s not the kind of Senator Ohio’s women and families can rely on.”

BACKGROUND

Mandel Did Not Say He Would Support Bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Bill S. 1925. In April 2012, the Cleveland Plain Dealer quoted a Mandel spokesperson saying “Josh Mandel supports a clean reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.” The spokesperson went to say “Sherrod Brown’s tactless attempt to politicize this important piece of legislation is a disservice to any person who has been a victim of domestic violence.” [Plain Dealer, 4/25/12]

S. 1925 Had At Least 60 Cosponsors, Including 8 Republicans. According to the Library of Congress, S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011, had 60 cosponsors including 8 Republicans. [Library of Congress, S. 1925]

Associated Press: Violence Against Women Act In The Senate Has Bipartisan Support, But Some Republican Resistance. In April 2012, the Associated Press reported “The Senate bill has 61 sponsors, including eight Republicans, but parts of it have met resistance from others in the GOP.” [Associated Press,4/25/12]

More Than 38,000 Domestic Violence Incidents Reported In Ohio In 2011.  According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, law enforcement agencies in Ohio reported more than 38,000 domestic violence incidents last year. [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 4/8/12]

Violence Against Women Act Created A “Comprehensive Federal Response To Combat Domestic Violence And Has Been Reauthorized Twice With “Broad Bipartisan Support.”  In April 2012, the Reuters reported “The Violence Against Women Act, reauthorized twice before with broad bipartisan support, created a comprehensive federal response to combat domestic violence.” [Reuters, 4/24/12]

Violence Against Women Act Was Landmark Legislation That “Has Changed The Landscape For Victims Who Once Suffered In Silence.”  According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a landmark piece of legislation that sought to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in the United States. The passage of VAWA in 1994, and its reauthorization in 2000 and 2005, has changed the landscape for victims who once suffered in silence. Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking have been able to access services, and a new generation of families and justice system professionals has come to understand that domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are crimes that our society will not tolerate.  [National Domestic Violence Hotline, Accessed 4/24/12]

A HISTORY OF PROGRESS:

• Creating new system responses – VAWA programs, funding and law reforms have changed federal, tribal, state and local responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by:
• Securing buy-in from formerly unengaged systems, like law enforcement, courts, and social services
• Creating a federal leadership role that has encouraged tribes, states and local government to improve responses to victims and perpetrators
• Establishing new federal crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking to fill in jurisdictional gaps in prosecuting these crimes
• Defining the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, as well as identifying promising practices to respond to these crimes
• Focusing on the needs of underserved communities, such as immigrant and Native American women [National Domestic Violence Hotline, Accessed 4/24/12]

Senator Brown Voted For The Violence Against Women Act In 1994.  In August 1994, Senator Brown voted for the Violence Against Women Act.  [House Vote 416, 8/21/94]

Senator Brown Voted For Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act In 2000 and 2005.  In October 2000 and September 2005, Senator Brown voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in the House.  [House Vote 518, 10/6/00; House Vote 501, 9/28/05]

 

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Paid for by Friends of Sherrod Brown