May 18, 2021 03:13 PM UTC

Guess Who Voted NO on the Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Bill?

• 6 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Senate approved the approved the “COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act”  by a vote of 94-1 (Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley was the sole NO vote). The legislation is now on its way to the desk of President Biden after the House of Representatives today approved the measure by a 364-62 tally.

Here’s what Congressman Ken Buck (R-Greeley) had to say about today’s vote:

I just voted to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. Violence toward Asian Americans is completely unacceptable.

— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) May 18, 2021

Violence toward Asian Americans is unacceptable…for most people.

But not for Congressperson Lauren “Q*Bert” Boebert (R-ifle).

Boebert was THE ONLY MEMBER OF COLORADO’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION to vote NO on a bipartisan bill that seeks to combat the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States. National Public Radio explained the legislation in a story a few weeks ago after it was approved in the Senate:

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the legislation was the mark of progress since “dark chapters in our history,” with accounts of discrimination against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community rising under former President Donald Trump.

“Over the past several years, the forces of hate and bigotry seemed to have gained strength too often encouraged by our former president,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “The Senate makes it very clear that hate and discrimination against any group has no place in America. Bigotry against one is bigotry against all.” [Pols emphasis]

Through grant programs and other efforts, the legislation incentivizes law enforcement agencies to better track instances of hate crimes and establish related hotlines. It also requires the attorney general to designate a Department of Justice official to initiate a review of such hate crime reports quickly for law enforcement departments across the country.

The attorney general would also direct guidance for agencies to take part in new, related online reporting requirements and efforts to expand public awareness campaigns.

Perhaps we should not be surprised that Boebert voted against a bill aimed at reducing hate crimes against Asian Americans. After all, Boebert has a history of making disparaging and racist comments about Asian people in general (see HERE and HERE for just two examples). Back in February, Boebert was also the only member of Colorado’s Congressional delegation to vote NO on the Equality Act. More recently, Boebert was one of only two members of Congress in total to vote in opposition to a routine reauthorization of the nation’s bone marrow registry and umbilical cord blood.

We feel pretty confident in saying that Boebert is not doing what the nice people in Congressional District 3 would want her to do.

Inexplicable and indefensible: That’s Lauren Boebert.