Bud Cramer and the "Violence Against Women Act"
I received a letter from Representative Bud Cramer's office today (Sept. 1, 2000) thanking me for contacting him in support for H. R. 1248, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization bill. I found this very interesting since I didn't even know about this bill, didn't write to him in support of the bill, and, after reading his letter, decided I was against the bill. Below is the text of the letter he sent to me.
Dear Mr. Thompson:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 1248, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization bill. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me regarding this very important legislation.
Through the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA '94), millions of dollars have gone out to communities across the country, creating programs that have made an important difference in the lives of countless women and children. Since this legislation was enacted, the State of Alabama alone has been awarded over $13 million. This funding has helped to bolster the response of prosecutors, judges, and police officers to child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence crimes; increased access to victims services; and created a National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Federal funding for these valuable domestic violence programs is scheduled to expire this year. H.R. 1248 and its counterpart H.R. 357, would ensure funding for VAWA programs for another five years.
As a former prosecutor and the founder of the Children's Advocacy Center program to help physically and sexually abused children, I understand the importance of these programs to end domestic and sexual violence against women and children. I believe we in Congress should do whatever we can to help local law enforcement, prosecutors, and victims service providers expand and improve their assistance to crime victims and hold criminals accountable for their actions.
This legislation has been considered by the House Judiciary Committee and I will continue to urge the House Leadership to bring the bill before the full House of Representatives for a vote before the end of this legislative session later this year.
Sincerely,
(signed)
BUD CRAMER
Member of Congress
I couldn't let the opportunity pass to slam him again about breaking his oath to uphold the Constitution, so I wrote the following letter in response.
September 1, 2000
Bud Cramer
2350 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Cramer,
I received a letter from you today thanking me for supporting H.R. 1248, the "Violence Against Women Act." (I've enclosed a copy of this letter.) Let me state that I did not write to you in support of this bill and, in fact, do not support this bill! The only bill I've written about recently is H.R. 3886, which I also oppose, since it brings back the so-called "Know Your Customer" regulations that were defeated a while back. Someone must have mixed up who's against what.
Now, since you brought up the "Violence Against Women Act," let me tell you why I oppose this legislation:
- Violence in any form is wrong. Is violence against women somehow worse than violence against men? Or is this just pandering to the "politically correct" crowd. In any case, such laws are discriminatory.
- You state, "Through the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA '94), millions of dollars have gone out to communities across the country, creating programs [blah, blah, blah]." Oh, goody, more programs. More "millions" of dollars filtered through Washington so the taxpayer gets pennies on the dollar benefit for the money spent.
- You state, "I understand the importance of these programs to end domestic and sexual violence against women and children." While ending these tragedies is indeed a laudable cause, this type of crime is a local and state issue. The only crimes mentioned in the Constitution of the United States are piracy, treason, and counterfeiting. I have asked you to do this before, and I ask you again: Show me the part of the U. S. Constitution that makes violence against women (or men, for that matter) a federal concern unless it happens on the high seas.
I fear this "Violence Against Women Act" is just another excuse for legislators to spread government pork around in an attempt to show how "compassionate" they are. I applaud your work with the Children's Advocacy Center, but don't use tax money extorted from me to pay for it. I'll give voluntarily to worthy causes if given the chance.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Tim Thompson
I wish I'd asked if the "I believe we in Congress should do whatever we can[...]" part included breaking his oath of office, but I guess what I said is good enough. It's not like I'm going to convince him of anything anyway.
We'll see if he responds to this....