Meet The Senators Who Voted Against The Franken Amendment

I think that all homo sapiens can understand how the mere thought of an organization that receives government money through contract mechanisms being tangentially involved in setting up a fake tax shelter for a fake pimp and his fake prostitution ring of fake prostitutes can justifiably lead to lawmakers going absolutely cross-eyed with white-hot, impotent rage. But what happens when a similarly taxpayer-endowed contractor attempts to cover up employee-on-employee gang rape by locking up the victim in a shipping container without food and water and threatening her with reprisals if she report the incident? Somehow, it doesn't engender the same level of anger!

Credit new Senator Al Franken however, for introducing an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill that would punish contractors if they "restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court." You'd think that this would be a no-brainer, actually, but that didn't stop Jeff Sessions from labeling Franken's effort a "political attack directed at Halliburton." Franken, of course, pointed out that his amendment would apply broadly, to all contractors, because otherwise, 'twould be a bill of attainder, right? Right?

Franken's amendment ended up passing, 68-30. Here's a list of the Senators who showed broad support for Roman Polanski by voting against it:

Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

ADDENDUM: It's been pointed out to me that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbied against the Franken amendment as well:

Republicans point out that the amendment was opposed by a host of business interests, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and applies to a wide range of companies, including IBM and Boeing.

I guess we must cover up crimes like rape in order to save capitalism.

RELATED:
Franken Wins Bipartisan Support For Legislation Reining In KBR's Treatment Of Rape [ThinkProgress]

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
Franken Gets His First Amendment Passed By Roll Call Vote

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Comments

[Jim281]

07:39 PM on 03/13/2010

Thanks for the list, although it is not very surprising. I'll bet good money that none of these neo-na zi s support health care reform either. Why would they support ANY bill that PROTECTS HUMAN RIGHTS?? That whole concept is alien to them. It flies in the face of repression, greed, exploitation, and 'superiority', so they can't comprehend such drastic changes!

As for the chamber of commerce, they are a total joke! If they had ANY credibility left, why would such huge corporations - Nike; Apple, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Exelon (to name a few) - be droppiong their memberships in droves? These corporations VALUE their CREDIBILITY, and dropping out of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (for its lack thereof) speaks volumes!


Thanks, Senator Franken! I knew we could depend on you do strive for doing the rxxxx I mean correct thing!

[carl99e]

12:27 PM on 02/18/2010

Nothing like having a lot of people in the government aiding and abetting your crimes. How cool is that??

[SallieParker]

12:22 PM on 02/18/2010

Ha ha ha! Funny, Al. The bit about the shipping container was great. Love ya, boychik.

Don't see you around Lee's Art Shop anymore. And how's that radio gig going? Heard you were starting your own radio station.

Craig Smalley and Stuart Wilde send their best.

[13ent]

05:31 AM on 12/05/2009

It is easy to sleep at night when you go to sleep on a soft pile of money and have security personnel.

Also, I lost my respect for the Chamber of Commerce a long time ago, this is just the final nail in the coffin for them ever standing a chance at representing legitimate concerns again.

[Erica Burrell]

02:09 AM on 12/05/2009

I say to all people generate an email of disgust, because that is what I am going to do, and send it to every single one of the 30 that voted against it and an email to the Chamber of Commerce and start voicing your opinions because I know that if anyone of THEIR daughters were raped THEN THEY WOULD START CARING. Heartless and disconcerting to the advancement of women everywhere

[ChefLito]

12:53 PM on 11/02/2009

All of these conservative Republicans, particularly these 30 that include Graham and McCain claimed strong strong Christian values as part of their platform. what kind of Christian values do they have, anyway, supporting rapists? after all, these companies who refused to prosecute rapists in their midst and even harassed women who who were raped, are rapists and perpetrators themselves. And as supporters of these rapists, these 30 Republicans are no better off, particularly considering their claim for Christian values. what a bunch of hypocrites!
Well, Ensign, perhaps we can excuse him given his philandering and his way of treating his wife and all :(

[42skidoo]

07:16 PM on 10/29/2009

The "R" votes only shine a light on their general attitude about women. If I were the wife, mother, daughter, sister, etc of any of these weasels there were be hell to pay. Corporate privilege, comes before humanity? Somehow it doesn't seem right to have protection from rape prosecution as a company perk.

[Bill Housewright]

12:15 PM on 10/24/2009

Both of my states senator's Coker and Alexander from Tennessee voted NO, so here is a copy of my new bumper sticker,
Tennessee’s Sen. Corker and Sen. Alexander
voted against contractor
Rape Liability bill.
Shame on them!

[booker52]

11:14 AM on 10/24/2009

I noticed that all who voted against this measure are retrugs. No surprise there, they want to protect big business and not the public. Sick.

[expired]

03:02 PM on 10/23/2009

This is an outrage. It is even more telling that this has not been mentioned by any of the network news outlets. newspapers or major cable channels, other than the progressives. This says a lot about this country. How sad. Money talks.

[unclej0]

10:36 PM on 10/22/2009

I was commenting on how ubiquitous corruption is, worldwide, when the Latino limo driver added this: money makes the monkey jump. Very true and it is as true in the USA as everywhere else. My sources: Animal Farm, Penguin Island, Threepenny Opera, and the Congress of the United States of America.

Well, we are what we are. If we want protection from the most egregious behavior there are three pathways:

1) Genetic engineering (maybe, but not in my lifetime).
2) Cultural evolution, doable ( if we have the will) but it will take a couple of generations at least.
3) Rigorous regulation, rigorously enforced. We can start that right now; use the internet, use the public media, use the ballot box, use the streets!

It is not enough to have a friend at the top. He needs vigorous encouragement.

Think of it; President Obama has top level banksters at the helm of the Treasury and the Fed. There's a bit of personal conditioning to be overcome in the regulation of financial institutions. We need some proven state attorneys general in the cabinet or as "czars." Has anyone opposed czars recently? Yes, the reliably corrupt Right.

[dancucich]

07:55 PM on 10/21/2009

my two Georgia Senators voted against the Franken ammendment
One of them is is fairly moderate (isakson)
while the other (saxby shameless) is a loon
and a scoundrel.

. Still, I would like to read the entire ammendment exactly as it was written,
to see who is really misrepresnting what the ammendment says.

Why cant HuffPoprint the document for all to see?

As it stands now,
I have to take someody's word for what it says and
what effect it would have.

[DANOSC]

11:25 PM on 10/21/2009

What IS wrong with Geogia?

[rtlr1004]

01:55 PM on 11/02/2009

What is wrong? There is entirely too much "church" influence. The Republicans profess their faith in God and their belief in demanding family values. The Republicans have convinced the majority of white church goers that Democrats are the spawn of Satan. In addition, church members listen to their pastors slyly endorse the Republican. Unfortunately, the majority can not make a decision for themselves; they are brain-washed by the ridiculous claims of family values, yet they NEVER take the time to look at what these two loons actually do. They both are against health care reform. They both voted no on the Franken Amendment, and I promise you very few, if any, of the Christian voters in Georgia will ever see the hypocrites they make themselves by continuing to vote for self-serving Republicans. Pretty much, if you are white and live in Georgia, you are Republican. Georgians see them as tight with money and God-fearing. I am white and live in Georgia. I thank God I can see the truth. It is embarassing.

[nm11928]

10:03 AM on 10/22/2009

It's rape you loco! Read all you want, but these Senators who voted against this bill are all despicable! You understand loco? Unbelievable!

[Celebrindan]

04:54 PM on 10/21/2009

This is not news.

There is no court in the land that would uphold a clause of that nature.

Courts have already issued rulings that you cannot lawfully sign away legal rights, by contract or otherwise.

The woman has the right to both file charges and seek compensation from ALL parties responsible, contract or otherwise.

Companies try to get away with putting all kinds of crap in contracts.

It doesn't mean it's legal or that it will stand up in court.

She just needs to find a lawyer with some sack.

[PinkoPanther]

02:36 PM on 10/21/2009

I wonder how Meghan McCain feels about her father voting for Halliburton employees to be able to drug and rape young women and then lock them in shipping containers if they complain to the boss?

[deirdreflanagan6]

07:46 AM on 10/21/2009

Where is Fox Nooze on this? Glenn Beck should be sobbing at the thought of any American woman being raped by cotracted workers in a foriegn country. Sean should be sputtering at the unjustice. Even Meagan McCain should be calling out her father for his dispicable vote. When one sees the entire Repuican bloc voting one way,it's very suspect of pure politics. Shame on all of them.