Marilinda Garcia on Violence Against Women Act: 'Catchy title . . . doesn't make it a great law'
In last night’s NH1 debate, 2nd District congressional candidate Marilinda Garcia repeated her opposition to the Violence Against Women Act. “I’m about smart spending and smart non-redundant legislation,” she said, “so just because there’s a catchy title that the Congresswoman might throw out there so that she can then beat an opponent’s head over it during a campaign doesn’t make it a great law.”
The landmark Violence Against Women Act, first enacted with bipartisan support in 1994, offers a comprehensive approach to violence against women by combining tougher penalties for offenders with programs to provide services for victims. VAWA was reauthorized and expanded in 2000 and 2005 with bipartisan backing.
In 2012, conservative House Republicans objected to provisions extending its protections to Native Americans, lesbian, gay, and transgender Americans and illegal immigrants. After contentious debate and delay, VAWA was again reauthorized in 2013. All four members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation, including Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, voted in favor of the legislation.
Garcia told The Hill in March that she opposes VAWA because New Hampshire state law protects women and she doesn’t “believe in redundancy in policy just to make a point.“
For the record, until the governor signed Joshua’s Law in June, domestic violence was not a distinct crime in New Hampshire. As a state Representative, Garcia voted against legislation that prohibits discrimination against employees who are victims of domestic violence and establishes a committee to study the protection of employees from domestic violence.
Garcia has complained about being attacked by Democrats on women’s issues. “Frankly,” she told WGIR, “I think it’s insulting, because they’re preying upon what they see as a vulnerable group, one that can be swayed with scare tactics.”