Republicans say Reid holding trafficking bill ‘hostage’

by Jordain Carney - 03/17/15 3:13 PM ET

Senate Republicans accused Democrats on Tuesday of holding an anti-trafficking bill hostage over abortion.

Democrats blocked movement on the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act on Tuesday because it includes the Hyde Amendment, which blocks federal funds from being used on abortion.

{mosads}Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who introduced the legislation, called the Democratic filibuster “reprehensible.”

“To take this legislation hostage … is just as reprehensible as I can imagine,” Cornyn told reporters.

The Senate has been stuck on the legislation since early last week, after what was supported to be a bipartisan moment turned into an all-out political fight.

Democrats say the GOP tricked them over whether the legislation included the abortion language. They want Republicans to strip the abortion provision from the bill.

Republicans, however, have denied wrongdoing and accused Democrats of not reading the legislation before it unanimously passed the Judiciary Committee.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) suggested that the legislative fight reflects badly on Democrats.

“I think [Minority Leader Harry Reid] is … leading his caucus off the cliff again,” he said. “At the very best, they’re confessing to incredibly bad staff-working.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said senators are going to continue working on the anti-trafficking bill.

“We’re going to continue to press forward,” he told reporters. “I’ll be filing cloture on additional cloture motions, but we’re going to stay on this bill.”

But Reid said the legislation won’t pass if the abortion language isn’t removed. He said he expects the Senate to take votes Wednesday and Thursday on the same legislation they voted on Tuesday.

“That’s what we’re going to do this week,” he said. “Another wasted week.”

Democrats suggested the political standstill shows that Republicans can’t govern effectively.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the GOP needs to be reminded they’re now in the majority.

“They’re putting poison pills in their own bills,” he said. “Republicans ought to start governing. They out to realize they’re in the majority, not the minority.”

Tags Abortion Harry Reid John Cornyn