Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) tried to pressure Democrats Wednesday to support anti-trafficking legislation that has been stalled by an abortion fight.
“All it takes is a few more Democrats of courage to ignore the lobbyists,” McConnell said. “No command from left-wing lobbyists could justify filibustering the critical help this human rights bill would provide.”
{mosads}Democrats are blocking the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act because it includes the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds for being used on abortions.
If every Republican backs the bill, McConnell will need six Democratic votes to overcome the filibuster. Four Democrats sided with Republicans in a vote on Tuesday.
The Senate is expected to vote again this week on the anti-trafficking legislation, which would bolster resources for law enforcement and victims.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), referencing Albert Einstein, said taking the same votes is “insane.”
“Albert Einstein, this genius, said that the pure definition of insanity is someone who does the same thing over and over again and comes up with the same result,” he said. “It’s insane to keep going forward on these votes that everyone knows are going to turn out the same way.”
The anti-trafficking legislation passed unanimously out of the Judiciary Committee earlier this year.
McConnell said that if every Democrat who previously supported the legislation voted for it on the floor, Republicans would have enough votes to break the filibuster.
“All that will mean is the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee supporting the very same bill they voted for just a few weeks earlier,” he said. “Apparently all of these senators were for this human rights bill before they were against it.”