Proving that he won't always toe the Republican party line, U.S. Sen. George LeMieux yesterday backed an amendment proposed by Democrat Al Franken of Minnesota that would withhold defense contracts from companies like Halliburton if they stop employees from taking sex discrimination and assault cases to court.
"I can't see in any circumstance that a woman who was a victim of sexual assault shouldn't have her right to go to court," LeMieux said, according to MinnPost.com. "So, that is why I voted for it."
The story adds: Although Franken chatted up LeMieux on the Senate floor before the vote, LeMieux said that he had already made his decision. But, LeMieux added, Franken's talk didn't hurt."I had decided to vote for it before I came here, but I was happy to hear his argument for it," LeMieux said. "He did what a senator should do, which was he was working it. He was working for his amendment."
It's refreshing to see a Republican in the Senate like George LeMieux who breaks from partisan politics to take a principled stand on an issue. It's interesting that an appointee stands up and takes the job seriously, unlike many of his fellow elected Senators. Kudos to Senator LeMieux.
Posted by: Paul | October 07, 2009 at 09:25 PM
Unfortunately most politicians vote along party lines 80 percent or more, every piece of legislation should be looked at with an independent mind.
Posted by: douglas fender | October 08, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Somehow I get from the article's heading that voting with Franken is a bad thing. Regardless of the fact that the OTHER media has constantly told me I should fear Franken. I have actually listened to him talk on 4 different occasions, including the state fair in which he was surrounded by anti-health care reformers and yet I came away each time with both respect and the notion to vote for him should he had represented my district.
Posted by: Craniumdude | October 08, 2009 at 04:28 PM