WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to attach a measure that would extend federal hate-crime protection to sexual orientation to the defense authorization bill.
The hate-crime provision was attached by voice vote and without dissent, The New York Times reported.
The White House said previously President George W. Bush opposed extending hate-crime protection as “unnecessary and constitutionally questionable” and that he would veto the extension if it came to him as a stand-alone bill.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday the White House position had not changed, but she could not say for certain whether Bush would veto the defense bill.
“(There) are so many different things that a senior adviser might recommend a veto on,” Perino said.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. -- a sponsor of the hate-crime measure -- said it was appropriate to attach the amendment to the defense authorization bill because hate crimes were "domestic terrorism."
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas -- who did not favor attaching the amendment to the must-pass bill but did not vote against its attachment -- said, "All crimes of violence are crimes of hate."
