(TheRedWire.com) – On Wednesday Senators voted to block the District of Columbia’s criminal code reform. This is the first time in over three decades that a D.C.-passed bill was blocked by Congress and the White House. The Senate chose to advance a resolution in an 81-14 vote, with 33 Democrats siding with Republicans in the vote. Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) also voted in favor of the resolution.
Many of the party’s leaders also supported the resolution including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), while Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Democrat in the upper chamber, voted against it.
Many of the Senate Democrats who are expected to face a tough reelection in 2024, also voted in favor of the bill including Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Jon Tester (Mont.), and Sherrod Brown (Ohio), all supported the resolution.
Fourteen senators Democratic Senators voted against the resolution, including Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Durbin.
The Senate Democrats could more easily vote “yes” as President Biden had revealed previously that if the resolution reaches his office then he would not be vetoing it. The resolution had previously passed through the house in a 250-173 vote, with 31 Democrats supporting the resolution.
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