Manchin-Toomey Background Check Bill Fails in Senate, Grassley-Cruz Bill Up Next?
If you’re keeping score at home, here’s what your proposed background check bill scorecard should look like: – Sen. Charles...
If you’re keeping score at home, here’s what your proposed background check bill scorecard should look like:
– Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-NY) Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013 struck out before reaching the floor.
– Sens. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) and Pat Toomey’s (R-Pa.) Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act failed to gain the 60 votes necessary to break a GOP filibuster in a 54-46 roll call ballot on April 17.
– Next up: The proposed Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2013 co-sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
According to Lucy Madison of CBS News, even before Wednesday’s 4 p.m. vote on the Manchin/Toomey compromise bill, Grassley and Cruz offered their own proposal.
Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, told CBS News that the new proposal would serve as a “sensible alternative” to the current measure and would “effectively addresses problems that we’ve seen without burdening law-abiding citizens.”
“We ensure the Second Amendment is protected while taking reasonable steps to strengthen our communities,” Grassley told reporters at a press conference unveiling the proposal.
Of course, if the Manchin/Toomey compromise bill failed to muster sufficient support for a gun-buyer background check bill that’s supported by nearly 90 percent of Americans, it’s doubtful the Grassley/Cruz bill could garner the needed 60 votes either.
The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act crafted by Manchin and Toomey failed in a 54-46 vote, falling short of the 60-vote threshold needed to break a filibuster of the measure.
The measure appeared doomed earlier in the day when Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) announced they would vote against it, raising the number of opponents to 43. The last three undecideds — Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Max Baucus — voted against the bill during role call ballot.
For more, go to:
— Gun Bill Background Check Amendment, Other Key Provisions Fail In Senate Vote
— DONE: Toomey-Manchin Background Check Fails to Garner 60 Votes
— Manchin-Toomey gun compromise headed for defeat
— As Manchin-Toomey amendment falters, GOP offers alternate gun proposal
