Updated 05/19/2012 10:02 AM
Brooks Weighs in on Violence Against Women Act
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Republican Monroe County Executive and congressional candidate Maggie Brooks says federal legislation that would provide millions in funding to protect victims of domestic violence has too many limitations.
The republican-controlled House of Representatives passed an extension of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act Wednesday. 23 republicans voted against the measure. Brooks says the House bill places unnecessary restrictions on access to domestic violence services. Brooks has been criticized in the media for not weighing in on federal issues. Brooks calls those attacks unfair.
"The reporters who have asked me to take positions are mad that I won't answer the questions they want to talk about. I'm in this campaign because I want to improve the future of this country. I want to talk about the economy; I want to talk about jobs," said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. "Those are the issues that I've put at the top of my list on this campaign. But I think I'm willing to talk about just about anything. If you ask me something, I will answer it."
Brooks' democratic opponent, longtime incumbent Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, did not vote on this version of the Violence Against Women Act. Slaughter released a statement Wednesday. She was an original co-author of the first Violence Against Women Act in 1994. Slaughter now says it is, "Simply unconscionable to me that we would consider rolling back any of the protections we have fought for so hard and for so long." Last month, the U.S. Senate approved its version of the bill which varies from the one passed Wednesday in the House.