Trib Cheers Crapo Violence Stand

In his weekly Cheers & Jeers column, Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune cheers … U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. For the second time in less than a year, he’s parting company with most of his fellow Republicans - including Idaho’s Jim Risch - in support of victims of domestic violence. Last year, Crapo crossed party lines to support reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, but what was once a bipartisan measure has languished in the polarized politics of Washington, D.C. Now he’s joined with Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., and 58 co-sponsors to pass a new version. But only seven cosponsors are Republicans. The conservative Heritage Foundation is promising to punish any Republican who votes for it.Hanging in the balance are efforts to prevent teen dating domestic violence, shore up cops and prosecutors as well as support programs such as the YWCA in Lewiston and Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. Full Cheers & Jeers column here.

Question: Can someone explain why U.S. Sen. Jim Risch and the Heritage Foundation opposes the Violence Against Women Act?