Senate overwhelmingly backs military sexual assault bill barring "good soldier defense."

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate headed toward an overwhelming vote Monday in favor of big changes in the military justice system to deal with sexual assault, including scrapping the nearly century-old practice of using a "good soldier defense" to raise doubts that a crime has been committed.

A bipartisan plan crafted by three female senators — Democrat Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Republicans Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Deb Fischer of Nebraska — would impose a half-dozen changes as Congress tries to combat the pervasive problem of rape and sexual offenses that Pentagon leaders have likened to a cancer within the ranks.

In a rare show of unanimity, the Senate voted 100-0 last Thursday to move ahead on the bill, and easy passage was expected. The House could act on the legislation as a stand-alone measure or incorporate it into the massive defense policy bill that it pulls together in the spring.

The support is in sharp contrast to last week, when military leaders vigorously opposed a measure by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., that would have stripped commanders of their authority to prosecute cases and given it to seasoned military lawyers outside the chain of command. The Senate voted 55-45 for that farther-reaching bill, but that was five votes short of the necessary 60.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/new-senate-bill-combat-military-sexual-assaults

The Associated Press ?@AP 2m

BREAKING: Senate overwhelmingly backs military sexual assault bill barring "good soldier defense."

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would make big changes in the military justice system to deal with sexual assault.

The vote was 97-0 on Monday. The measure would scrap the nearly century-old practice of using a "good soldier defense" to raise doubts that a crime has been committed.

The bipartisan bill was written by three female senators — Democrat Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Republicans Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Deb Fischer of Nebraska.

It would impose a half-dozen changes as Congress tries to combat the pervasive problem of rape and sexual offenses that Pentagon leaders have likened to a cancer within the ranks.