Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid argued for passing a $15 billion job stimulus because ‘violence against women has gotten out of hand.’  Reid’s comments, as noted in by Tracy Clark-Flory in Salon.com continued “Why? Men don’t have jobs. Women don’t have jobs either, but women aren’t abusive, most of the time.” He continued, “Men, when they’re out of work, tend to become abusive.”

Reid is correct, CWLC work and research, a  2004 report funded by the Department of Justice. and experience tells us that there is, unfortunately, a positive relationship between male unemployment and domestic violence against women. Is a jobs bill for men the answer? Especially a $15 billion program that, according to economists, is weak at best?

Here’s an idea – how about funding domestic violence programs that protect women, educate the public and put domestic violence offenders in prison. Gov. Schwarzenegger cut 100% of domestic violence programs causing dozens of shelters to close within weeks of the budget cut. Public education of domestic violence focuses around football and when celebrities are arrested for domestic violence, cultural and economic status tends to trump the crime.

If Senator Reid is interested in ending domestic violence, then it’s time to focus on the issue with valued solutions and not cheap talking points for a watered-down jobs bill.