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Dem. Senator slows progress of Soledad bill

The author of legislation to preserve the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego says a Senate Democrat is blocking the bill. The legislation would transfer possession of the monument to the fed

The author of legislation to preserve the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego says a Senate Democrat is blocking the bill. The legislation would transfer possession of the monument to the federal government. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama says at least one unidentified Senate Democrat has placed a parliamentary "hold" on the bill in an effort to block its passage.

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Senate Republicans Tuesday cleared the bill for passage, but Sessions says it was held up by Democrats. He says he'll invoke a parliamentary maneuver to force a vote if the Democrats continue to object. A federal judge has ordered the city of San Diego to remove the cross in the middle of the memorial or be fined $5,000 a day.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has issued an indefinite stay to put off any fines against the city until the issue has moved through the judicial system. The Senate bill is identical to a House measure that passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week. Ed Joyce, KPBS News.