As the debate over the war in Iraq rages, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been clear about his desire to move the defense authorization bill quickly through the Senate – he doesn’t want to see the process bogged down by unnecessary amendments. Reid’s desire for speed and efficiency was on display today when he introduced an amendment to the defense authorization bill on the subject of…hate crimes. Acting on behalf of amendment sponsors Ted Kennedy and Gordon Smith, Reid attached the “Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007″ to the defense authorization bill. The amendment would allow more federal involvement in local cases where it is believed that there is a hate-crime element, and it would authorize the attorney general to give out $10 million in grants to state and local authorities in 2008 and 2009 “for extraordinary expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.” Reid filed for cloture when he introduced the amendment; a vote will take place on Thursday.