House approves measure condemning 'calls to defund the police'
The House approved a resolution Friday that condemns “calls to defund the police,” taking aim at the rallying cry embraced by some progressives amid the Black Lives Matter movement.
The chamber approved the four-page measure in a 337-61 vote, with all opposition coming from Democrats, a number of whom are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
The nonbinding resolution — which Republicans brought to the floor as part of their Police Week legislative push — condemns calls to defund the police, which the measure claims “has increased violence towards law enforcement officers.”
It also “expresses condolences and solemn appreciation” to the loved ones of law enforcement officials who were killed in the line of duty, and it recognizes the need for better data collection regarding officers who are assaulted, injured or disabled in the line of duty, among other provisions.
The “defund the police” resolution was one of several law enforcement-related measures House GOP leadership brought to the floor as part of Police Week. Republicans have sought to put a spotlight on crime, which has become a central topic in the 2024 election cycle and emerged as a key weak spot for President Biden as he vies for another four years in office.
“Under Joe Biden and far left failed leadership, the safety of America's law enforcement has been sacrificed for the sake of the Democrats pro-criminal agenda,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), the chair of the House GOP conference, said Wednesday. “Lawless liberals handicap our police from doing their jobs with failed bail reform like my home state in New York and pro-criminal policies that appease the far left Democrats' defund the police agenda.”
A number of Democrats, however, slammed the Police Week proposals as messaging bills.
“Resolutions that mislead the public about violent crime rates, legislation that increases the availability of deadly weapons in our communities, and bills that fuel xenophobic and anti-immigrant sentiments do not make our communities safer–for our children, for our most vulnerable neighbors, for law enforcement, other first responders, or anyone else,” Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) wrote in a statement earlier this week.
The phrase “defund the police” was popularized following the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly after the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Black advocates argued police departments were overfunded, allowing for the overpolicing of Black communities.
For many advocates, defunding the police would mean reinvesting city and state funds from law enforcement to services such as mental health services or other first responders.
But many opposed to the concept argued the phrase — and advocates — demonized law enforcement. They also expressed concerns that limiting the police budget would lead to a closure of police departments, though advocates said they do not want police departments abolished.
Republicans have seized on the rallying cry since it surged in popularity, with GOP lawmakers using it as a way to argue that Democrats are anti-police.
The House Democratic campaign arm, however, pointed out that the Republican Study Committee (RSC) — the largest conservative caucus in the lower chamber — released a budget proposal in March that called for reducing funding to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, the federal program that offers funding for various levels of law enforcement agencies.
“Conservatives support our men and women and blue but should question whether the government should involve itself in state and local law enforcement, even if it is only a matter of funding,” according to the RSC budget.
“The federal government should not bail out cities that wish to cut their police budgets, so the RSC Budget would support a reduction to this program,” the budget adds.
Asked about that provision of the RSC budget Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — a former chair of the RSC — said he hasn’t "looked into the details of the RSC budget” before shifting the focus back on to Democrats.
“A lot of the Democrats in the House now are trying to revise history and pretend as though and even say that they never supported defund police,” Johnson said.
Date: |
Filter
-
Man calls police in Greece after finding house door open, friend missing: Officials
Greek authorities are on the lookout for an American tourist who went missing from the island of Mathraki this week.ABC News - Top stories -
House GOP approves mammoth annual defense bill
Presented by Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company — The bill is accompanied by various culture war amendments. {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story House GOP approves mammoth annual defense bill The House ...The Hill - Politics -
Former Capitol Police officer calls GOP lawmaker’s embrace of Trump ‘disappointing’
Former Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell slammed Republican lawmakers for welcoming former President Trump with open arms in closed-door meetings earlier this week, as Trump touted having a "great relationship" with the House and Senate GOP. In ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Calls for investigation after police car rams loose cow twice
The home secretary seeks an "urgent explanation" of why a police car was used to hit the animal twice.BBC News - Top stories -
House GOP approves mammoth annual defense bill with culture war amendments
The House approved its version of the annual defense policy bill that includes a number of controversial culture-war amendments Friday, setting the stage for a showdown with the Democratic-controlled Senate over legislation that typically enjoys ...The Hill - Politics -
Former White House staffer says Trump called for leaker to be executed
Trump’s demand that 2020 leaker be punished with death raises questions about retribution if he is re-elected. Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin has disclosed that Donald Trump repeatedly mused out loud about ...The Guardian - World - Donald Trump -
Starmer rules out capital gains tax rise as Tory minister admits migration 'frustration'
With less than three weeks until the election, party leaders are hitting the road again today.BBC News - Top stories -
Racially motivated attack on young girls in Germany condemned
Yahoo News - World -
Argentina condemned 30 years after attack on Jewish community
Yahoo News - World -
Looming California budget cuts prompt push for climate ballot measure
Environmental groups are pressing California lawmakers to include a multibillion-dollar climate resilience bond on the November 2024 ballot, as related funding faces probable cuts in the annual state budget. Nearly 180 organizations have now ...The Hill - Politics - California
More from The Hill
-
Scaramucci suggests CEOs backing former president have 'Trump-nesia'
Former Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci suggested that some CEOs have “Trump-nesia” two days after former President Trump attended the quarterly meeting of Business Roundtable, with over 80 CEOs present including ...The Hill - Politics -
Watch live: Trump gives keynote at 'The People's Convention' in Detroit
Former President Trump is set to headline Turning Point USA's "The People's Convention" Saturday in Detroit. Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for the White House, is also expected to use the trip to key battleground state Michigan as a way to ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Crockett calls Thomas 'corrupt' after Supreme Court decision to upend bump stocks ban
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) slammed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as “corrupt” during an interview with MSNBC on the court’s recent decision to overturn a Trump-era bump stock ban. Thomas has come under increasing scrutiny for gifts he ...The Hill - Politics -
Eyeing Trump presidency, conservatives want to delay funding fight
Bullish of former President Trump’s chances of winning back the White House in November, some conservatives are pitching a funding stopgap that would extend into next year rather than expire during a lame duck session when President Biden would ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Iran and Sweden to swap prisoners, including convicted war criminal
Iran agreed Saturday to release two Swedish nationals held in Tehran for over two years in exchange for a convicted Iranian war criminal tied to the 1988 mass killing of protestors critical of the Islamic Republic in the capital city. While ...The Hill - Politics - Iran