Congress has hit an impasse on policing legislation after Democrats blocked a police reform proposal on Tuesday — and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has dramatically upped the rhetoric.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed Republicans, who don’t support all her proposals, are “trying to get away with murder, actually — the murder of George Floyd.”
Pelosi said Republican reform proposals are “unsalvageable” and would not make “any difference.”
The standoff threatens to turn the nationwide protests over the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others into another moment that galvanizes the nation but leaves lawmakers unable to act. Common ground is not out of reach. A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows almost all Americans support some degree of criminal justice changes.
With the sudden ramping of rhetoric by Pelosi, Congress is expected to stall out and change nothing. Lawmakers are hesitant to make moves upsetting to voters as they campaign for the fall election.
Ahead of a test vote Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged it may fall short. If so, he vowed to try again, hoping to pass legislation before a July 4 holiday recess.
“This is not about them or us,” said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the author of the GOP bill. It’s about protecting people, “who are afraid to jog down the street or get in their car and drive.”
The GOP’s Justice Act would create a national database of police use-of-force incidents, restrict police chokeholds, and set up new training procedures and commissions to study race and law enforcement. Pelosi and the Democrats declared the Republican bill “not salvageable” and demanded greater concessions.
The Democrats are being backed by the nation’s leading civil rights organizations and the lawyer, Benjamin Crump, representing the families of Floyd and Taylor, two African-Americans whose deaths in police interactions sparked worldwide protests over racial bias in policing.
“The Black community is tired of the lip service,” Crump said in a statement.
As talks potentially continue, Democrats are trying to force Republicans to the negotiating table to strengthen Democrats’ hand. The House is set to approve the Democrats bill later this week. The two bills, the House and Senate versions, would ultimately need to be the same to become law.
“For something to happen, [Republicans are] going to have to face the reality of police brutality, the reality of the need for justice in policing, and the recognition that there are many, many good people in law enforcement — but not all,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi’s comments drew sharp rebuke and calls from Republicans for her to apologize.
“We’re ready to make a law, not just make a point,” McConnell said as he opened the Senate on Tuesday. He said Americans “deserve better than a partisan stalemate.”
During Tuesday’s Senate floor debate, Republicans insisted Democrats would have a chance to amend the Senate bill if they allow the debate to begin. But Democrats countered there is no agreement their changes would be up for consideration.
Political risks of inaction are high, as the public wants to see policing changes after nearly a month of constant demonstrations nationwide, in cities large and small, forcing a worldwide reckoning over law enforcement and racial injustice.
The parties also face some degree of internal divisions within their ranks, with some Democrats likely to support advancing the Senate bill Wednesday, and some Republicans proposing their own law enforcement changes.
For example, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., proposes ending the practice of sending military equipment to local police departments, which is similar to a provision included in the Democrats’ bill but not in the Republican package.
And Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., wants to limit the immunity protections for officers in lawsuits. The White House has opposed that in the Democratic bill and it’s not included in the Republican package.
The Associated Press contributed to this article