House Democrats passed far-reaching police reform legislation, largely along partisan lines, on Thursday night by a vote of 236-181. Speaker Pelosi crafted the legislation with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and focused the reform bill on police brutality and racial profiling.
Though Democrats touted the Justice in Policing Act as a win, the majority party gave Republicans no opportunity to give input on the legislation. Three Republican congressmen voted with Democrats on the largely partisan bill.
236-181: House passes Democrats' police reform bill, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, on a near party line vote with Speaker Pelosi presiding. 3 Republicans @RepBrianFitz (PA), @HurdOnTheHill (TX) and @RepFredUpton (MI) voted Yes. Bill now heads to Senate. pic.twitter.com/ul7IJmfZmx
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) June 26, 2020
Today, House Democrats passed the #GeorgeFloyd Justice in Policing Act.
— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) June 26, 2020
The fight for justice continues.
Instead of dealing with the most pressing challenges facing our nation or negotiating in good faith to reach a bipartisan consensus on police reform...
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) June 26, 2020
House Dems are pressing forward with their political agenda, ignoring the Constitution and voting to grant D.C. statehood.
Given the radical language, the House’s bill will not be taken up by the Senate, and would never make it to President Trump’s desk. The House’s passage of this legislation comes just one day after Senate Democrats filibustered Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-SC) police reform legislation in order to block debate on the bill.
Democrats continuously claim that police reform is vital, and most Republicans would agree. But if that urgency was real, Democrats would afford their GOP colleagues the opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner.