Biden slams Senate Republicans after no-deal police reform negotiations end



[ad_1]

In a statement, Biden thanked Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Representative Karen Bass of California for their work on the bill, and blamed the GOP for the death of the legislation after months of negotiations.

“Sadly, Senate Republicans rejected passage of modest reforms, which even the previous president had supported, while refusing to take action on key issues that many law enforcement officials were willing to address.” , Biden said.

Booker had previously made it clear in a private conversation with Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Republican chief negotiator on the issue, that bipartisan policing talks are over.

Booker, Scott and Bass spent about six months trying to strike a deal that could win 60 votes in the Senate, but talks were hampered by a number of complex issues like qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that protects police officers. against civil lawsuits. to research.

Earlier this year, the policing talks were seen by many on the Hill as having the best chance of turning into bipartisan legislation. With talks ending, Biden sees another of his legislative priorities fail in Congress.

The president expressed hope that he could still sign a comprehensive police reform bill “because we need legislation to ensure lasting and meaningful change”, and said in his statement that Democrats might have to do it themselves.

“This moment demands action, and we cannot allow those who stand in the way of progress to prevent us from answering the call,” he wrote, praising the steps his administration has already taken through of the Ministry of Justice.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

[ad_2]

Source link