U.S. Senate Democrats want talks on policing, not Republican bill
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[June 23, 2020]
By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate
Democrats on Monday urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to step
back from an expected vote on Republican police reform legislation,
saying lawmakers should instead try to hammer out a bipartisan package
through negotiation.
In comments suggesting they could block a key procedural vote expected
on Wednesday, Democrats said the bill put forward by Senator Tim Scott,
the chamber's only black Republican, was too limited to drive the
reforms needed in the aftermath of George Floyd's death while in police
custody.
"If we really want to do serious work on a serious matter, we ought to
be having discussions, right now. That's not what Mitch wants,"
Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono told reporters.
Added Democratic Senator Joe Manchin: "First, step back. Step back."
The House of Representatives is due to vote on more sweeping Democratic
legislation on Thursday.
Nearly a month after Floyd's death in Minneapolis, neither the
Republican nor Democratic measures appeared to have enough bipartisan
support to win approval from both chambers and be signed into law by
Republican President Donald Trump.
Floyd's death, after a white officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine
minutes, sparked weeks of protests worldwide.
With strong public sentiment for stopping excessive force by police,
especially against African-Americans, many are urging Congress to seize
the opportunity to quickly pass legislation.
Last week Trump signed an executive order aimed at guiding police
reforms .
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Republican Representative from Ohio and Ranking Member Jim Jordan,
speaks during a House Judiciary Committee markup on H.R. 7120 the
"Justice in Policing Act of 2020" in Washington, D.C., U.S., June
17, 2020. Sarah Silbiger/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
McConnell strongly endorsed the Republican bill on Monday, before
filing papers for a vote to limit debate that would require 60 votes
in a chamber where Republican control only 53 seats. Democrats could
prevent the Senate from moving to the bill by voting against the
motion.
"For anyone who actually wants to legislate, it will not be a
difficult call to vote to begin considering Senator Scott's
legislation," McConnell said on the Senate floor.
(Reporting by David Morgan and Lisa Lambert; editing by Richard
Cowan, Grant McCool and Lincoln Feast.)
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