- The House passed a resolution on Friday condemning calls to defund the police.
- 61 House Democrats voted against it.
- The resolution also blamed progressive policies for an uptick in violence against cops.
The House of Representatives easily passed a resolution by a 337-61 margin on Friday that condemned calls to defund the police and blamed progressive policies for an uptick in violence against officers.
61 House Democrats voted against the resolution, while 134 — along with other Republicans present — voted for it.
The resolution, authored by Republican Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota, included several noncontroversial provisions, such as clauses expressing "condolences and solemn appreciation" for the families of slain officers and recognizing "the mental stress and strain law enforcement officers suffer."
But it also included language that Democrats took issue with, including blaming "decreased penalties and no-bail policies" for opening the door to "record criminal activity in cities across the country."
Many progressive district attorneys have supported efforts to reform bail policies, arguing that the status quo leads to poorer people who are accused of crimes being stuck in jail while the wealthy are able to buy their freedom.
Many Democrats voted against the resolution, arguing that it was an unserious effort to address police safety. Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland, a former prosecutor, listed off several previous bills that Democrats had supported and passed when they controlled Congress, including legislation to extend benefits to officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Several of the Democrats who voted against the resolution have also expressed support, in various forms, for efforts to shift resources away from traditional policing and toward alternative community safety approaches.
Here are the 61 House Democrats who voted against the resolution:
|
Balint |
Garcia (TX) |
Omar |