Schumer signals that Democrats will block GOP police reform bill
By Jordain Carney - 06/23/20 11:04 AM EDT
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) signaled on Tuesday that Democrats are prepared to block a GOP police reform bill.
Schumer, speaking from the Senate floor, sent his strongest warning yet that the Republican bill — spearheaded by Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), the only Black GOP senator — will not advance and urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to back down.
"We Democrats are certain that the McConnell plan will not, indeed cannot, result in any legislation passing. It's clear that the Republican bill, as is, will not get 60 votes. There's overwhelming opposition to the bill in our caucus," Schumer said.
"Because the bill needs such large-scale and fundamental change, there is no conceivable way that a series of amendments strong enough to cure the defects in the bill garner 60 votes either. So no bill will pass as a result of this ploy by Sen. McConnell," he added.
The Republican bill will get a key test vote on Wednesday, when it will need 60 votes, including at least seven Democrats, to overcome an initial procedural hurdle. Sen. Doug Jones (Ala.) is the only Democrat who has indicated that he could vote to proceed to the GOP bill, leaving Republicans short of the support needed.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/504068-schumer-signals-that-democrats-will-block-gop-police-reform-bill
