House Passes Police Reform Bill Amid Partisan Deadlock After Sen. Tim Scott’s Senate GOP Bill Fails

House of Representatives passed a police reform bill led by Democrats on Thursday by 236-181, month after George Floyd‘s death.

A day earlier, Senate Democrats had successfully prevented Republicans’ police reform bill, led by Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), which failed to gain 60 votes it needed to advance for an open debate.

Key differences between the two parties’ respective proposals were evident.

Democratic bill has a strong emphasis on amending standards on the federal level, requiring officers to wear body cameras and prohibiting chokeholds.

“We don’t paint all police with the same brush,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) said. “But, for those who need to be painted with that brush, we need to take the action contained in this bill.”

Although seemingly aligning with Democrats’ plan, the Republican bill doesn’t make as big changes  Democrats call for.

The Republican bill would incentivize states and local governments to implement changes, instead of raising a national standard. It also doesn’t include an outright prohibition on officers using chokeholds.

“Tim Scott’s bill is a half-assed bill that doesn’t do what we should be doing, which is doing honest police reform,” Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) commented.

Following the news of Republican’s plan failing in the Senate, President Donald Trump was philosphical.

“If nothing happens with it, it’s one of those things,” Trump said. “We have different philosophies.”

Article by Dongyoon Shin