Democrats Vow To Block GOP Police Reform Bill Unless Republicans Agree To Negotiate

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks as Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., listen at a news conference criticizing GOP leaders for failing to agree to bipartisan talks on police reform. Republicans say Democrats should advance the GOP bill and propose changes.

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Senate Democrats, emboldened by a national outcry for reform of the country’s law enforcement departments, are poised to thwart Republicans efforts to take up a GOP-drafted police reform bill just hours before a critical vote on Wednesday.

One week ago, with his party’s leadership behind him, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the chamber’s lone Black Republican, unveiled the bill with hopes of voting on the measure ahead of the Fourth of July recess. Republicans said the plan addresses a national outcry for reform of the country’s law enforcement departments and agencies.

But by Tuesday, Democrats were demanding bipartisan talks before green-lighting floor debate. The move rankled Republicans, who say they already addressed Democrats’ demands to quickly move a bill addressing police brutality.