The caucus is split on whether to block the bill or try to amend it.
Senate Democrats are agonizing over what to do about Senate Republicans’ police reform proposal.
They can either vote down the legislation next week and face charges of obstruction amid a national reckoning on race — or advance a bill that they say needs massive changes in order to meet the moment. The dilemma was hoisted on them Wednesday after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) abruptly rejiggered the Senate schedule to bring Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-S. C.) legislation to the floor.
Democrats have little intention of allowing the bill to pass as is, but the caucus is divided over the best path ahead. “And that’s for good reason,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
“A lot of this is determined by whether McConnell wants to ram this through or whether he wants to have an actual debate,” said Murphy, who is undecided on how he will vote on a critical procedural vote. “If this isn’t a fair process, I don’t know that Mitch McConnell’s going to be able to convince people that it is.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N. Y.) and his members will debate strategy this week, according to multiple Democratic senators. And the vote isn’t likely to occur until Wednesday of next week so they have a little bit of time. But Democrats have to tread carefully, particularly in an election year where the party’s base is eager for action.
Schumer called the GOP proposal on Wednesday a “bad bill” and said that Democrats are “figuring out what to do with it.”
Privately, Democrats say enough of their members may be inclined to at least debate the bill, though no final decision has been made.
Some say it could be a mistake to even advance what they view as a bad bill that lacks a federal chokehold ban and doesn’t make it easier to sue police who commit misconduct, key Democratic asks in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and nationwide protests.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N. Y.) said if the “bill is as limited as I understand it to be, then I don’t think it’s valuable to get on the bill.” And she’s not alone.
“You have to remember who the leader of their party is and what he’s all about.
