House Democrats continue to be accused of pushing the defund police narrative that the radicalized Black Lives Matter movement has been promoting since the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers.
Republicans are once again accusing their Democrat colleagues of cutting funding for police, this time their argument is anchored by the recently passed and updated Heroes Act which was written to help Americans deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The original bill, which Democrat Reps. Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy urged Speaker Pelosi to find a bipartisan solution on, and that Republicans refused to support, was a bulking $3.4 trillion that included $600 million in funding for law enforcement.
The new, leaner $2.2 trillion HEROES Act has stripped away that $600 million police funding, prompting Republicans to accuse Democrats of willfully defunding police instead of cutting out "wishlist" items.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is once again targeting freshman Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) saying that she “voted in support” of coronavirus relief bill they call a “sham” and that “eliminates $600 million for policing.”
“I voted to pass this Heroes Act because it provides a stimulus check, unemployment benefits, funding for schools & businesses,” tweeted Rep. Mucarsel-Powell
“Democrats have been negotiating in good faith,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz during a House floor speech.
Rep. Wasserman Schultz said that House Democrats met Republicans "halfway" about helping Americans during the bill negotiations, and ultimately agreed on the $2.2 trillion.
As you can imagine, House Republicans who all voted against the funding bill took turns criticizing the bill as being nothing more than an item on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s "wishlist.”
Rep. Greg Steube (R) poked fun at the funding measure by tweeting out a picture of his legislative aid "Jag” chewing up the proposal after “finding out that Nancy Pelosi’s “heroes” l "cuts police funding and gives stimulus checks to illegal immigrants.”
Jag found out that Nancy Pelosi's "heroes" proposal cuts police funding and gives stimulus checks to illegal immigrants.
Looks like he's not a fan of her socialist wishlist.. pic.twitter.com/b7m2S6BtJh
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) October 1, 2020
Rep. Steube’s colleague, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R) told The Floridian that Speaker Pelosi was “holding hostage relief” from Americans, calling the measure an “abomination” because it spends “trillions for liberal pet projects” and “defunds police.”
“It is a shame that Speaker Pelosi is holding hostage relief for constituents and small businesses in my district,” said Rep. Bilirakis. The Heroes Act 2.0 is more of an abomination and more divisive than even the first version I had to vote against. A bill that spends trillions for liberal pet projects, but then defunds the police is not serious. It's political gamesmanship that is hurting Americans."
President Donald Trump, who was recently tested positive for COVID-19, is said to be eager to sign another pandemic relief bill and is just waiting for Congress to present him a bill.
