Senate Democrats may be able to secure more ambitious changes if they wait until after the elections.
Senate Democrats are voicing deep skepticism toward the GOP’s newfound embrace of police reform. And they may soon have to decide whether they’ll accept incremental measures or nothing at all.
Though careful not to pre-emptively dismiss South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott’s work designing a police reform package, Democrats said in interviews Wednesday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is unlikely to endorse the type of far-reaching legislation needed to respond to police killings of black people and nationwide unrest.
“I don’t think they’re going to propose anything that comes anywhere near enough to what we need to do. We need systemic change,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). “If they propose systemic change then I’m fully supportive of it. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s more cosmetic.” Continue reading.