The move by Democrats caps weeks of calls from both parties to move quickly on police reform amid protests and civil unrest across the country following high-profile episodes of police use of deadly force that sparked a national backlash. But efforts to find common ground have largely devolved into bitter, partisan finger-pointing, underscoring how a deep partisan divide may result in stalemate on the issue on Capitol Hill.
Democrats made clear on Tuesday that they plan to deny Senate Republicans the 60-votes needed on a procedural vote to begin debate on the bill, which was led by Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator. If the vote fails, as it is expected to, lawmakers will not be able to open debate, offer amendments, or move to a final vote on passage.
"The Republican bill, as is, will not get 60 votes. There's overwhelming opposition to the bill in our caucus," Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday, adding, "The Republican majority has given the Senate a bad bill and proposed no credible way to sufficiently improve it."
While Senate Democrats are expected to have the votes to filibuster GOP efforts to begin debate on the bill, some members of their caucus are likely to vote to begin debate.
Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, told CNN he has not decided how he'll vote but he's a "likely yes" vote today.
Democratic Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama has also previously indicated he's likely to vote to proceed.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was noncommittal on Wednesday about bringing police reform back if Democrats block the Republican policing bill.
"Well, we will let you know," McConnell said ahead of the procedural vote that is expected to fail. "It can be done under a motion to reconsider at any point."
Scott, the lead sponsor of the legislation, said on Tuesday that he's uncertain if there's a path forward on police reform this year if Democrats block his bill.
"What happens if it fails? That's a question I can't really answer at this point," he said.
An aide to Scott told CNN that on Tuesday at the Senate GOP lunch the senator played for his GOP colleagues hateful and racist voicemails his office has received in recent days. One Republican senator suggested he increase his own personal security.
Scott told The New York Times that the hateful and racist messages have become more intense in recent days.
"It's interesting that we are on the right side of the police reform conversation, yet we're on the wrong side according to the people, based on the way that we are characterized in the national press," Scott told the Times.
House Democrats are planning to bring a Democratic-crafted policing proposal to a vote in their chamber on Thursday and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had said last week that she had hoped to bring the Democratic legislation to conference with the Senate GOP proposal to reconcile differences.
But the possibility of the two parties find
