Senate Democrats on Wednesday threw cold water on Republican-authored police reform legislation, calling it an inadequate and half-hearted solution to hold police officers accountable in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
There are several key differences between the GOP bill, which was authored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and the proposal offered by House and Senate Democrats.
Unlike the Democratic bill, the GOP measure does not explicitly ban law enforcement techniques such as chokeholds and no-knock warrants.
The GOP bill would not end qualified immunity for law enforcement as called for by Democratic lawmakers and the activists marching for change in nationwide protests.
Schumer, meanwhile, called the GOP bill’s silence on the issue of qualified immunity “its greatest flaw” because it blocks “real, meaningful accountability in individual officer misconduct.”