In another blow to bipartisanship, Republicans and Democrats have ended weeks of negotiations after failing to reach a compromise on legislation to overhaul police practices.
Democrats on Wednesday announced that the talks had ended, citing a refusal by the GOP to accept changes to legal protections now afforded to police officers that protect them from lawsuits and prosecution for their actions while on duty.
Rep. Karen Bass, a California Democrat and top negotiator, called on President Joe Biden to instead use executive authority “to bring about meaningful police reform” now that lawmakers have reached an impasse after months of failed talks.
Biden signaled in a statement he’s ready to act alone.
“The White House will continue to consult with the civil rights and law enforcement and civil rights communities, as well as victims’ families to define a path forward, including through potential further executive actions I can take to advance our efforts to live up to the American ideal of equal justice under law,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden has already acted to limit “no-knock” warrants and the use of chokeholds, among other changes made unilaterally, such as requiring federal officers to wear body cameras.
The failure to reach a deal follows weeks of intense negotiations to craft legislation that would respond to a string of police killings of black men and women that sparked nationwide social justice protests and demonstrations.
Democrats and Republicans each crafted their own legislation with some overlap, but key differences prevented the two sides from agreeing on a deal.
Republicans opposed eliminating qualified immunity for police officers, which would leave them legally liable for actions taken while on the job. Instead, the GOP proposed shifting liability over to police departments. They also opposed Democratic provisions they said could reduce federal resources for local police departments.
Democrats blamed Republicans Wednesday for refusing their compromise offers.
“Every time, more was demanded to the point that there would be no progress made in the bill that we were left discussing,” Bass said.
Biden, in his statement, also blamed the GOP, who he said “rejected enacting modest reforms, which even the previous president had supported, while refusing to take action on key issues that many in law enforcement were willing to address.”
Republicans tell a different story, arguing it was Democrats who refused to compromise.
Lead Senate negotiator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, said Democrats rejected his offer to introduce a bill that included provisions the two parties supported, such as banning chokeholds, limiting police acquisition of military equipment, and providing more mental health resources, adding that Democrats rejected the plan “because they could not let go of their push to defund our law enforcement.”
Scott said he’ll keep seeking a legislative compromise “with anyone who is serious about finding bipartisan solutions that bring justice, fairness and safety for the most vulnerable among us.”
