Democratic leaders were careful not to reject calls to defund police departments in major cities specifically and neither criticized nor offered support in favor of an announcement by nine of the 13 members of the Minneapolis City Council that they plan to defund their own police department and replace it with another public safety apparatus. 

Police critics in other cities, including Washington, D.C., and New York City, are also calling for defunding.

Congressional Democrats, however, were eager on Monday to tout a broad and historic police reform bill drafted by the Congressional Black Caucus that would not defund the police but effectively ban police from using a chokehold or knee on the neck of people in their custody. The maneuver was used by a white police officer on the neck of George Floyd, a black man who died in his custody last month. 

The Democratic bill would increase accountability by creating a national police misconduct database and making it easier to hold police responsible for those who die in their custody.

Democrats quickly crafted the reform legislation in the wake of nationwide civil unrest resulting from the death of Floyd and other black people in police custody as well as other racial injustice impacting the black community. 

Pelosi would not say whether she supported or rejected police defunding but suggested it does not mean ending funding for law enforcement. 

Democrats believe they are being attacked over the issue by Republicans, who they say are diverting attention from their own negligence. 

Democrats want the Senate, run by Republicans, to take up a $3 trillion measure that would, among other things, provide hazard pay to first responders, including police. 

Pelosi said Democrats are planning other legislation in addition to their police reform bill “that addresses some of the concerns of our communities across the country.”

Democrats suggested Monday Republicans are using the defunding issue to downplay efforts by Democrats to make real reforms and increase community spending. 

“So let’s not get into these questions that may be from the small minds of some, but as far as safety is concerned, but look at it writ large,” Pelosi said. 

During an MSNBC interview earlier in the day, Pelosi called police funding “a local matter” and said the call for defunding police does not mean leaving a city without public safety. 

“What it means is, let us take the resources that we have, let us spend it in a way that gives the most protection to the American people, protection for their safety, protection for their rights,” Pelosi said.

At least one liberal House Democrat is advocating the defunding plan. 

Rep. Ilhan Omar, who represents Minneapolis, suggested the Minneapolis Police Department is beyond reform and should be disbanded.

“Our city needs to end its toxic relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department,” Omar tweeted. Republicans are highlighting the defunding movement to draw a distinction between their agenda and that of the Democrats as the critical November election approaches. 

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, called on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to take a position on police defunding. Biden’s campaign announced Monday the former vice president opposes it.

Republican congressional candidates in competitive races asked their Democratic opponents whether they, too, back the defunding movement. 

Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican up for reelection in November, called on her Democratic opponent, Theresa Greenfield, to take a stand on defunding the police. 

“Defunding the police is an absurd and radical position, and I’m concerned that my opponent has been silent while liberals across the country are calling to disband police forces,” Ernst tweeted on Monday.

Democrats, for now, are associating the defunding move with the desire for governments to provide more money and resources for communities in need to address education, mental health, and other issues.

Bass, the lead sponsor of the police reform bill, said the argument is “similar” to calls to reduce Pentagon spending and reallocate funding to education, healthcare, and other programs. 

“A lot of people feel when it comes to the defense budget, maybe that money could be used in different ways,” Bass said. “And I think that that’s a similar issue.”