Republicans love to pretend they support the police across the nation, even going to far as to attach themselves to the “Blue Lives Matter” movement which began in 2014 and remains a national force today.
And yet, when it comes time to put action behind the slogans, we Republicans in the current Congress refusing to meet with hero officers who protected them on January 6 and even refusing to shake the hand of Capitol Police officers who helped repel the pro-Trump rioters who were determined to subvert the will of the American people.
As if that hypocrisy isn’t bad enough, now Senate Republicans are refusing to join negotiations that would provide funding for the Capitol Police Force. Instead, Republican senators want to go on recess starting next week. The Capitol Police Force runs out of funding in August, the very same time Congress will again be in recess.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-CT) noted Monday that Republicans seem utterly disinterested in making sure the security officers who protect each and ever member of Congress have the funds they need to continue doing their jobs:
“The January 6 insurrection left a path of destruction through the seat of our democracy and left our Capitol Police force overburdened and under-resourced resulting from unanticipated costs associated with the attack, including significant overtime duty and the need for retention bonuses. For 32 days, Senate Republicans have refused to join bipartisan negotiations to address these urgent security needs, and now the Capitol Police risks running out of funding this summer. I am committed to moving a bill in the Senate to address these important needs and prevent this self-made crisis; it must be done.”
Will Senate Republicans come to their senses and do their jobs, or will they leave the Capitol Police on the verge being unable to pay salaries of the officers who so capably protect the people we elected to represent us?
There’s an old saying that perfectly describes the modern-day GOP when it comes to their “commitment” to the police: They’re all hat and no cattle.