Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-8) presents herself as a law enforcement supporter. In her campaign ads she says she has never voted to defund the police. Does her voting record support her claim?
1. Kim Schrier voted with the Defund the Police movement last year. She cast her vote for H.R.1280, the "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (House Clerk).
- The act lowers the criminal intent standard (from willful to knowing or reckless) to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct in a federal prosecution
- limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer
- grants administrative subpoena power to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in pattern-or-practice investigations
2. Kim Schrier voted to cut police funding by $22.2 million through HR 7617 (A DOD bill, with amendments added) (House Clerk). 7617 added restrictions to use of force in policing. (It also renamed federal property that had been named after enemies of the federal government.)
To correct the phrase Kim Schrier uses in her ad, Let me be clear, Kim Schrier supported defunding the police.
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H.R.1280 roll call
H.R.1280 text
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HR 7617 roll call
HR 7617 text see Section 8132 of HR 7617 which added restrictions to use of force in policing.
