Senate Democrats blocked a policing reform bill this week.
According to CBN News, the vote was 55-45. The Justice Act, which was proposed by Republican senators, needed 60 votes to pass.
"My hope, my prayer, is that after this bill fails today ... we can start on the path of bipartisanship,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said.
The proposal comes after weeks of protesting and demonstrations calling for a change in police policy and acts of racism.
The proposal would create a national database of police use-of-force incidents, restrict police chokeholds, and develop training practices and commissions to study policing and racism.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said he was disappointed that the bill did not advance and challenged Democratic senators to propose changes to the bill.
"If you don't think we're right, make it better, don't walk away," Scott said.
He later tweeted that he offered Democratic senators the ability to make at least 20 amendments, but “they walked out.”
"Don't let anyone convince you this was about debates or amendments. It's about politics, and a refusal to find a solution," he tweeted.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said Democrats are purposely trying to “divide” the Senate and “fight a new civil war in our culture, day and night, without end.”
"Our voters sent us here to make things better,” he said. “To rebuild. To heal. But that's not what we're doing. No, for the last several weeks, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and their allies in the media, and some professional political activists on a payroll, have been trying to divide us against each other, to paralyze us, to stoke resentment of our fellow citizens and hatred of this nation that we all call home."
The House, however, is expected to approve a Democrat-sponsored version of a policing reform bill later this week.
Related:
Senator Tim Scott Delivers Emotional Rebuttal after His Bill Is Called 'Token'
President Trump Meets With Black Leaders to Discuss Police Reform, Anti-Racism
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Kaybe
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
