Congress is facing a familiar enemy as it hunts for a deal on police reforms: the body’s own penchant for gridlock.
Lawmakers want to reach a bipartisan agreement that could respond to the calls from across the country for reforms after George Floyd’s death, but tackling big social issues is something they’ve routinely failed at in recent years.
Senators say reaching a deal won’t be easy, and some are already expressing skepticism given the deep differences underscored by competing proposals circulating around Capitol Hill.
“It’s hard, it’s really hard. The president said he’s a law and order president and suggested sending in American troops to replace law enforcement. I mean, he is not creating an environment, a positive environment, for the kind of change that’s needed, so I’m skeptical that we’ll come up with something, but we should try,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat.