Fox59: Lawrence City Council responds to claims of defunding the police; ‘Yeah, that’s not true. The funds are there.’
July 2: Per INGOP’s Request, Media Delivered This Fact Check on About GOP’s Defund the Police Claims: Four Pinocchios
IndyStar: Democrats are super-funding the Indianapolis police
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today reminded Indiana’s press corps about the Indiana Republican Party’s vote to defund law enforcement through their “NO” vote on the American Rescue Plan. This friendly reminder comes after the Marion County Republican Party and the greater INGOP tried to orchestrate a PR stunt in Lawrence yesterday about local police funding. In fact, the stunt was another attempt to use misinformation about the Democrats’ support for police — a national strategy by the GOP that’s been debunked by the media. Contrary to the GOP’s claims, Democrats are actually “super-funding” law enforcement.
But thanks to the Indiana Republican Party, this is another opportunity to discuss their record that’s nothing but extreme and partisan. Democrats have consistently called out Indiana Republicans for voting against the $350 billion effort to recruit new law enforcement officers and fight crime across the nation, including for Indiana. This vote was a part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which also delivered bonuses to police officers and first responders in Noblesville. Every single Republican in Indiana’s Congressional delegation voted “no” on the legislation, and in turn, they voted to defund the police.
“Indiana Republicans have requested fact checks and were proven wrong about their lies against Indiana Democrats and our commitment to look after those who keep our communities safe. Now, Republicans are resorting to shallow and embarrassing PR stunts rooted in misinformation and extreme partisanship,” said Drew Anderson, spokesman for the Indiana Democratic Party. “The more the INGOP discusses police funding, the more Indiana Democrats will be happy to show Hoosiers how it was the Democrats who delivered for law enforcement and for communities across the state as the GOP just said ‘NO’.”
SHOT: INGOP Pulls PR Stunt on Miscommunication in Lawrence City Council
Marion County Republican Party: “[email protected] and @INDems are playing politics in the City of Lawrence tonight. Attempting to defund public safety, defund economic development, and defund quality of place projects. The @LawrenceINcity taxpayers deserve better.”
Indiana Republican Party: “Inquiring minds want to know! @indems tell us they don’t want to defund the police, but based on the half million dollar cut in public safety by dems on the Lawrence City Council, I beg to differ!”
CHASER: Indiana Republicans Voted to Defund the Police with “NO” Vote on American Rescue Plan
The Hill: “‘Fox News Sunday’ host Chris Wallace sparred with Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) over Banks’s vote against an emergency relief bill that would have allocated funds to police and first responders.
‘Can’t you make the argument that it’s you and the Republicans who defunded the police?’ Wallace asked Banks, who is the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee.” […]
“Wallace interrupted Banks, telling him that President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which Banks voted against, would have given localities more money to hire police officers, invest in new technology and create new crime intervention programs.
‘I’ve heard your point about the last year,’ Wallace said. ‘But you and every other Republican voted against this $350 billion.’”
The Washington Post: “The Pinocchio Test
“Republicans keep trying to tag Biden with being part of the defund police movement. But that’s simply false. The flimsiness of the charge is demonstrated by the paucity of the evidence that lawmakers muster when making their hyperbolic claims.
The reality is this: Biden wants to boost federal funding to allow for the hiring of more police officers. He said that during the campaign and then fulfilled that pledge in his initial budget proposal. The president sets the policies in his administration — and he’s been entirely consistent.
Cruz and Banks earn Four Pinocchios.”
###