Senate Democrats Raise Concerns Over Police Fundraising Bill

This past Tuesday, Senate Democrats passionately voiced their discontent on the floor. New Jersey Democrats were particularly vocal, taking issue with a bipartisan police fundraising bill championed by Senator Katherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, and Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa. Senator Cory Booker criticized his fellow Democrats for not being more proactive in opposing former President Donald Trump’s policies, suggesting that supporting the bipartisan legislation made them complicit in the administration’s agenda.

Booker stated, “What I want to know is, are we going to stand up for justice? Because right now, it feels like we’re not doing nearly enough.” He emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging his colleagues to take action.

He proposed modifying the bill to limit the president’s authority to withdraw grants from certain state and local jurisdictions. However, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Cortez Masto pointed out that he should have introduced this measure during the markup, implying that it was a missed opportunity.

It’s clear there’s frustration within the party about how to effectively contest the president’s policies. There are whispers—perhaps more than whispers—that Booker has presidential ambitions for 2028. He has been vocally challenging his fellow Democrats to adopt a more combative stance.

“We shouldn’t be pushing millions toward Trump, especially when he has openly dismissed our concerns,” Booker asserted. “It’s time for us to fight back and stop enabling harmful actions.” He continued, stressing that many in their caucus share this desire to engage more rigorously in the political battle.

Klobuchar, meanwhile, criticized the Judiciary Committee members for what she saw as a lack of participation in hearings that were supposed to inform the legislation. “We can’t just show up with speeches after the fact,” she said. “If we have designated times to oppose something, we should utilize them.” She noted that police officers were even present during these discussions, yet there was insufficient opposition at that time.

Booker reacted to Klobuchar’s comments with frustration, defending his own integrity and motivations in the discussion. “Please don’t question my honesty. If we’re not unified as Democrats, when will we stand together? We are setting ourselves up for failure,” he warned.

This internal struggle reflects a broader sentiment among American Democrats, who are reportedly facing their lowest approval ratings in decades. According to a Wall Street Journal survey, 63% of voters perceive the Democratic Party as being at a disadvantage—a concerning statistic for a party trying to navigate a challenging political landscape.