Alexandria Representative Lance Harris introduces legislation that would give the legislature the ability to take away state funding from local governments and universities that cut the budget for their police departments by more than 10%. Harris says he opposes the “Defund the Police” movement.
“My goal here is to make sure that no city in the state will ever defund their police department over political pressure,” said Harris.
Under the bill, any university or local government entity that cuts a police budget by at least 10 percent would have to report it to a Legislative committee that would then review the reasoning behind the cut.
“Once Joint Budget makes the determination that you are politically defunding the police department and they make that determination you shall give up your capital outlay and your sales tax deduction,” said Harris.
Harris said the Legislature has a duty to intervene in this local budgeting issue because defunding the police in one jurisdiction could imperil regional public safety and business interests.
“Let’s say that you are a municipality and you defund your police department it not only hurts the citizens that live there but it has ramifications for everyone around you that does business in that municipality,” said Harris. “It’s not just about the protection of life and property, it is about the protection of our way of life, our free enterprise system, and our free market.”
No word on when this bill will get its first hearing before a legislative committee.
Comments