Chad Davis / CC
Legislation that could strip municipalities of state construction funds should they reduce their police budget has stalled amidst opposition from the Louisiana Municipal Association.
The legislation was brought in response to the “Defund the Police” movement, but LMA President John Gallagher said you have to leave these kinds of issues to local leaders.
“They are responsible to the voters if they do not like what the town is doing or disagree then they will respond in public meetings or let them know how they feel on election day,” said Gallagher.
The legislation would require local governments that cut police budgets by at least ten percent to testify to a legislative committee. If the committee decides the reduction was political and would hurt public safety that municipality could be denied state construction dollars in the next fiscal year.
The LMA is worried routine budget cuts could be misconstrued by lawmakers under the bill as political attacks on police. Gallagher said it would all be up to legislators on the Joint Budget Committee.
“There are no guidelines to go by. What someone might consider a budgeting issue may be considered a purposeful public defunding of the police department,” said Gallagher.
Bill author Alexandria Representative Lance Harris defended the bill saying municipal public safety issues can impact the entire state, and if a budget cut were to occur that wasn’t meant to “defund” local leaders would just have to state their case.
Gallagher questioned why the bill was even being brought right now.
“I am not aware of any community that is looking at defunding the police, in fact I think it is quite the opposite,” said Gallagher.
The bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Finance Wednesday.
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