House Speaker Johnson Calls for Defunding Fed Law Enforcement Agencies

Thursday, March 07, 2024

Republicans often campaign on their commitment to supporting law enforcement, but during a press conference on Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declared that he will push for cuts to several federal law enforcement agencies.

Posted by lamplighter at 03:32 PM | 34 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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... However, in the same speech he lamented crime rates -- even though crime rates are down -- seconds before announcing that he'd push for cuts to agencies that exist to fight crime and enforce laws, claiming that they have "overreach[ed]" and even "turned, in some ways, against the American people": ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-03-06 01:50 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Shame on the DoJ for prosecuting the January 6 insurrectionists....

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-03-06 01:51 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 7

Defund the police?

#3 | Posted by ClownShack at 2024-03-06 01:52 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 8

He wants to empower the GOP megadonors and elected officials to take part in the big crimes they like.

You know - the federal crimes it takes resources to pursue.

#4 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2024-03-06 02:43 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Republicans have made a yearslong saga out of crying about cities "defunding the police" even though they never actually did that, so surely they will be upset about this actual defunding of the police.

Right?

#5 | Posted by JOE at 2024-03-06 03:09 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"defunding the police" even though they never actually did that
- wongwayjoe

Oakland City Council Votes to Defund Police, Stripping More Than $17M from Department Budget
www.cbsnews.com

SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED ANNOUNCES CUTS TO POLICE IN NEW CITY BUDGET
The mayor announced a $120 million cut to the police and sheriff's department.
abc7news.com

I could go on.

These are all issues I agree with. Defending the police is a good idea. Johnson is on the right track.

Now if we could just get judged to put people behind bars America might survive.

#6 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-03-06 04:15 PM | Reply

@#6 ... Defending the police is a good idea ...

I suspect your current alias may have meant "defunding?"

While I don't agree defunding is A Good Thing, the reasons behind it were appropriate for some action regarding police extreme misbehavior.

If your current alias did mean "defending," I could also agree with that, but only to an extent. Many times I have listed the concerns I have with how some police currently act.

... Johnson is on the right track. ...

Here I disagree.

My guess is that Spkr Johnson is looking to eliminate the parts of Federal law enforcement that go after lawbreakers that he likes, such as the Jan 6 insurrectionists and the people who incited them.

Indeed, given the sheer number of people involved in Jan6, I'd say that Federal law enforcement may need more money, not less.

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-03-06 04:29 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Now if we could just get judged to put people behind bars America might survive.

#6 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

Put people behind bars? Like people who have 91 criminal charges and have admitted guilt to many of them?

#8 | Posted by Sycophant at 2024-03-06 04:30 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Scanners that spot smuggled fentanyl at the border sit unused because Congress hasn't provided the cash to install them
The money to install the screeners was in the supplemental funding request Republicans blocked.

www.nbcnews.com

Why are the repugs allowing tons of fentanyl to flow into the country? The GQP is a death cult.

#9 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2024-03-06 04:36 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Why are the repugs allowing tons of fentanyl to flow into the country?

So they can blame the Democratic Party.

Presto.

#10 | Posted by ClownShack at 2024-03-06 04:37 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Put people behind bars? Like people who have 91 criminal charges and have admitted guilt to many of them?
- syncophantatsia

If you can do it do it.

Quit talking about it.

#11 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-03-06 04:38 PM | Reply

A critical step towards oligarchy.

Next will be purging those who remain of disloyalty.

#12 | Posted by jpw at 2024-03-06 11:53 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#11 ... If you can do it do it. ...

Suddenly your current alias seems to be in favor of the Justice system in the Country?

What sparked that apparent change of view?

#13 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-03-07 01:26 AM | Reply

Coincidentally the IRS announced they err going after very high income earners who haven't filed tax returns for years.

#14 | Posted by danni at 2024-03-07 09:05 AM | Reply

"We're going to cut 3 percent from [the Department of Justice], 7 percent from the [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms], 6 percent from the FBI, and 10 percent from the EPA. And that's just a start"

That's not enough from these bloated, self-serving federal agencies, need to cut more. And then start on the rest of the pig trough.

#15 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2024-03-07 12:21 PM | Reply

I could go on.
#6 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

Please do. There are thousands of police agencies across the US. You acknowledged a mere fraction of a percent as though that would be significant to your argument.

So, please do, go on...

#16 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2024-03-07 12:28 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#15

You're the expert at being self-serving and bloated, pal.

#17 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2024-03-07 05:03 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Look how they massacred my 9-9-9 boy.
--Herman Cain

#18 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-03-07 05:24 PM | Reply

Johnson's reason (Trump's reasons) for defunding the DoJ and the FBI, just for a start, are rather obvious. It wasn't even a secret that Trump wants to get rid of every agency that has the authority to prosecute him ~ EVER AGAIN.

If and when he gets elected, he'll start on the serious stuff. First on the chopping block will be Obama's Affordable Care Act. Then comes Social Security, HUD and all ten amendments in the Bill of Rights.

People make the mistake of thinking that could never happen in America. But it CAN and WILL happen if Trump is elected. To be an autocracy, they must first erase all traces of a democracy and imprison or kill those who resist. That's what dictators do.

#19 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-03-07 05:24 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Many of these agencies apparently need a Frank Church moment and with a new broom that will sweep all politics especially out of the top echelon, and will stick the broom handle where the sun doesnt shine. Those found injecting any level of politics need fired because it means corruption. We all want law enforcement to be unbiased politically and with no politics. We need an example and deterrent.

#20 | Posted by Robson at 2024-03-07 05:51 PM | Reply

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all stopped paying our tax bills and defund Congress.

#21 | Posted by Yodagirl at 2024-03-07 08:38 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

" Republicans have made a yearslong saga out of crying about cities "defunding the police" even though they never actually did that"

A few of them actually did, at least temporarily.

#22 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-03-08 01:24 AM | Reply

YODA

Congress does seem to take a lot of paid time off when they're not in the chambers actually working.

That might be a good place to start.

#23 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-03-08 02:47 AM | Reply

Of course one of the Magat 'faithful' and Chief Cheerleader's wants to
defund the police, especially Federal police. All the easier to make the violent
revolt on Washington easier, and make his wet dreams of a
2nd Confederacy come true!

Magats are human filth...not even Americans.

#24 | Posted by earthmuse at 2024-03-08 06:51 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

EARTHMUSE

There's been a method to Trump's apparent madness all along. Things that were never thought possible in America . . . Until now when they're on our very doorstep.

#25 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-03-08 07:21 AM | Reply

I thought the Repubs supported the police, what happened? LOL

#26 | Posted by Ronnie68 at 2024-03-08 11:27 AM | Reply

Why are the repugs allowing tons of fentanyl to flow into the country? The GQP is a death cult.

#9 | POSTED BY REINHEITSGEBOT

The so called crisis at the border and stopping fentanyl at the border will just have to wait.

Trumpy still needs it as a campaign issue.

#27 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-03-08 11:27 AM | Reply

Put people behind bars? Like people who have 91 criminal charges and have admitted guilt to many of them?
- syncophantatsia

If you can do it do it.

Quit talking about it.

#11 | Posted by oneironaut

Fun to blame democrats for things that your cult has blocked isn't it?

Trump would be out of the picture right now if there were enough republicans with the ethics or patriotism to convict him after his coup. But there were only a handful. Pathetic. The rest of them support the overthrow of american democracy.

#28 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2024-03-08 12:52 PM | Reply

SPEAKS

They did sort of resemble cockroaches scurrying for cover when the lights come on.

#29 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-03-08 07:00 PM | Reply

Fun to blame democrats for things that your cult has blocked isn't it?
- syncophantatsia

Blocked? Cult? WTF are you talking about.

I am all for defunding the police always have been check my history if you doubt it.

If you can throw a criminal in jail do it. Stop talking about how you care about crime and do something about it.

Police have been arresting criminals, and judges are letting them go.

Just need to get rid of the judges that keep letting criminals out.

The only invasion and trampling of rights I see is the unmitigated disaster at the border.

#30 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-03-08 08:00 PM | Reply

unmitigated disaster at the border.

It's fun how the 2024 battle cry is "Not Abortion!!" Only one arrow left in the quiver.

#31 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-03-08 08:16 PM | Reply

Fun to blame democrats for things that your cult has blocked isn't it?
- syncophantatsia

Blocked? Cult? WTF are you talking about.

#30 | Posted by oneironaut

The reason trump can even run right now is because your cults pathetic politicians refused to bar him from office after he ended the peaceful transition of power.

#32 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2024-03-09 01:09 AM | Reply

#9 Sincere question, why did the appropriation for the equipment not include installation? Doesn't make sense.

#33 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-03-09 01:15 AM | Reply

#9 Sincere question, why did the appropriation for the equipment not include installation? Doesn't make sense.
#33 | POSTED BY MIRANDA7

It's because the people in Congress who are blocking the funding are involved in drug running. This gives them time to find alternate routes.

That also explains why buying the machines and installing them is not all part of the sane spend. This gives them time to find alternate routes.

#34 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-03-09 02:39 AM | Reply