May 10, 2022 03:34 PM UTC

Thirteen Republicans Voted Against Funding the Police

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Colorado legislature passed into law SB22-145 today, legislation that provides some $30.5 million in funding for Colorado law enforcement.

As Hannah Metzger reports for the publication formerly known as the Colorado Statesman:

Under the bill, the funds would be distributed over two years with $15 million for the crime prevention program and $7.5 million going to each of the workforce programs. Another $400,000 would pay for oversight from the Department of Public Safety and $100,000 would fund a statewide forum to solicit suggestions on crime prevention measures.

Of the $15 million for crime prevention, at least $5 million would be reserved for community-based organizations and another $5 million for law enforcement and local governments. At least 20% of the grant funds would be required to go to rural communities if they apply.

Senate Bill 145 was bipartisan in nature — with two GOP sponsors — yet 13 (13!) Republicans in the State House of Representatives voted NO: Mark Baisley; Terri Carver; Tim Geitner; Ron Hanks; Stephanie Luck; Pat Neville; Andres Pico; Kim Ransom; Janice Rich; Shane Sandridge; Matt Soper; Kevin Van Winkle; and Dave Williams.

The next time you hear ANY of these Republican legislators talking about how Democrats are trying to “defund the police” or about how Republicans “back the blue,” please kindly tell them to stick their heads in an appropriately dark place.