WASHINGTON, DC — House Democrats are expected to announce a number of policy initiatives aimed at reforming American policing Monday. This week Spectrum News 1 Kentucky reached out to all eight members of Kentucky's congressional delegation asking them if they believed systemic racism in American policing was the root cause of the uprising and what justice for Breonna Taylor should look like.
Rep. James Comer, (R) Tompkinsville
Rep. Hal Rogers, (R) Pikeville
“Violence never brings resolution or progress. We must restore sheer value humanity and love one another to heal our land and build a better future in our communities. I pray for peace and justice in every corner of our nation, for every American."
Rep. Brett Guthrie, (R) Bowling Green
Rep. Thomas Massie, (R) Covington
"I don't think it's prevalent. I think you have a few bad apples here and there and the large majority of police who serve, who are willing to put their lives on the line everyday, they go to work, they don't know what's going to happen, the vast majority of them are patriotic, some of them are the most pro second amendment people I've ever met and pro constitution and occasionally you have a few bad apples and the media tries to conflate those circumstances and those actions with every policeman and I think it's wrong," Massie told News Radio 800 WVHU. Listen to Massie's full remarks here.
Rep. John Yarmuth, (D) Louisville
"In far too many cases where police have abused power and primarily with Black targets, they have never been held accountable. We’ve got to get over that. We’ve got to start holding these people accountable," said Yarmuth in an interview with Spectrum News 1 Monday. Watch the full story here.
Rep. Andy Barr, (R) Lexington
Barr has made no public statements about Breonna Taylor, the protests nationally or in Lexington. Repeated attempts were made to reach Barr's office.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, (R) Kentucky
Throughout the week McConnell has used his time on the Senate floor to publicly express empathy for Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arberry and George Floyd. But Tuesday beyond saying there may be a role for Congress to play, he didn't commit to any specific new policies.
Sen. Rand Paul, (R) Kentucky