House Dems close in on police funding bills despite tensions

By FARNOUSH AMIRI
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats are working to pass a long-sought policing and public safety package. They’re trying to overcome internal party differences on legislation they hope to make central to their election-year pitch. A procedural vote to start debate Thursday barely succeeded. Final votes are expected later in the afternoon. Passage would send the bills to the Senate, where the legislation’s fate is uncertain. The package includes an increase in money for local police departments. And it would provide aid for de-escalation training and mental health services. A priority is reducing fatal encounters between police and people with mental illness.