{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://scalise.house.gov/press-release/Scalise-And-Fitzgerald-Soft-On-Crime-Democrats-Are-Ruining-Our-Communities", "Scalise And Fitzgerald: Soft-On-Crime Democrats Are Ruining Our Communities", "2022-10-24", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", "scalise", "https://scalise.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.) co-authored an op-ed for FoxNews.com highlighting how Democrats\u2019 soft-on-crime policies and support for the radical \u201cDefund the Police\u201d movement have weakened police departments and caused a dramatic rise in violent crime and homicides in Wisconsin and across the country. Additionally, Whip Scalise and Congressman Fitzgerald emphasize how House Republicans\u2019 \u201cCommitment to America\u201d agenda will protect American citizens and support law enforcement officers who risk their own lives to keep us safe.\n\nSoft-on-crime Dems ruining communities: GOP pledges to support police, public safety\n\nOver the last few years, we have seen the consequences of leftist Democrats\u2019 embrace of the radical \u201cDefund the Police\u201d and \u201cNo Cash Bail\u201d movements. By slashing police budgets, ending cash bail, and allowing violent offenders back onto our streets, radical Democrats nationwide have made our communities less safe.\n\nIn 2002, Sen. Joe Biden wrote, \u201cAnd what works in the fight against crime? It\u2019s simple \u2013 more police on the streets.\u201d\n\nBut what changed to cause President Biden and congressional Democrats to completely change course from those words from 20 years ago?\n\nOnly now, as polling shows that majorities of Americans reject their soft-on-crime policies and are horrified by the increase in violent crime nationwide, have Democrats tried to distance themselves from the policies they have championed for years.\n\nSadly, this reversal comes too late for many victims of crime in Wisconsin.\n\nLast November, Darrell Brooks plowed his car through a Christmas parade killing six people and injuring 62 others in Waukesha, Wisconsin.\n\nWhat\u2019s truly upsetting is that Darrell Brooks was arrested for a nearly identical crime days before orchestrating the Waukesha Christmas parade massacre. However, Brooks was released from jail after he posted $1,000 bail.\n\nHow can someone accused of running over the mother of his child be allowed to walk out of jail for only $1,000? It\u2019s because Democrats are soft on crime.\n\nThe inability to ensure public safety and protect communities is occurring at every level of state government.\n\nOne of the most high-profile Democrats in Wisconsin, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, said that \u201creducing prison populations is now sexy\u201d and sponsored a bill in the Wisconsin state legislature that would eliminate cash bail.\n\nMeanwhile, far-left district attorneys in Milwaukee and Madison have gone beyond simply releasing dangerous criminals into the public and have refused to prosecute career criminals. As a result of letting dangerous felons and repeat offenders off the hook, crime is skyrocketing statewide.\n\nThese dangerous criminals know there will not be any consequences for their violent actions.\n\nFrom 2019 to 2021, homicides in Wisconsin increased by 72%, aggravated assaults increased by 12%, and motor vehicle thefts increased by 144% \u2013 from 7,432 to 18,105 offenses, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.\n\nCrime isn\u2019t just surging in Wisconsin \u2013 echoes of Democrats\u2019 \u201cDefund the Police\u201d movement are happening in every Democrat-run city and state across the country.\n\nIn the summer of 2020, the riots, arson and looting that took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after the death of George Floyd caused more than $10 million in damage and stolen property.\n\nExperts estimate that the riots spread to over 100 cities across 20 states. The total estimated property damage will exceed $1 billion \u2013 the most expensive damage for a riot in American history.\n\nUnlike President Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who refuse to take responsibility for unraveling public safety in America, Republicans are ready to make America safe again.\n\nIn our \u201cCommitment to America,\u201d House Republicans have mapped out how we will reduce crime, stand with law enforcement, and reverse Democrats\u2019 radical \u201cDefund the Police\u201d agenda.\n\nBy giving police departments the resources they need to recruit additional officers, we can reverse the retirement and resignation crisis that has been plaguing law enforcement over the last few years.\n\nBy cracking down on rogue prosecutors who favor criminals over victims, we can ensure that no one else is put in harm\u2019s way as a result of Democrats\u2019 negligence.\n\nHouse Republicans are ready to stand up to the criminals who think that this country is theirs for the taking, and the leftists in Washington who are enabling this outbreak of violent crime.\n\nEach day, hundreds of thousands of men and women in law enforcement show up to work ready to protect us and our loved ones from danger. Republicans stand with these brave heroes, and in 2023, we\u2019re ready to make it easier for them to do their job.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://scalise.house.gov/press-release/Scalise-And-Fitzgerald-Soft-On-Crime-Democrats-Are-Ruining-Our-Communities"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.573973335325718, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}