Legislative Strategy: The Case for Supporting H.R. 1280

The ongoing crisis of police brutality is near a tipping point. According to Mapping Police Violence, there were over 1200 police killings in 2023, and 98.1% of officers that committed killings between 2013-2023 have not been charged with a crime.¹ Furthermore, the Police Scorecard project shows police violence is a significant issue in Vermont, where the use of deadly force against unarmed individuals is one of the highest in the nation—94th percentile.²

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a bill that aims to alleviate this problem. By lowering the standard for convicting officers to “knowing or reckless,” limiting their qualified immunity in civil cases, and enhancing the DOJ’s power to investigate police departments, the Act aims to increase accountability and address systemic issues in policing.³ This Act is a pivotal piece of legislation addressing the systemic issues present in law enforcement. Furthermore, it works to pursue your policy objectives of racial justice and reforming the criminal justice system.⁴ In this Memorandum, I will provide evidence and argue that based on the ‘field of forces’ concept designed by political scientist John Kingdon, you should vote in favor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The Act aligns with your progressive ideals regarding criminal justice reform, improves your re-election chances as it echoes Vermont’s progressive ethos, represents the interests of your state demographics and nationwide financial supporters and interest groups who prioritize progressive, transformative policies, and strengthens your connections within the progressives in the Democratic Party.

Political Preferences

As a renowned figure in American politics, your unwavering commitment to progressive ideals, Senator Sanders, can be widely attributed to your background and experiences. Being actively involved in the civil rights movements of the 1960s—organizing protests for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during your college years—laid the groundwork for your lifelong dedication to social justice and equality.⁵ As you transitioned into political roles, first as mayor of Burlington and then as a House Representative, you have remained steadfast in your principles, advocating for universal healthcare, free college education, income equality, and social justice.

As a Senator, you have continued this journey with racial justice as one of the significant issues described on your website’s “Issues” page. There, you state that “we have to fundamentally rethink the nature of policing in America and reform our broken and racist criminal justice system.”⁶ Your consistent fight for progressive policies throughout your political career shows your commitment to addressing systemic injustices. That statement shows that you understand the urgent need to address the flaws in our policing. This unwavering dedication to your core values shaped by your various experiences indicates that based on your political preferences, you should vote in favor of the act as it advances your goal of comprehensive reform in policing, uplifting marginalized communities, and working to address systemic racism.

Electoral Context

Given your strong electoral position in the upcoming 2024 election and your history of advocating for progressive policies, your electoral context does not exert significant pressure on your stance on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. As shown by the analysis outlet The Cook Political Report, the Vermont Senate race is a “Solid Democrat” win in the next election.⁷ This result is further reinforced by looking at your past election results, which include a substantial victory with 67% of the vote in 2018.⁸ These two points indicate high public support, suggesting that your voters likely share your progressive values and support police reform.

Another factor influencing your vote on the bill is your Senate leadership positions. Your position as chair in the Committees on Veterans Affairs (113th Congress), on the Budget (117th Congress), and on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (118th Congress) have been stamped by your continuous support for progressive policies such as labor rights, healthcare reform, and social justice.⁹ As police reform and accountability are progressive policies, you should vote in favor of the act, ensuring your stance is congruent with those of these committees.

Furthermore, the political landscape of Vermont has historically leaned toward progressive policies. This is seen with the state’s extensive support for progressive leaders who have passed landmark civil rights legislation promoting social justice. Such policies include: the abolition of the death penalty in 1972, reflecting a progressive stance on criminal justice and human rights;¹⁰ in 2007, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas signed a civil rights bill that prohibited discrimination based on gender identity in various contexts, such as employment and housing;¹¹ and in 2009, Vermont became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through legislative action rather than a court ruling—a significant step in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.¹²

Due to your long-standing commitment to social justice and police reform and the fact that the political environment in Vermont is highly favorable for your re-election, should you choose to run, you have the freedom to vote following your ideological commitments. In addition, your political context is in accordance with your political preferences, which means that you should vote in favor of the bill as it stands with your historical policy positions.

State Demographics

Another factor that influences your position on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is the demographics of the State. Vermont has a population of around 647,000 and is predominantly White (93.8%).¹³ Furthermore, the state faces limited migration and a low birthrate, making Vermont one of the states in the U.S. with the highest median ages, indicating a significant and increasing elderly population. This demographic makeup suggests that you should prioritize policies that address the needs and concerns of Vermont’s aging population, represented by your policy agenda.

Despite the limited racial diversity and the demographic challenges that might skew policy priorities away from racial justice, as discussed in the political context section, Vermont has a political culture that leans towards progressive values. Consequently, you advocate for progressive policies—such as making healthcare and education more affordable—that work to address the demographic issues faced by your state. Therefore, recognizing police reform as a progressive policy designed to address a critical national issue is essential to ensure consistency across your political agenda. As progressive values are deeply embedded in Vermont’s political culture, considering the state’s demographics, I recommend you vote in favor of the bill.

Interest Groups

One of the most remarkable aspects of your political career is the limited effect of interest groups on your policy positions. According to OpenSecrets, your significant grassroots support—fundraising primarily through small individual contributions (70.25%)—reflects your commitment to remaining independent from corporate and big-money interests. This independence allows you, once again, to vote in accordance with your political context and preferences.

While interest groups and donors play a significant role in the United States political landscape, this financial independence gives you the freedom to vote as you wish, ensuring you are not beholden to these powerful donors and interest groups. Nevertheless, you still have substantial support from unions and progressive groups, which advocate for many of the same policies you support. Therefore, as your interest groups are commensurate with your political context and preferences, you should vote in favor of the bill.

Political Party

As the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history, you stand firm to your principles of not being swayed by outside influences. Throughout your congressional career, you have caucused with the Democrats in both the House and the Senate, placing you in a unique position in the U.S. political spectrum. This is seen in your recent voting record in the Senate, which aligns with Democratic priorities by voting in favor of critical bills, such as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,¹⁴ at the core of the party’s policy objectives. Nevertheless, in many cases, you have been at odds with the more Centrist members of the party, most notably opposing the Iraq war in 2002¹⁵ and more recently, you claimed that ‘The party has turned its back on the working class’ for not supporting the extension of the child tax credit and raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.¹⁶

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a policy introduced by your fellow progressive caucus member Karen Bass. Not only does this policy work to further your political agenda, but it also has profound support among progressives in the Democratic Party passing the house along party lines 220-212.¹⁷ By supporting this bill, you are advancing your policy objectives and building solidarity within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Therefore, due to your close ties with the Democratic Party and the fact that it is presented by a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, you should vote in favor of the bill.

Policy Recommendation

By analyzing the various aspects that form your ‘field of forces’—political preferences, electoral context, state demographics, influence of interest groups, and alignment with political parties—a clear pathway emerges in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This act not only embodies your longstanding commitment to reforming the criminal justice system and addressing systemic issues of police brutality but also situates itself perfectly within a moment of favorable political and societal context. It presents an opportunity to advance a policy deeply aligned with your principles and the expectations of your constituents.

The act aligns with your political preferences and goals, resonating with your dedication to progressive ideals, evidenced by your historical activism and consistent policy positions. It aims to tackle the systemic injustices you have fought to dismantle throughout your political career as a step forward in your policy of reforming the criminal justice system. Also, the policy comes in a moment of favorable political context, where your solid electoral position paired with Vermont’s progressive political landscape allows you to support the policy without significant electoral risk, should you choose to run. Although Vermont’s demographics might not reflect the national urgency around police violence and racial justice, the state’s progressive ethos provides a supportive backdrop to advocate for reforms that, while nationally focused, resonate with the values of your constituents. Furthermore, your financial support structure mainly consists of a majority of small individual donors, who empower you with independence from corporate and big-money interests, giving you the freedom to vote according to your policy positions and progressive ideals. Lastly, supporting this act reflects a commitment to helping your fellow progressives in Congress, strengthening bonds within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and further solidifying your role as a leading voice in the progressive movement.

To successfully communicate your vote publicly, you should emphasize your core values and frame your vote as an extension of your lifelong fight for racial justice and the reform of the criminal justice system. Then, you should highlight Vermont’s progressive legacy and how it has supported progressive ideals and human rights policies. Lastly, you should connect the decision with the concerns of Vermonters, acknowledging that no community is immune to the devastating impacts of police brutality and that this policy is to improve the policing situation in the whole country. By utilizing this communication strategy, you can successfully communicate with all individuals involved in your field of forces, creating a system that fosters trust and ratifies your commitment to racial justice.

Your vote in favor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act serves as a symbolic stance in the continuing fight against systemic racism in the United States. By supporting this act, you send a powerful message acknowledging the importance of transformative change in policing. Your commitment has the power to make a meaningful difference in the lives of countless Americans.