• Earlier this year, House Democrats were close to pushing through a bill that would have cemented the power of police unions across the country. Nearly every Democrat in the House co-signed the legislation, including members of the Squad, a group of progressive superstars that includes Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.

• Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas was a rare voice raising alarms. He warned his colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee that the bill would formalize the authority of police unions to determine misconduct standards in their contracts, which are increasingly viewed as a barrier to holding police accountable for wrongdoing. 

• “As Democrats, we’re very supportive of expanding rights and protections for workers,” said Castro. “[But] police unions have taken advantage of collective bargaining agreements to create less accountability and transparency around police work.”

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