Mike Thompson: “despite the respect that I have for Members who are co-sponsors of this legislation, I must oppose S. 1605. I do not…”

“despite the respect that I have for Members who are co-sponsors of this legislation, I must oppose S. 1605. I do not oppose this legislation because I believe that encouraging local law enforcement officers to be provided body armor is a poor idea. Rather, it is not an appropriate activity of the federal government. If this new grant program passes, we will once again encourage people in communities all across the country to drive on past city hall, drive on past the state capitol, drive to the airport, fly to Washington and ask the Congress to help them solve a local problem. I believe that local problems can and should be solved by local people. There is hardly any more local issue than the equipment of local law enforcement officers. Some localities are enlightened and have provided money for body armor. This bill penalizes them. Under this bill, residents of those communities, who have already paid taxed for body armor for their own law enforcement agents, would be taxed to pay for 50 percent of the cost of body armor of law enforcement in communities that have not taxed their citizens to pay for it. Well, as George Bernard Shaw said, "Any government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul." The only purpose for which this money can be used by local government is to provide body armor.”