Ted Yoho: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, a country as ours, a constitutional republic, requires a citizenry that…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, a country as ours, a constitutional republic, requires a citizenry that is well-educated and are responsible. I questioned a colleague of mine from New York about her policies calling for defunding of the police. The city of New York cut funding to the city police department by $1.5 billion, but my colleague from New York said that is not sufficient, we need 100 percent defunding of the police, while at the same time advocating for people to shoplift if you are hungry. My question is: Do you suppose that is okay for the shop owner? Do you suppose it is okay for our children watching those police? Who does the shop owner call and how do the police respond with those kinds of ideas out there? Do you call Antifa? I don't know. I wouldn't. A civil society needs rule of law. We need policemen who uphold those laws and are willing to serve to protect the citizens. Our lawmakers need to preserve the rule of law, not weaken it. The dangerous policies of the left espouse no police, free this, free that, free healthcare, it is not your fault. This does not lead to the utopia they promise. In reality, this leads to the Hugo Chavez/Nicholas Maduro's Venezuela, and that is a short period of time. People don't think it can happen here, but we need our policemen.”