Republican Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, member of the Armed Services Committee, introduced a bill to the House of Representatives that would hold people convicted of rioting and looting financially responsible for the costs of extra policing for domestic uprisings, specifically mentioning Antifa and Black Lives Matters and includes people who received Government aid under the CARES act, calling it the Support Peaceful Protest Act.
“Antifa thugs are descending on suffering communities, disrupting peaceful protests and leaving violence, looting and vandalism in their wake,” Banks claimed while introducing his new legislation. The bill would pertain to those convicted of looting and rioting and would target the emergency aid they might be getting during the coronavirus pandemic. It would also make them financially responsible for the cost of law enforcement “in an amount that is equal to the cost of such policing activity.”
“Due to enhanced federal benefits, taxpayers are giving wages to jobless rioters that are destroying our communities,” Banks added. “We need to cut them off from their funding and make them feel the full financial consequences of their actions.”
Banks also appeared of FOX News on Sunday to discuss the new bill, saying that those convicted of rioting and looting “shouldn’t receive” enhanced unemployment insurance “any longer.” Banks repeatedly implied that the protesters are still getting the $600 per week unemployment check, which expired on July 31.
Banks needs two Democrats to support, but Bank said he was not hopeful that Democrats would join him. “I invited all Democrats to help me as these riots continue to happen across the country, my voters want to see this stop, people are tired of seeing the destruction of public property and people are paying taxes and working hard. The Democrats are hypocrites for turning a blind eye to this violence,” Banks said.
“Senator Cotton introduced it in the Senate and it has more luck there, but we need to bring the riots to an end and it won’t be the Democrats who bring the violence to an end it will be President Trump and the Republicans,” Banks said.
Cotton said, “Insurrectionists savaging communities around the country are still eligible for unemployment benefits, paid for by the very taxpayers whose property they’ve destroyed. The federal government should not be subsidizing looting and arson.”
A statement from Cotton’s office said:
“Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has introduced the Support Peaceful Protest Act, a bill that would make people convicted of federal offenses as part of riots ineligible for virus-related federal unemployment funds. It would also mandate that those convicted of such riot offenses face fines to help cover the cost of federal policing of these riots.
Representative Jim Banks (R-Indiana) originally introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Currently, thugs and insurrectionists savaging communities around the country are eligible for unemployment benefits, paid for by the very taxpayers whose property they’ve destroyed. The federal government should not be subsidizing looting and arson. Our bill will not only halt unemployment benefits for rioters but also fine them to help cover the additional policing cost,” said Cotton.
“We have had a dozen Congressmen join us, including Steve Scalise. We are doing our part. Republicans are the ones trying to stop them, and Democrats have BLM flags, like Ted Wheeler,” Banks said.
WATCH:
Bank is specifically talking about ANTIFA:
Kari is an ex-Community Organizer who writes about Voter Engagement, Cultural Marxism and Campaigns. She has been a grassroots volunteer with the GOP, on and off for 18 years. She is a Homeschool Mom in North Carolina and loves Photojournalism and Citizen Journalism. @Saorsa1776
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