Senator Jesse Green On “Back The Blue” Bills In Iowa State Senate

The Iowa State Senate has been discussing a pair of files they dub “back the blue bills”. State Senator Jesse Green of Harcourt is on record supporting these bills. Green said ” Supporting our law enforcement is crucial to keeping our communities safe and ensuring they can do their jobs. These bills protect Iowans who are using their First Amendment right to protest, law enforcement officers doing their jobs, and the community from property destruction”.

Senate File 470 would deny state funding to cities that defund their police. The bill provides exemptions for decreases in law enforcement budget. Those exemptions would include one time expenditures, decreases in population and other routine reductions to their law enforcement budget.

Senate File 534 would make it a criminal act to purposely shine a laser pointer into a law enforcement officer’s eyes. Lawmakers say this bill is in reaction last year’s riots. Law makers says the bill doesn;t impede on anyone’s right to protest, but does help to protect innocent Iowans in the case of riots.