Show-Me Push Back Against Kansas City Police Defund Moving Forward

Here's what's most important and we're very THANKFUL that insiders took the time to explain it to us: 

The real debate is ABOUT ACCOUNTING FOR THE KANSAS CITY BUDGET . . . 

Many denizens of the MSM are being exceptionally disingenuous in their reporting.

They're accepting 12th & Oak talking points at face value.

Here's the thing . . .

Mayor Q adds up the budget one way and Missouri GOP officials want a more "comprehensive" accounting. 

Then the politics of the ordeal come into play . . . 

KCMO officials underestimated the power of the state when targeting police funds to be shifted to control of city hall. This bill is one part of the Missouri GOP reprisal for that mistake. 

Even better . . .

Notice bitter resistance to the accurate and effective "defund" terminology.

Most importantly from our perspective . . .

Mayor Q's "community" crime prevention ordinance simply creates a slush fund. 

The Mayor isn't offering any more transparency or oversight than what already exists. 

Here's tonight's summary . . .

The bill comes in response to the city council’s attempt last year to reallocate $42 million of the KCPD’s budget to community policing and prevention, an effort to exercise some local control over the department’s budget. A Missouri court later ruled that the move was illegal.

Those opposed to the council’s move, including Luetkemeyer, accused Kansas City officials of “defunding the police,” even though it would not have resulted in any decrease in the police budget.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas testified against the bill in January, arguing it would give the KCPD a blank check. But Councilwoman Heather Hall voiced support for it and urged the legislature to pass it so it could take effect before the city council approves the 2022-2023 budget at its March 24 legislative session.

The Senate’s passage of the bill comes amid Kansas City’s annual budget cycle, which calls for the KCPD to receive $269 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. That surpasses the 20% state funding threshold.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Missouri Senate passes bill that would increase Kansas City's police funding requirements

The Missouri Senate passed a bill Thursday that would increase Kansas City's minimum funding threshold for the Kansas City Police Department by 5%, a move its sponsor, Republican Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, says pushes back on Kansas City's "radical attempts to defund the police."

Increase in Kansas City police funding bill passes Missouri Senate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Current Missouri law requires Kansas City, Missouri, to spend 20% of the city's general revenue on the police department. But Republican State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer from Parkville, who also represents some in Kansas City, is sponsoring a bill to increase that funding to 25%.

Developing . . .