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‘Legislation Worthy Of George Kirby’: Pelosi And Schumer Both Botch George Floyd’s Name

Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi give a joint speech during a government shutdown.

Schumer’s mistake was made while killing the police reform bill of Republican Sen. Tim Scott, who is African American, without even debating it.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) referred to George Floyd as “George Kirby” and “Floyd Taylor” respectively this week as Congress debated police reform.

Pelosi was quoting her conversation with Floyd’s brother when she made her mistake. “I only will do that [name the bill after Floyd] if this legislation is worthy of George Kirby’s name, and he said it is,” the speaker said with a smile.

Perhaps Pelosi was thinking of George Kirby, an African-American actor, singer, and comedian who passed away in 1995?

Schumer’s misspeak happened as he shut down the reform bill of Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). “Who do you believe when it comes to civil rights and police accountability? Mitch McConnell, or the lawyer for the families of Floyd Taylor, uh, George Taylor,” Schumer said.

Pelosi has since applauded her colleague’s strategy, calling Scott’s reform bill “trying to get away with murder, actually. The murder of George Floyd.” Scott, who is African American, has criticized the move.

The mistakes happened in the course of both chambers’ ongoing debates over how far police reform should go. Democrats refused to debate the Republican legislation in the Senate, despite suggestions from Republican senators that they were open to compromises by adding amendments.

Democrats then pushed their own bill through the House without allowing any Republican input. Their plan, which fails to rein in police unions or consider other Republican concerns, is now predictably dead.