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Minnesota House pulls $35M security fund for officer trials

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Posted at 1:54 PM, Feb 16, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-16 13:54:42-05

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A proposal by Gov. Tim Walz to create a $35 million fund to bolster security during the murder trial of a former Minneapolis officer charged with killing George Floyd has stalled out in the Democratic-controlled Minnesota House.

Leaders abruptly pulled the bill Monday, acknowledging that they lacked enough votes to pass it.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted earlier Monday to allow the state to garnish Minneapolis' state aid to ensure security costs get paid.

With just three weeks before the trial, Legislative leaders and the governor must now scramble to find an alternative or make do with existing resources.

According to The Associated Press, the trial will be possibly be manned by law enforcement agencies, who will be reimbursed for their costs through the state’s Local Government Aid program. That proposal was voted on by the Senate, which voted 35-32.

Gov. Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard in early February to deploy in preparation for any unrest, The AP reported.