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John Boehner sees a national policing crisis

By Ben Schreckinger

House Speaker John Boehner says there’s a national crisis in relations between black communities and law enforcement.

“I do,” he said when asked in an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” whether he believes that such a crisis exists. “I think that if you look at what’s happened over the course of the last year, you just got to scratch your head.”

The Ohio Republican said he was outraged at the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray at the hands of police, which set off protests and riots in Baltimore. “Public servants should not violate the law,” he said.”If these charges are true, it’s outrageous, and it’s unacceptable.”

He also expressed support for police departments using federal grant money to purchase body cameras for its officers.

Turning to 2016 politics, the speaker declined to pick favorites in the growing Republican field, though he did tell host Chuck Todd, who pressed him on the issue, he’s a fan of fellow Ohioan, Gov. John Kasich.

Boehner also defended the American political system, downplaying the importance of money in politics, organized special interests and gerrymandering.
“Every American belongs to dozens of special interest groups, whether they want to or not,” Boehner went on. “If they’re environmentally conscious, you know, they’re represented by a number of environmental groups. The competition, the competition of ideas is what matters.”

And he indicated he had no problem with gerrymandered congressional districts, as long as they pass constitutional muster.

The speaker said he and other House Republican leaders were still formulating their response if the Supreme Court rejects part of the Affordable Care Act in a pending case that is expected to be decided this summer.

“We’re beginning the process of working with the Senate Republicans,” he said. “because I think it’s important that we’re on the same page in terms of what our response is, if in fact, the court rules against the Obama administration.”

Boehner also said President Obama will need Hillary Clinton’s help to get congressional Democrats to approve fast-track authority for the trade deals that his administration is negotiating.

“Hillary Clinton is for the trade bill … She just won’t say so,” Boehner said. “The fact is the president needs her help …She can’t sit on the sidelines and let the president’s swing in the wind here.”