One reason America’s suddenly looking at zero-sum choices between defunding and reinforcing police department budgets has been a long-term legislative failure to mandate reforms.  And one reason for that, the NY Times’ Farah Stockman reports, is strong resistance from powerful police unions. Now, there is a new Republican proposal before the US Senate, while the Democratic majority in the House is going in a different direction. Which could mean, once again, the result is reform goes nowhere.