For the first time in more than three decades, Congress has authorized overruling the city when the Senate voted on Wednesday night to prohibit revisions to the criminal code of Washington, D.C.
Why it matters: The overwhelmingly nonpartisan vote is an attack on people who are sick of being denied statehood and a terrible sting for D.C. Council members.In the end, 33 Democrats disregarded their party’s support for home rule in favor of portraying themselves as strong on crime and siding with Republicans and President Biden.
Driving the news: At a time when carjackings and gun violence have increased, the vote prevents the city from making broad modifications to its criminal code, which included decreasing penalties for some violent offenses.
The D.C. Council intends to start the changes over from scratch. According to Erin Doherty of Axios, Mayor Muriel Bowser is already lobbying for amendments that eliminate the expansion of jury trials for misdemeanors and reinstate current sanctions for severe offenses like carjacking and robberies.
Locally speaking, Maryland’s two senators, Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, remained in Washington, D.C.Virginia’s Mark Warner and Tim Kaine both voted with Republicans.
D.C., of course, has no representation in the Senate!
That drove dozens of demonstrators to protest this low point in home rule outside the Capitol ahead of yesterday’s vote.
Flashback: The last time Congress overruled the city was over, of all things, our height limit on buildings. In 1991, lawmakers blocked an office tower near the FBI building that would have risen 130 feet, about 20 feet over the limit.
What’s next: More intervention in D.C. affairs is expected in the year ahead. The overturn is a triumph for Republicans, especially for House conservatives — chief among them Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde — who have made it a point to scrutinize D.C.
