Biden will veto GOP resolution to foil DC police reform, White House says
Ryan King
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President Joe Biden intends to veto Republican-backed legislation to thwart a D.C. Council police accountability policy, the White House said Thursday.
Lawmakers recently advanced a resolution to overturn the Washington, D.C., police reform bill slated to go into effect in May. The White House affirmed the capital’s right to home rule in its veto threat despite Biden declining to veto the GOP-led effort to overturn the Washington crime bill earlier this month.
HOUSE COMMITTEE SET TO VOTE ON REPEALING DC POLICE REFORMS
“The president believes that building community trust is integral to fighting crime. That’s something that you’ve heard him say,” White House press secretary Jean-Pierre said. “The president believes we should fund the police and give law enforcement the resources they need for effective, accountable, community policing, and at the same time should not weaken penalties for gun crimes.”
Washington’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act lays bolstered public access to records for disciplinary incidents, mandated Miranda warnings be issued before conducting searches, prohibited the hiring of officers with a record of misconduct, and prevented police unions from negotiating discipline for offenses. The city’s police union opposed the law.
On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee advanced the resolution to scrap the police reform law following a tense hearing with district officials. Although the district is allowed to function as an independent municipality, its laws are subject to congressional approval under the Home Rule Act. Congress can pass a resolution to overturn a district law.
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Republicans have unleashed on the police reform, arguing it hamstrings district officers and places them in potentially unsafe situations.
Biden has rankled some Democrats by voicing opposition to certain Republican-backed laws, then stopping short of vetoing them. He did this on a Republican resolution to scrap a Washington crime bill, which city officials moved to withdraw, and on a bill to end the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. He issued his first veto earlier this month.