DC Council chairman withdraws criminal code bill to stall Senate vote
Rachel Schilke
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The Washington, D.C. Council chairman announced he has submitted a letter withdrawing the controversial criminal code bill from the U.S. Senate ahead of an expected vote this week.
Chairman Phil Mendelson reportedly told reporters that crime bill was no longer submitted for congressional approval effective Monday, and it would “take some time” before it could be resubmitted with revisions.
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“So, I don’t know exactly what to expect, but if the Republicans want to proceed with the vote … it will be a hollow vote,” Mendelson said.
The House voted to strike down the district’s bill that would overhaul Washington’s century-old criminal code and reduce the penalties for some crimes on Feb. 9. President Joe Biden announced last week he would sign the bill if the Senate voted to strike it down.
Mendelson wrote in his letter to Vice President Kamala Harris that since the bill has not appeared before the Senate, it is not “properly before Congress at this time.”
It is unclear if the Senate will still hold a vote on the crime bill. A vote was scheduled for sometime this week.
“Withdrawal enables the Council to work on the measure in light of Congressional comments, and to re-submit it later,” Mendelson wrote.
https://twitter.com/MissBeaE/status/1632776992289435650
The chairman admitted that there was no precedent involving the DC Council withdrawing a bill from Congress, but there is nothing in the Home Rule Act that says he cannot.
“The Home Rule Act is very clear that I transmit and there is not a prohibition on my pulling it back,” Mendelson said. “This law will not go into effect because I have pulled it back.”
https://twitter.com/tomsherwood/status/1632774559618199553?s=10&t=q7-nvnf6YOj0AdjOK6DUwg
Mendelson said he was attempting to “lower the heat” over the crime bill and other laws that could be targeted by the House Republicans as the country prepares for a heated 2024 election, per Tom Sherwood with WAMU.
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Biden and Democrats have been under pressure from Republicans over crime as the president gears up to launch his 2024 campaign, an announcement rumored to come in April.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Mendelson and Mayor Muriel Bowser for comment.