The Senate blocked the DC crime bill, sending the measure to Biden’s desk days after the pres said he would sign

Thirty-three Democratic senators joined Republicans on Wednesday to block a controversial Washington, D.C. penal code update that would lower maximum penalties for violent crimes, including auto theft.

The upper house moved a resolution rejecting the D.C. City Council bill in an 81–14 vote, with every Republican senator supporting the resolution, sponsored by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee).

The measure is now heading to the table of President Biden, who announced last week that he would not veto it, outraging DC officials and some Democrats.

“Car thefts and thefts have become a daily routine. The homicide rate is increasing at a rate of four a week,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

“This is our capital. But local politicians have made its streets dangerous and shameful,” he added.

Biden, 80, told Senate Democrats during a group lunch last week that he would sign the bill.

“I support D.C. statehood and self-government, but I don’t support some of the changes made by the D.C. Council over the mayor’s objections, such as reducing car theft fines,” Biden later tweeted, announcing his intention not to veto the bill. check.

“If the Senate votes to reverse what the DC Council did, I will sign it,” he added.

With Biden’s blessing, many Senate Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and lawmakers up for re-election in 2024, such as Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.), John Tester (D-Mont.), and Sherrod Brown (D. – Ohio), supported the resolution.

The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), voted against the bill.

Last month, the House of Representatives voted 250-173 to repeal the D.C. bill, with 31 Democrats joining all Republicans who voted in favor.

The county’s bill would have reduced the maximum penalty for auto theft from 21 – 40 if armed – to 18 or 24 if armed. The maximum sentence for armed robbery will be reduced from 45 to 20 years.

The D.C. City Council attempted to withdraw the crime bill from Congress on Monday amid signs that it will be repealed, but the Home Rule Act, which governs the district, does not allow the law to be withdrawn.

Congress has very rarely used its duties of oversight of the District of Columbia to repeal legislation, only to repeal the laws of the District. four times since the early 1970s.reports CNN.

“I don’t think Congress should ever interfere with our local government. They can, because we live in the humiliation of limited self-government.” – D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. said on twitter on Wednesday.

“What we all need to be ready to do next is get to work to make things right,” she added, despite having vetoed the city council’s crime bill only to have her veto overturned before how Congress repealed the law.

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