Why the D.C. Crime Law Causes Big Problems for Democrats

Senate Republicans are trying to put pressure on Democrats ahead of an expected vote next week on legislation that would repeal parts of the DC crime bill.

The bill would remove most mandatory sentences, reduce sentences for a range of violent crimes, including auto theft and robbery, and expand the jury trial requirement for most trespass cases.

The bill was unanimously approved by the D.C. City Council, which then overrode a veto by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser with a 12-1 overwhelming majority.

The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a resolution of disapproval that would block implementation of the law. This is the resolution that is expected to be voted on by the Senate next week and is likely to pass despite a majority of Democrats in the Senate and the usual party support for DC Home Rule.

The reasons are a mixture of political and circumstantial.

Sen. John Vetterman (D-Pennsylvania) is expected to miss the vote as he undergoes treatment for clinical depression, which narrows the Democratic majority to 50-49.

Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) says he will vote in favor of the resolution, saying the law doesn’t make sense to him.

Other Democrats in the Senate, especially those like Manchin, who face a tough reelection race in red or purple states in 2024, could vote with him. In the House of Representatives, 31 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the disapproval resolution.

If it passes, President Biden will face a rather difficult decision. Although he is expected to veto the disapproval resolution and say it is a serious violation of D.C. self-government – the idea that D.C. has power in the city and should be able to govern itself – the power of veto will no doubt be used. by the Republican Party in campaign advertising and arguments until the end of the cycle.

And the danger of being a Democrat who is seen as soft on crime intensified on Tuesday when Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot failed to pull out of her own re-election amid public anger over it.

Senate Democrats have by and large refused to jump on board to repeal the DC bill, given their longstanding support for self-rule for the district, but Republicans are signaling confidence. They seem to think there will be more Democrats in the Senate next week than Manchin.

“Why the D.C. City Council, against the wishes of a mayor in the same party, would declassify certain offenses is simply counterintuitive,” Senator Shelley Moore Capito (RW.Va.) told The Hill. “I think it will be difficult for someone [to vote against the resolution] and I think it will be difficult for the president to veto it.”

No wonder Manchin, who said whate New York Times that reducing mandatory minimum sentences doesn’t make sense to him would vote on the issue with the Republican Party. His state voted overwhelmingly for former President Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

Other Democrats to watch include Senators Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and John Tester (Monte), who have told reporters in recent days that they are undecided. Both face re-election in 2024 in states Trump won in 2020.

Senator Kirsten Sinema (D-Arizona), who usually votes Democratic, is also seen as a worthy candidate. A Sinema spokesperson told The Hill that it “doesn’t review votes”.

Republicans are pointing to Lightfoot, the latest Democrat to run into trouble over her fight against crime, arguing that it will become a political issue for those who actually vote to support the DC City Council.

Paul Wallas, who received the most votes in Tuesday’s Chicago election, launched an anti-crime appeal and won almost twice as many votes as Lightfoot.

“I think the mayor of Chicago is probably an example of that,” Sen. Tom Tillis (RN.C.) said.

The fine cuts and other changes have created a tough barrier for Democrats as they overwhelmingly support statehood for the county.

Senator Dick Durbin (Illinois), Democrat No. 2 in the Senate, told The Hill that while his conference supports the powers of self-government, members are looking at the bill “very closely” because they “also want it to be a safe city.” ”

The crime problem has hit the county to the core with incessant reports of carjackings and robberies throughout the city.

Murders up to 30 forcent this year from the same point last year. In accordance with MetropolItalian Police Department reportThis year alone, there were 94 reported car thefts in the county, only 16 of them were closed, and nine were arrested. Seventy-eight percent of these incidents involve minors.

“Everyone will have to make their own decision about this, and I respect that,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who noted that he does not support the crime bill on his own. “Regardless of your position on the fundamental issue of what the DC government has done, the United States Senate should not substitute its judgment for the elected representatives of the people of DC, especially since almost every Democrat in the Senate supports DC statehood. “.

Although Bowser opposed the council’s measure and urged it in early February to consider changes to minimizing fines and issues related to jury trials, she urged members of Congress to refrain from issues related to the city.

The White House has yet to issue an outright veto threat against the resolution, although it has said it opposes the repeal of the newly enacted penal code.

“Congress must respect the autonomy of the District of Columbia in managing its local affairs,” the White House said in January, adding that it continues to support the District of Columbia’s statehood.

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Durbin added that he “has no idea” if he expects Biden to issue a formal veto threat.

The county gained self-rule powers in 1973, and Congress has not repealed a single citywide bill in over three decades. Nevertheless, Republicans believe that the vote could put the president in a stalemate, especially since the crime situation in the city is deteriorating.

“I think it would be hard for anyone who believes in law and order to vote for not being able to influence our capital, which has a higher crime rate,” Capito said.

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