House Democrats unloaded on President Joe Biden after he sided with Republicans and moderate Democrats in blocking the District of Columbia crime bill.
Biden announced Thursday that he would sign a resolution to block the bill, which had been criticized for certain “soft on crime” provisions.
I support the DC charter and self-government, but I don’t support some of the changes the DC Council proposed over the mayor’s objections, such as reducing penalties for car theft.
If the Senate votes to overturn what the DC Council did, I will sign it.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 2, 2023
Biden revealed to Senate Democrats that he would sign an effort to block the bill.
“I support the D.C. statute and the local regime, but I don’t support some of the changes the D.C. Council proposed over the mayor’s objections, such as reducing penalties for car theft,” he said. “If the Senate votes to overturn what the D.C. Council did, I will sign it.”
An angry House Dem lashed out at Biden via text message to The Hill: “The White House screwed up royally. So many of us who are allies voted no to support what the White House wanted. And now we they are hanging out to dry,” the lawmaker continued.
“F*cking AMATEUR TIME. HEADS NEED TO FLY TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THIS,” added the Dem.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), the No. 3 Democrat in the House, went on record with his disapproval: “It’s disappointing to me and to anyone who believes in self-government, frankly.”
“I’m a former mayor of a city of 70,000 and I wouldn’t want the federal government to come in and tell me what municipal ordinances to pass,” he added. “So I think it’s disappointing in that context. I voted against it, but I understand and respect the president’s position here.”
“We’ll see, the Senate has to pass it, and I know they’ve said they have the votes, but all these things have to happen,” he continued. “But it’s disappointing for those of us who believe in self-government.”
Democratic D.C. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton complained that the measure comes at a time when crime rates are rising.
“Today was a sad day for DC self-government and the right to self-government for DC residents,” Norton said.
“We had hoped that with more support from the Senate, we would have been able to ensure that no resolution of disapproval pending before the Senate would reach the president’s desk, but with crime on the rise nationwide, most senators do not want that they be seen as supporting criminality.justice reform”.
The crime bill’s defeat stands as one of the few signature victories for the McCarthy-led House so far.
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