The Council of the District of Columbia chairman announced he has submitted a letter withdrawing the criminal code bill from the Senate ahead of an expected vote this week.
Chairman Phil Mendelson reportedly told reporters the crime bill was no longer submitted for congressional approval effective Monday and that 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.”
A Senate leadership aide said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner that officials nonetheless expect the vote to occur.
“Not only does the statute not allow for a withdrawal of a transmission, but at this point the Senate Republican privileged motion will be acting on the House disapproval resolution, rather than the DC Council’s transmission to the Senate,” the aide said.
“Withdrawal enables the Council to work on the measure in light of Congressional comments, and to re-submit it later,” Mendelson wrote.
.@ChmnMendelson’s letter to @VP Kamala Harris the President of the Senate withdrawing the D.C. Crime Bill under D.C.’s Home Rule Act. pic.twitter.com/gvaBo2Qcrq
— Beatrice-Elizabeth Peterson (@MissBeaE) March 6, 2023
The chairman admitted there was no precedent involving the D.C. Council withdrawing a bill from Congress, but he added 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.”
DC Chairman /3 Chairman Mendo just acknowledged that there is no precedent (he’s aware of) for the Council to withdraw a bill from congress….. and he says nothing in the Home Rule Act says he can do that. So unclear if Senate will agree. @politicshour @wcp
— Tom Sherwood (@tomsherwood) March 6, 2023
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 an intense 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.
