President Joe Biden received criticism from a House Democrat over his stance on a Washington, D.C., law.
During a meeting Thursday, Biden told Senate Democrats he will not block an effort led by Republicans to reverse D.C.’s new crime law, as NPR reported.
“The White House f***** this up royally,” one House Democrat said to The Hill in a text message.
A declaration from the Office of Management and Budget urged Congress to “respect the District of Columbia’s autonomy to govern its own local affairs,” per The Hill.
“So a lot of us who are allies voted no in order to support what the White House wanted. And now we are being hung out to dry,” the lawmaker said, adding, “F****** AMATEUR HOUR. HEADS SHOULD ROLL OVER AT THE WHITE HOUSE OVER THIS.”
According to the lawmaker, others are “EXTREMELY pissed” about the matter.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.) also shared he was not thrilled by the move.
“It’s disappointing for me and anybody who believes in home rule, honestly. I’m a former mayor of a city of 70,000 and I wouldn’t want the federal government coming in and telling me what city ordinances to pass. … So I think it’s disappointing in that context,” Aguilar said during a Punchbowl News event, as The Hill reported.
He added, “I voted against it, but I understand and respect the president’s position here. We’ll see, the Senate has to pass that, and I know that they’ve said they have the votes but all of those things have to happen. But it’s disappointing for those of us who believe in home rule.”
Biden took to Twitter to confirm his decision on Thursday.
“I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule – but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections – such as lowering penalties for carjackings,” Biden tweeted.
He added, “If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did – I’ll sign it.”
I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule – but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections – such as lowering penalties for carjackings.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 2, 2023
If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did – I’ll sign it.
Twitter users shared their own thoughts with the president about his decision with one asking, “How does one square this with being pro-democracy and democratic rule?”
The tweet continues, “If DC should have statehood, then how are you ok taking their power away from them even if you disagree with their actions. Team Democracy must be team Democracy all the way.”
How does one square this with being pro-democracy and democratic rule? If DC should have statehood, then how are you ok taking their power away from them even if you disagree with their actions. Team Democracy must be team Democracy all the way. https://t.co/VU3njfjM5k
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) March 3, 2023
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote, “This ain’t it. DC has a right to govern itself, like any other state or municipality. If the President supports DC statehood, he should govern like it.”
She continued, “Plenty of places pass laws the President may disagree with. He should respect the people’s gov of DC just as he does elsewhere.”
This ain’t it. DC has a right to govern itself, like any other state or municipality. If the President supports DC statehood, he should govern like it.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 3, 2023
Plenty of places pass laws the President may disagree with. He should respect the people’s gov of DC just as he does elsewhere. https://t.co/VXczSp8YPc
Journalist Garrett M. Graff added, “This tweet and position is an embarrassment for the White House and the Democratic Party.”
This tweet and position is an embarrassment for the White House and the Democratic Party. https://t.co/SMPN4sA6Fq
— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) March 3, 2023
The parts of the new criminal code under scrutiny are those that would decrease maximum criminal penalties for violent crimes, including carjackings, and increase rights to trials by jury for various misdemeanor charges, as NPR reported.
