Norton Announces Polling Shows a Plurality of Voters Support Biden Veto of Disapproval Resolution to Nullify Local D.C.’s Revised Criminal Code
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) highlighted recent Data for Progress polling showing a plurality of voters, 46%, believe that President Biden should respect D.C.’s autonomy and right to self-governance by vetoing the disapproval resolution passed by Congress to overturn D.C.’s revised criminal code. The House passed the disapproval resolution on February 9th and the Senate passed it on March 8th.
“I am pleased, but not surprised, that a plurality of voters from across the country support D.C.’s right to local control over its own local affairs,” Norton said. “Like residents of other jurisdictions across the country, D.C. residents and the District’s duly-elected officials should be able to pass local laws without congressional interference. If D.C. residents are unhappy with the performance of their own local leaders, D.C. residents can vote them out of office.
“Thank you to Data for Progress for your efforts and for giving me the opportunity to write a piece for your website [LINK] announcing the results of the polling.”
Because D.C. is not a state, it faces congressional interference in its own local laws. Under the Home Rule Act, passed in 1973 and signed into law by President Nixon, local D.C. laws must be transmitted to Congress for a review period. During the review period, any member of Congress can introduce a disapproval resolution. If the disapproval resolution is enacted, the local D.C. legislation is prevented from taking effect.
Although the Biden administration issued a Statement of Administration Policy opposing the disapproval resolution, mere weeks later the president committed to signing the resolution into law. If he signs the disapproval resolution, it will mark the first time local D.C. legislation has been nullified via a disapproval resolution since 1991.
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