The GOP's attacks on D.C. home rule are just getting started
District leaders can’t say they didn’t see the Republican-led House assault on home rule coming.
In a column more than a year ago, I stated, “A Republican-controlled House spells big trouble for the District.” But it wasn’t particularly prescient to cite the threat posed by the then-upcoming midterm elections. House Republicans had tipped their position, with one member, Rep. Michael Cloud (Tex.), stating flat out, “Keeping the D.C. government in check will surely be a priority of Republicans … when the gavels are in our hands.” Some House GOP members even served notice that one of their goals could be to repeal the D.C. Home Rule Act.
The purpose of that column, instead, was to convey a plea to D.C. leaders to start mobilizing local resources — money, volunteers and time — to support Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s efforts to maintain a Democratic majority. Not much, if anything, along those lines was done, local politicos having chosen to concentrate on the city’s own November elections.
Fortunately, and thanks to herculean efforts by Pelosi’s forces (and campaigning by former president Barack Obama) a predicted red wave didn’t materialize. But the GOP nonetheless regained control in the House — and with it, the power to make good on its anti-D.C. threats.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/17/dc-home-rule-republican-house-attacks-crime/
