Some Democrats have criticized President Joe Biden’s support of a bipartisan resolution to overturn Washington D.C.’s criminal code revision, which would lessen penalties for convicted criminals.
This came after the District of Columbia City Council voted to introduce revisions to the district’s criminal code to soften penalties on violent crimes. While the Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser vetoed the bill, it was overridden by the D.C. City Council, prompting Congress to intervene.
Although the proposal garnered bipartisan support in the House, some Democrats thought that Biden shouldn’t have interfered with the state law that seeks to lessen restrictions on crimes such as sexual assault and carjackings.
Although some members of the party don’t agree with the president stepping in to reverse the new D.C. law, the GOP-introduced disapproval resolution is backed by several Democrats, including Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Biden’s opposition to the resolution has been met with criticism by some Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who accused him of undermining D.C.’s right to self-governance.
The debate surrounding D.C. statehood and home-rule brings to the fore the balance between central control and the rights of states in the administration of justice.
The move by Biden to support the resolution overturning the revision of the criminal code will be viewed by Republican voters as a victory for law and order. On the other hand, Democrats who supported the resolution were seen as being soft on crime.