Fredericksburg Leader

Amidst a surging wave of crime in Washington, D.C., House Republicans have ignited a fierce debate by unveiling a contentious bill that seeks to dismantle the District's Home Rule, placing operational control under Congress. The proposal, spearheaded by Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, has sparked a clash over local governance and federal intervention, with DC officials and advocates vehemently opposing the move.

"D.C. is running rampant with crime,” Ogles said, according to a WTOP report.

House Republicans, led by Ogles, have resurrected a proposal to strip D.C. of Home Rule in response to soaring crime rates, with over 600 carjackings this year alone, nearly double the previous year's count. The bill's reintroduction sparks a heated debate as D.C. officials grapple with how to address the crime surge while defending local governance autonomy.

Despite facing anticipated resistance in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate, the Ogles bill to curtail D.C.'s Home Rule signals House Republicans' vigilant scrutiny of the city's governance and crime response. This move follows notable attention from the House Oversight Committee and a previous congressional rejection of D.C. Council-approved criminal code changes aimed at reducing penalties for certain offenses.

The 1973 D.C. Home Rule Act established the District's governing structures, granting increased local autonomy although Congress retains veto power over council-approved bills, The Hill reported. Congressional intervention to reverse D.C. legislation is rare, but bipartisan efforts resulted in overturning a revised criminal code, drawing mixed reactions and President Joe Biden's controversial support. Recent instances also include Congress annulling a police reform bill, with Biden's veto allowing the D.C. bill to stand.

If approved, the bill would restore full congressional oversight of D.C.'s government, encompassing functions ranging from police management and public services to infrastructure. District officials have voiced opposition to Ogles's plan.