Pubdate: Mon, 05 Jan 2015
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2015 The Washington Times, LLC.
Contact:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Andrea Noble

COUNCIL PRIORITIZES STATEHOOD, POT LAW

New Attorney General Says He Will Be Fierce, Unyielding Defender of D.C.

Promises to push for D.C. statehood and to protect voters' decision 
to legalize marijuana were a common refrain among the city's newly 
elected leaders.

In speeches at their swearing in ceremony on Friday, several of the 
newest elected leaders as well as those returning to office told city 
residents they'd continue the ongoing battle with Congress for the 
city to advance its autonomy.

"As your first elected attorney general, I will be fierce and 
unyielding in defending the will of the people, including Initiative 
71," said Attorney General Karl Racine, referencing the marijuana 
legalization ballot measure that passed in November.

A budget rider adopted in a congressional spending package bans the 
city from using funds to enact the marijuana legalization initiative.

Pressed on the issue during an appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the 
Press," D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was noncommittal on whether she 
might file a lawsuit on behalf of the city against Congress.

"We're going to explore every option," Ms. Bowser said.

Proponents of the bill have taken the stance that the initiative was 
officially enacted when 70 percent of voters endorsed it at the polls 
and that Congress' only means to block the law now is to file a 
disapproval resolution.

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said Friday he intends to 
transmit the referendum to Congress as required in order to begin the 
clock on the legislative review period required of all enacted city laws.

"I will send Initiative 71 to Congress as required," he said.

Congress is set to reconvene Tuesday, after which the bill can be sent.

Mr. Mendelson said he doesn't intend to make a show out of the 
transmission or do anything special to distinguish it. Many other 
bills enacted in the last legislative session must also be sent up to 
Capitol Hill for review and he intends to send them all together.

Addressing the crowds who came to the Walter E. Washington Convention 
Center for the swearing in ceremony Friday, newly sworn in D.C. 
Council members talked about the their goals in leading the District 
forward and how local autonomy should be a part of that future.

Supportive of full statehood, D.C. Council member Elissa Silverman, 
at-large independent, noted that Congress' power over the District 
means that the city of "more than 600,000 residents can be silenced 
by just one."

D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau, Ward 1 Democrat, pledged her 
support to continue to address needs among immigrants, gays and the 
homeless and to push forward with meaningful legislation, no matter 
how the plans might be received on Capitol Hill.

"We will keep doing what we think is right and we will keep fighting 
for the autonomy we need to get it done," Ms. Nadeau said.

Returning D.C. Council member Mary Cheh, Ward 3 Democrat, said the 
city needs to challenge Congress and even the president to secure 
full representation for residents.

"It's all very well the president put the 'no taxation without 
representation' plates on his limousine," Ms. Cheh said. "But really, 
is that it? Is that really it?"

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District's nonvoting 
representative in Congress, noted that with Republicans taking 
control of both the House and the Senate that "this may not look like 
the best time for us to achieve statehood for the District of 
Columbia." But she said that with strong leaders and guiding 
principles among those being sworn into office that the city would be 
able to build a strong movement to advocate for the District becoming 
the 51st state.

"Cheer up D.C., it can be done," Ms. Norton said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom