DrunkWoodchuck t1_jbusee4 wrote on March 11, 2023 at 9:51 PM

Reply to comment by AnonyJustAName in 5 archaic D.C. laws still technically on the books after crime bill is nixed by washingtonpost

There aren’t enough allies on the hill for the council to do anything. A progressive council will never get a bill past a Republican congress if republicans can just lie about what’s in the bill to get bipartisan agreement to kill it.

It was this bill or nothing for years, and anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.

cptjeff t1_jbvyneu wrote on March 12, 2023 at 3:29 AM

> It was this bill or nothing for years,

No. It would have been extremely easy to modify or remove the few provisions that people didn't like and pass a completely non controversial bill. And that option is still available!

AnonyJustAName t1_jbutnku wrote on March 11, 2023 at 10:00 PM

If you're right should have gotten it to the Hill before the election.

Also if you are right, do you anticipate a 4 year break from any legislation?

The existing laws are not the reason there are so many no papered, under charged and plead down cases. That would be the USAO and AG. And if there are reasons they cannot bring solid cases, those need to be addressed. Always most useful to focus on the things you CAN control.

After what Congress did re; Bowser, was foolish to think anything different would happen to bill in current form. So, after the Congresswoman was mugged, chose that particular time, while bill was pending, for Cuba resolution. They can learn quick or slow, slow seems to be what they have picked for now.

DrunkWoodchuck t1_jbv0iuw wrote on March 11, 2023 at 10:53 PM

> Also if you are right, do you anticipate a 4 year break from any legislation?

anything republicans can politicize is paused, practically guaranteed.

> If you're right should have gotten it to the Hill before the election.

Absolutely right, the council is not blameless in this. They took too long fucking around, now we're finding out.

AnonyJustAName t1_jbv3dbg wrote on March 11, 2023 at 11:15 PM

Agree, mate.

I'm sure there are many non-controversial aspects of the bill that can be split off and passed.

After what happened re: Bowser being blocked from the floor back in January, it was insanity to send this up in the current form. Looking backwards and calling party leadership "naive" as one of the nicer terms, ain't it either. So odd for politicians to not see reading the room as an aspect of their jobs.

Same with running the city with a balanced budget. With schools facing cuts and everyone wanting to invest in root causes and kids, why focus on free bus fare when tradeoffs need to be made? They all act more like people at a think tank or uni than legislators.

And the sense of self importance is vast, when they are just one city council of tens of thousands of them in US.

Can't go back and undo it so best to move forward in a smart and strategic way.