Democrats Want to Control Everything — Except Runaway Crime
‘When it comes to radical far left priorities, Washington Democrats have no qualms about this city steamrolling 50 states and local communities. But now, when public safety is in free-fall in our federal city itself, now Washington Democrats pretend they’ve become small-government federalists and they want Congress out of the picture! This is a desperate attempt to change the subject and it could not be less persuasive.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding violent crime:
“Crime in our nation’s capital is out of control. Washington D.C. has already seen about three dozen homicides in just the first two months of the year — a 35% increase over last year’s pace.
“There have been more than 1,300 thefts from autos — a 25% increase over last year’s pace.
“And more than 1,100 thefts of motor vehicles, including carjackings — more than doubling last year’s pace for a staggering 109% increase.
“At best, the liberal city politicians who have presided over this ongoing collapse in law and order are doing basically nothing. The Mayor recently announced the city will hand out free steering wheel locks to residents who own certain kinds of vehicles.
“But some local officials are not content with doing nothing and have set their minds to making the situation even worse. The City Council just passed a new criminal code that is designed to go even softer still on crime, reducing penalties for a number of violent offenses and property crimes.
“To a unique degree, unlike any other city in America, Washington D.C. issues are national issues. The District of Columbia doesn’t belong to a handful of local politicians, it belongs to more than 330 million American citizens.
“The people need their government to function in safety. Families and school groups need to be able to come tour their own capital, which their own tax dollars help finance, in peace of body and peace of mind.
“This is why the Constitution entrusts our seat of government to a federal district. It is why federal law gives Congress the ability to step in and help govern our nation’s capital city if local politicians fail to take care of basic business.
“Now, amazingly, the same Washington Democrats who have spent the last several years trying to steamroll localism and federalism in every way possible are now suddenly indignant at the notion that Congress might toughen up penalties for violent criminals in D.C.
“Just last year alone, Democrats right here in this chamber tried to break the Senate rules so they could micromanage every county in America’s election laws…
“They tried to ram through a bill that would have swept away state and local laws and forced every community in America to adopt radical abortion laws on par with China and North Korea…
“And over the last two years, Democrats have passed bill after bill that spent trillions of dollars to interfere in American families’ lives and put more of our society under the thumb of federal bureaucrats…
“So when it comes to radical far left priorities, Washington Democrats have no qualms about this city steamrolling 50 states and local communities.
“They vote for that outcome eight days a week!
“But now, Mr. President, when public safety is in free-fall in our federal city itself, now Washington Democrats pretend they’ve become small-government federalists and they want Congress out of the picture!
“This is a desperate attempt to change the subject and it could not be less persuasive.
“Democrats want Washington D.C. to take over every state’s laws, every small business’s decisions, and every family’s financial choices.
“But we’re supposed to believe that Washington D.C. cleaning up violent crime in Washington D.C. itself would be a bridge too far?!
“They’re just trying to duck the real debate. Democrats want to debate anything and everything besides violent crime itself.
“Because the modern Democratic Party and its coalitions have decided it’s more important to have compassion for serial violent felons than for innocent citizens who just want to live their lives.
“That’s the issue here. A binary choice.
“Should we be softer on crime, like Democrats want, at the local, state, and federal levels?
“Or should we be tougher on crime, like Republicans and the American people want?
“That’s the debate.
“I want to thank Senator Hagerty for spearheading the commonsense resolution that would nullify the D.C. Council’s insane pro-criminal legislation and bring at least a ounce of common sense back to the American people’s federal city.”
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Related Issues: Economy, Senate Democrats, Democrats' Reckless Taxing And Spending Spree, Campaigns & Elections, House Democrats, Crime
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