A group of House Republicans sent a letter Thursday to Democratic Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser calling on her to reject two bills passed by the D.C. city council that would allow illegal immigrants to vote in the nation’s capital.
The letter was first obtained by the Daily Caller and was spearheaded by Kentucky Rep. James Comer, the ranking member on the Committee on Oversight and Reform. In the letter, the lawmakers criticize two bills passed by the D.C. city council that allow illegal immigrants to vote in D.C. elections for local positions, including for the mayor and city council members.
The D.C. City Council voted in early October to allow illegal immigrants to vote in local elections. There are at least 50,000 noncitizens living in the District, according to The Washington Post.
“Republicans on the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on House Administration are troubled by two bills affecting D.C. elections that the D.C. Council has passed and now seeks your endorsement as mayor: the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act and the Elections Modernization Amendment Act,” the House Republicans wrote to Bowser in the letter. “Pursuant to the Constitution’s vesting of authority over the federal district in the United States Congress, we urge you to abandon these bills.”
Congress can exercise authority over DC local affairs, according to the District Clause of the Constitution (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17), and Congress reviews all D.C. legislation before it can become law. Congress can change or overturn D.C. legislation and can also impose new laws on the district.
READ THE LETTER HERE:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
“Fair elections are a prerequisite for any healthy republic, yet these bills would allow non-citizens to vote, including even those here unlawfully, and would formalize a dramatic expansion of D.C.’s poorly executed efforts to mail live ballots automatically—not upon a voter’s request—to unmaintained voter registration lists,” the letter continues.
The letter was also signed by Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace and Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil.
“The D.C. Council has passed legislation that fundamentally violates American sovereignty, and it has done it right in the Nation’s capital. This is a disgraceful episode in the District’s history, and Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on House Administration encourage you to reject these two bills,” the lawmakers added.
The group of House Republicans also requested a staff-level briefing no later than October 27, 2022.
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told the Daily Caller exclusively in February that they will use their power to hold Bowser accountable for implementing policies that they believe are hurting the nation’s capital if the GOP wins back the majority. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: House Oversight Republicans, Kevin McCarthy Plan November Surprise For DC Mayor Bowser)
GOP lawmakers have also mentioned their concern about the surge in violent crime in D.C. MPD data shows the number of homicides increased 19% in 2020 and has remained fairly constant, the Washingtonian reported. Carjackings have tripled since 2019. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: House Oversight Republicans Demand Mayor Bowser Provide Plan To Address Rampant Violent Crime In Nation’s Capital)
“In addition to urging you to reject these bills, Republicans on the Committees request information on the policy considerations behind each bill, as well as how the D.C. government plans to address the concerns laid out in this letter,” the lawmakers wrote.
The Daily Caller contacted Bowser’s office about the letter and it did not immediately respond.