Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is a favorite enemy of Republicans. He’s often seen as a promoter of the far-left agenda that Conservatives claim is destroying the country.
Schumer frequently sided with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on several controversial laws, for example.
However, the Democrat leader just made a stunning move — he’s actually siding with the GOP on one critical bill.
The story focuses on Washington D.C. legislation that critics call a “soft on crime” bill: it would reduce max penalties for certain crimes, like robberies and carjackings.
It would also completely erase some mandatory minimum sentences, a move that most Republicans criticized. Lessening the penalties for breaking the law almost never helps society, they say.
And in this case, leftist Mayor Muriel Bowser agreed; she vetoed the bill in January.
But the City Council overrode that veto and pushed forward with the legislation. The House then quickly stepped in with a measure to override the Council, and most figured Democrats wouldn’t be on board.
Schumer is, though (from Fox News):
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters on Tuesday that he will vote with Republicans on overturning a controversial D.C. crime bill that would have reduced maximum penalties for certain crimes, including burglaries, robberies and carjackings.
Asked Tuesday how he would vote and how his party and how the White House ‘so badly bungled this issue,’ Schumer said, ‘I’m going to vote yes. It was a close question. But on balance, I’m voting yes.’
Even though the City Council can override the Mayor – as they did – the Constitution allows Congress to top the Council in D.C.
It also appears as if Schumer isn’t the only Democrat who’s against the legislation. Internal reports suggest that other leftist leaders like Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) will also vote to stop it.
This is why it’s likely to pass through the House and Senate, and any liberal hopes of keeping this soft-on-crime bill rest with President Joe Biden.
Unfortunately for them, Biden recently said he wouldn’t veto the House measure if it reached his office. He now joins Mayor Bowser in the belief that this legislation is a bad idea. As Bowser said in January:
Anytime there’s a policy that reduces penalties, I think it sends the wrong message.
Rising crime, especially violent crime, is a serious concern for most American citizens right now.
Any bill that runs counter to this problem likely won’t be very popular. We’ve heard numerous reports from law enforcement that the revolving door of justice is only getting worse, too.
If we’re going to make any strides on this topic, many will agree that reducing punishment isn’t the right way to go.
Key Takeaways:
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he’ll side with Republicans on a controversial D.C. crime bill.
- The bill would reduce maximum punishments for certain crimes, and entirely remove some minimum punishments.
- D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is against it, and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) is likely to oppose it as well.
