Washington Times - Invoking its seldom-used authority to markup D.C. legislation, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted 22 to 14 on Monday to send a resolution to the House floor that would block the Death with Dignity Act.
Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republican, said laws passed locally are not often reviewed by Congress. But he said the physician-assisted suicide law is “important enough that our committee should have this markup here today.”
The disapproval resolution must pass both chambers and be signed by the president within 30 legislative days of the legislation’s enactment, which is Feb. 20.
Committee Democrats accused Republicans of disrespecting the will of the District’s elected officials.
“None of us served in the D.C. City Council, where the Death with Dignity Act was approved by a vote of 11 to 2,” said ranking member Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Maryland Democrat. “None of us in this committee would stand for congressional interference in their own state and local affairs, and none of us should stand for it in this case.”
Ms. Bowser said the committee vote “has sent a signal to D.C. residents that Congress has zero respect or concern for their will or the will of their elected officials.”
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