- The President just tweeted a couple--
two minutes ago regarding the DC home rule, saying he
would sign the resolution which they've
had decided to overturn the changes to DC's criminal code.
The President himself spoke a bit about his support for DC
stayed in the past.
Why does he believe that he should step in where
the DC-- where the residents of DC's elected representatives
pass these changes?
Why does he believe that he should substitute his wisdom
and judgment for theirs?
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: So look, I mean, just to double down
and triple down on what the President has said for decades,
which is that he believes every city should have
the right to self-government.
That is still is the same case.
That hasn't changed anything.
He has long believed that DC statehood
should be something that the residents of DC
should be allowed.
Again, that hasn't changed.
But this is different.
The way that we see this, it's very different.
The DC council put changes forward
over the mayor's objections.
And the President doesn't support changes like lowering
penalties for carjacking.
So this piece is different.
But again, it doesn't change the administration
strongly supporting HR 51, which would
have made DC the 51st state.
That is something that he still very much supports.
And we're going to continue to call on Congress to provide
a swift and orderly transition to statehood for the people who
live here in DC.
- Explain a little bit why this is different?
But just because it's different-- the President
believes that every state should have the right to self
government, except the people he disagrees with the outcomes
of their governing process?
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Look, one thing that the President
believes in is making sure that the streets in America
and communities across the country are safe.
That includes DC.
That does not change.
That's why he puts forward a historic peace--
a historic plan that he hopes Republicans in Congress
would support, which is a Safer America Plan.
That is something that the President has led.
When you think about keeping communities safe, when you
think about making sure that we're also protecting our law
enforcement and making sure that we have
law enforcement and communities that continue
to keep communities safe.
That's something that he has led on.
So when it comes to what this proposal brings forth, which
is really lowering penalties for carjacking, that's not going
to-- he doesn't believe that's going
to keep our community safe.
So if the bill comes he's going to take action as he said.