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Norton Slams GOP Over Three Anti-Home Rule Bills Targeting D.C. Autonomy

June 9, 2025

The U.S. House Rules Committee is considering three Republican-backed bills that would override Washington D.C.'s local laws regarding noncitizen voting rights, police reform, and immigration cooperation. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has strongly criticized these measures as undemocratic interference with the District's self-governance, calling them "paternalistic" attacks on the will of over 700,000 D.C. residents. The bills would specifically prohibit noncitizens from voting in local D.C. elections, roll back police accountability reforms enacted after the 2020 protests, and nullify D.C.'s sanctuary city policies by forcing cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Who is affected

  • Over 700,000 D.C. residents
  • Noncitizen D.C. residents (green card holders and DACA recipients)
  • D.C. police department and officers
  • Undocumented immigrants in D.C.
  • D.C. Council and local government

What action is being taken

  • The U.S. House Rules Committee is currently considering three Republican-backed bills targeting D.C.'s local governance
  • Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is actively denouncing the proposed legislation
  • House Republicans have already passed a continuing resolution that cut D.C.'s local budget by $1 billion
  • The D.C. Local Funds Act to reverse the budget cut is sitting in the House awaiting action

Why it matters

  • The legislation represents federal overreach into D.C.'s local governance and democratic processes
  • The bills would nullify laws enacted by D.C.'s elected officials on voting rights, policing, and immigration
  • The measures could undermine D.C.'s sanctuary city policies designed to protect undocumented immigrants
  • The legislation follows a $1 billion cut to D.C.'s local budget, described by Norton as "fiscal sabotage"
  • The situation highlights ongoing tensions between congressional authority and D.C.'s push for greater autonomy or statehood

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer