Some news stories from the past week involving Chairman Mendelson:

Congressional Spending Deal Blocks Pot Legalization in DC – Mendelson, reached late Tuesday, said he was dismayed Congress would send the city’s drug laws in reverse. “It’s bad enough that they were setting their sights on legalization, but for them to go further and undo decriminalization — it’s irrational when over a third of states have done so.”  [The Washington Post]

Gray, Council Reach Deal to Fund DC United Stadium – Gray said the supplemental budget — “a sticking point along the way” — will only focus on the soccer stadium and additional projects will not be added. “We’re focusing on fully funding the soccer stadium,” Mendelson later added.  [DCist]

DC Pot Fight Puts GOP in Awkward Spot – The outstanding legal question, then, is whether the law was enacted on Election Day or whether it will only be enacted after the 30-day legislative review period following the transmission of the bill in January.  “If the question is whether I’d be open to legal action, the answer is yes,” said Phil Mendelson, chairman of the D.C. City Council.  [Politico]

DC Activists Make Last-Ditch Senate Lobbying Effort – Calls to remove the rider were echoed by D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. In a statement posted Thursday morning and sent in his newsletter Friday morning, Mendelson said, “I call upon the leadership in Congress, on both sides of the aisle, to live up to the important ideal of self-determination and self-government, remove this unjust rider, and instead focus on giving District residents the same rights and responsibilities as the citizens of the 50 states.”  [Roll Call]

DC Maneuvering for Marijuana Showdown with Congress – DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said Friday that he plans to ignore the provision and instead follow the usual procedure for a voter-approved referendum in a city required to submit to federal oversight: He will send a bill implementing Initiative 71 to Congress in January for a 30-day review, during which federal lawmakers can veto it or let it stand.  “I don’t feel that I have any choice,” Mendelson said. “The voters have spoken.”  [The Washington Post]