Some news stories from the past week involving Chairman Mendelson:

House Committee Votes to Upend First DC Law in 23 Years – Some conservatives have interpreted the bill to mean that employers in the District, including churches and anti-abortion groups like March for Life, could eventually be required to provide coverage for contraception and abortions.  The council passed a temporary fix to the bill to make clear that religious organizations would not be responsible for such medical care, and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) reiterated that Tuesday in a letter to Chaffetz, but the Republican chairman said the fix was insufficient.  [The Washington Post]

House Votes to Strike Down DC Law Banning Reproductive Discrimination – In a letter last week to Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) just before his oversight committee voted to overturn the bill, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) pleaded for members of Congress to leave the matter up to the city.  “The fundamental issue is whether individuals or organizations have the right to discriminate,” he wrote. “It is our view that they should not with regard to personal health choices.”  [The Washington Post]

House Votes to Block DC Law – “The Human Rights Act is … a protection for an individual. It’s not a government program,” Mendelson said in a Thursday phone interview. “John Doe doesn’t have the right to discriminate against you. So if Congress says we can’t spend any money to implement that, what does that mean? … It’s not clear how Congress could stop that.”  [Roll Call]

House Votes to Strike Down DC Reproductive Rights Law – Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the District’s non-voting member of Congress, issued a statement Friday declaring victory because the measure is on track to become law. But after a fierce debate on the House floor late Thursday, neither side felt like cheering.  “I feel rather battered around, beat up, by the whole thing,” DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said.  [The Washington Post]