Chairman Phil Mendelson

Meet the Democrat in DC Who is Cutting Taxes for the Rich – And For Everyone Else – In truth, the District’s most powerful politician you’ve probably never heard of is in the middle of a once-in-a-generation campaign to cut taxes for almost every D.C. resident. A council vote Tuesday could be a litmus test, not only for Mendelson’s power as chairman, but also for the mayor’s — and for the identity of a rapidly gentrifying city.  [The Washington Post]

DC Council to Consider Income Tax Cuts Opposed by Mayor – The accelerated tax cuts would also benefit poor and middle-income households. Mendelson has said it’s important to move forward with the commission’s recommendations, which the council first approved last year. Bowser voted for the cuts before becoming mayor.  [ABC7]

DC Council Questions Progress on Truancy Reforms – “I feel like you’re identifying problems but criticizing us for not having solved those problems,” Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said to Okonkwo. “Which is what we’re trying to do, and at some schools the problem is overwhelming… The goal is not court prosecutions, but you have to have court at the end of the process as a stick while we try to improve the carrot.”  [Washington City Paper]

DC United Stadium Takes a Key Step Forward – Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said at the time that legislators would move quickly to approve all of those measures, and they did. The documents set the parameters for the stadium project going forward, including timelines, cost caps and each party’s responsibilities.  [Washington Business Journal]

DC Traffic Camera Contracts Under Review After CEO Pleads Guilty to Bribing Officials – “This is the first I’m hearing of this,” said Phil Mendelson, the Chairman of DC City Council – a position he held in 2012 when the city entered into this three-year, $4.5 million contract with Redflex.  Mendelson doesn’t recall any red flags when the contract was issued. But says it’s time to revisit it, especially since Finley was CEO at the time.  “I think the government should look at the contract,” added Mendelson.  [ABC 7]

DC Takes Final Step Toward Sweeping Tax Reforms, Accelerates Cuts – The District’s chief financial officer on Tuesday revised the revenue estimate for fiscal 2015 upward by $117 million. The estimate came after the council had voted on the compromise date for tax cuts, but Mendelson said it “completely reinforces the point that I was making that we can afford this, and the District government’s financial situation is very healthy.”  [The Washington Post]

Bowser Launches Contracting Oversight Board – “I think it’s an excellent idea,” Chairman Phil Mendelson said. “We can figure out what changes need to occur so we don’t need retroactive approvals.”  [Washington City Paper]

A Reimagining in Washington Divides the Neighbors – “There were some things that were not handled right,” Mr. Mendelson said, “but a lot of the opposition has to do with a no-build mentality — more about preventing development than modifying it.  I’d like to see more of a park, but the horse left that barn a long time ago,” he added. “It’s too late to be unwinding that deal.”  [The New York Times]

“I was disturbed to learn today that the Mayor opposes the implementation of broad-based tax relief as adopted by the Council,” Mendelson stated.  “Acting to implement tax relief expeditiously is an important component of the District’s affordability strategy.  Changing course from this strategy would delay tax relief, hurting middle-class residents, or those on the road to the middle class, as well as businesses.”

“There is no reason to delay implementation of tax relief,” Mendelson continued, “unless the Mayor’s goal is to cancel the tax reform in order to unnecessarily increase spending on discretionary programs.  The government should be steadfast in its commitment to providing relief to those residents and businesses that bolster the District’s continued growth.”

The tax relief approved in the Fiscal Year 2015 budget is a comprehensive package of tax reforms that place particular emphasis on benefitting low and moderate income earners.  On average, the package provides an estimated $400 – $600 per resident in tax relief.   The reforms also make the District more competitive for businesses.  The Council has made implementation of this relief a priority.  Implementation of the tax reform package as proposed does not impact the approved funding for agencies and programs in the upcoming fiscal year.

DC Reproductive Health Discrimination Law Blocked by House Panel – “It is beyond comprehension why Members of Congress would condone discrimination in any form,” DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said in a statement. “That’s what this is about, and bigotry has no place in America in the 21st century.”  [The Mendelson Post]

Union Station Overhaul Doesn’t Happen Until H Street Bridge is Rebuilt.  Here’s When That Might Happen – Building a new bridge, one strong enough to support future development in all directions, is an immense undertaking, and Union Station’s second century plan is at a standstill until it’s done. The two together “will substantially transform Union Station as a transportation hub, not just in the region, but arguably on the eastern seaboard,” DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said Wednesday during an oversight hearing on Mayor Muriel Bowser’s commitment to the overall project.  [Washington Business Journal]