Chairman Phil Mendelson

The Quality of Health Care for Inmates in DC is What Matters – Chairman Mendelson’s letter to the editor regarding the Corizon health care contract.  [The Washington Post]

Driving While Texting and Talking Still a Problem, Despite Laws – Council Chair Phil Mendelson has legislation proposed that would stiffen the penalties for repeat offenders. Right now, the fine is only $100 and on a first offense can be waived if you purchase a hands free device.  Mendelson’s proposal would no longer waive the fine.  Drivers caught three times within 18 months would be fined $400 and their driver’s license and car registration temporarily suspended.  [Fox 5 DC]

Mendelson to Lankford: DC Bills Don’t Violate Religious Freedom – “There is no intent on our part to violate the rights of others, such as freedom of religion,” Council Chairman Phil Mendelson wrote in a two-page letter sent to Lankford on March 20.  [Roll Call]

Marco Rubio Takes Aim at Restrictive DC Gun Control Laws – “This proposal is reckless and disregards our country’s national security,” said DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, a Democrat. “All that would remain to protect the public leaders and citizens from gun violence is federal law, and federal law has proven to be inadequate.”  [The Washington Times]

DC Responds to Marijuana Investigation – Council Chairman Phil Mendelson laid out the argument that the roundtable did not violate the law, including a memo from Racine, in his response, which was obtained by CQ Roll Call. Mendelson noted that the Oversight staff agreed to consider limiting the employee disclosure to council members, rather than council employees who participated in the discussion.  “We are concerned that the disclosure of Council staffers’ names may cause them or their families to feel intimidated,” Mendelson wrote in the letter. Mendelson also said he would be happy to meet with Chaffetz and Meadows, writing, “Indeed, a meeting might be more useful to you.”   [Roll Call]

Mayor Changes Course in Budget Autonomy Fight in the District – Mendelson (D) said he knew the mayor had been considering the move for several weeks and said he hoped the judge would weigh seriously the new mayor’s position.  “We believe strongly in the correctness of our position, and the mayor’s position now shares that view,” Mendelson said. “The obvious part is that we are pleased with her decision but, in the end, what’s important is the merits of the case: The overwhelming vote of citizens was a legitimate process for amending the Home Rule Act.”  [The Washington Post]

DC Jail Medical Contract Sparks City Council Criticism – DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat, also has expressed skepticism about the Corizon award, having noted that the number of lawsuits filed against the District regarding inmate health care and the value of losses paid out in those cases have “plummeted” in the time Unity has held the contract.  [The Washington Times]

DC Has ‘Discussion’ on Legal Pot on Fear Hearing Illegal – Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has said that by March the city would begin to treat Initiative 71 as law, which would in effect legalize possession without any way to buy pot legally.  [Reuters]

Pot Push Could Land DC Council in Jail – WUSA9 asked Council Chair Phil Mendelson about the letter, he said,”Congress is the bad guy in all this. Because Congress is the one that says they want to restrict what we can do.”  [WUSA9]

Marion Barry University — and Free Tuition?  DC Lawmaker Proposes Overhaul of UDC – Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) joined Orange in co-introducing the measure. But Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), who controls the committee dealing with UDC, called the proposal to rename the university after Barry “premature.”  Mendelson said he expects a commission to be formed to consider the appropriate way to honor Barry’s legacy.  [The Washington Post]

In 11th-hour Move, DC Finds More Hotel Rooms for Homeless Families – Before the filing was withdrawn, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said he was “troubled” by the breadth of the city’s request in court. “I suspect that the city lawyers felt somehow that strategically it was better to go for more than is needed,” he said. “But politically, it’s a poor choice.”  [The Washington Post]

Boom or Bust?  DC Lawmakers Try to Make Sense of Budget Contradictions – Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) lectured City Administrator Rashad M. Young on Bowser’s handling of budgetary matters, arguing that the hiring freeze, routine underspending and an expected $21 million court settlement made the program cuts unnecessary.  “There’s an excess of caution, an unnecessary level of caution,” Mendelson said. “You have it within your control to control spending and ensure the budget that was balanced remains balanced. The freeze has been really obnoxious to the council.”   [The Washington Post]