Legislative Information

Phil works to find legislative solutions to improve the District government and help residents. Phil chairs the Council's Committee of the Whole.

Read More

Constituent Services

Need help with a District agency? Trying to access District services? Need a donation? The Constituent Services team has you covered.

Read More

Contact Phil

Follow Phil on Twitter, Like Phil on Facebook, or Email Phil. You can also sign up for email updates.

Read More

News Release: Mendelson Statement on Recent Gun Control Ruling

DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has released the following statement regarding Judge Frederick Scullin’s ruling that the local ban against public carrying of handguns is unconstitutional:

“Because of the District’s unique national security concerns, the right to carry a firearm in public must be restricted more heavily than any place else in the nation.  Four U.S. presidents have been assassinated by gunfire, and at least five others have been shot at, including Ronald Regan who was seriously wounded in 1981.  Neither the Secret Service nor the Capitol Police will disclose all incidents where they have recovered firearms, but we do know that just two years ago someone hit the White House with gunfire, and there are frequent threats on the foreign diplomatic corps.”

 

Massie’s Gun Control Amendment Harms District

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

“Congressman Massie should not be amending the District’s gun control laws without knowing what he is doing,” said DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson after today’s vote to block enforcement of four gun laws dating back to 2008.  “While it is clear that Mr. Massie wants to eliminate gun control in the Nation’s Capital, his amendment is poorly drafted and hurts everybody – from Second Amendment advocates to law Continue Reading

Statement on Mayor’s Veto of the Budget

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;}

Understandably, I am disappointed that the Mayor has chosen to veto the Budget Support Act and two sections of the Budget Request Act, relying on legal arguments that would eviscerate Council authority over the budget.   Although he has tried to spin this action in the best light, a careful reading of his letter reveals two issues: (1) restoration of streetcar funding over tax cuts; and (2) objection to limitations on the Mayor’s unilateral ability to spend.

The streetcar program is already well-funded.  The Council’s budget has $587 million dedicated for streetcars, although the Council did adjust out-year funding to more sustainable levels.  The $587 million is far more than the government has been able to spend to date.

The tax cuts are broad, and will be eliminated by the veto.  When fully implemented, the average resident will pay hundreds of dollars less in Continue Reading

Statement on the FY 2015 Budget Support Act

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;}

Today, the DC Council passed the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Support Act. An important component of the act is a comprehensive tax revision package based on the recommendations of the DC Tax Revision Commission.

“I am extremely pleased that we were able to move forward with the proposed tax cuts,” said Chairman Mendelson. “The tax relief provided in the FY2015 Budget Support Act makes our tax structure much more Continue Reading

Legislative Meeting Media Briefing June 23

WHO:      DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson            

WHAT:     Legislative Meeting Media Briefing

WHEN:    Monday, June 23, 2014

                10:00 am

WHERE:  John A. Wilson Building, Room 412

                 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

                 Washington, DC

Background:

Continue Reading