Opponent of democracy Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Congressional oversight of the District of Columbia gives members of Congress a chance to show their commitment to democracy—or lack thereof. Far-right House Republicans in particular have been all about trampling on the will of the very blue city's people in recent years, and this week they're kicking up a fuss over a law that would protect workers from being fired for having abortions or advocating pro-choice positions.
Yes, congressional Republicans want to overturn a law passed by a city's democratically elected government in order to allow employers to fire women for having abortions. The House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee are pushing a measure in the House:
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the conservative group, said last week that stopping laws like the D.C. measure is what conservatives promised they would do in a Republican-controlled Congress.
“It is the right thing to protect certain fundamental freedoms and liberties for people in the District, and obviously Congress has the right to do this,” Jordan said.
That's the fundamental freedom and liberty to fire workers for obtaining medical care or supporting the right of women to obtain medical care. Once again we see Republican logic: If businesses aren't allowed to discriminate, that's discrimination. With a healthy helping of "screw D.C. residents, taxation without representation is awesome." Naturally, Ted Cruz is sponsoring the Senate version of the resolution.