D.C. Council members tentatively approved dozens of bills Tuesday night, including measures for lower traffic fines, stricter drug laws, a surcharge on water bills and a tax break for a developer looking to build hundreds of housing units near Howard University.
But the council rejected legislation to authorize red parking meters in the District that would be reserved for handicapped motorists.
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The meeting, the next to last before the council adjourns for Christmas, stretched for more than 12 hours as members considered one of their heaviest workloads since the current council period began two years ago. The council will hold final votes on pending legislation Dec. 18, its last meeting before the new year.
At times, Tuesday’s meeting grew heated as Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) stared down council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) over Barry’s proposal to grant new employment protections to ex-offenders. Mendelson led a successful effort to kill the bill, and an outraged Barry vowed political retribution against the new chairman.
After the council voted down the measure, Barry accused Mendelson of being a bully.
“You’re wrong, Mr. Chairman,” Barry charged after the 7 to 5 vote against the ex-offender bill.
“Mr. Barry, you’re out of order,” Mendelson said as the former mayor refused to yield to Mendelson as the chairman tried to move on to other business.
As Barry kept speaking and accused his colleagues of being insensitive, the televised feed of the proceeding was briefly cut off while Barry spoke.
The council also became entangled in a fresh political battle with Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) after it approved several bills, including one that would reduce traffic fines, which the mayor said the city cannot pay for.
In all, Gray estimated that the council approved more than $340 million in new spending or tax cuts over four years that now must be funded or shelved. Under city rules, bills approved by the council cannot become law until the council and the mayor agree on how to fund them.
Underscoring Gray’s impatience with the council’s votes, the mayor visited the pressroom at the John A. Wilson Building to blast the council even before its meeting had concluded.
“I think it’s irresponsible,” said Gray, who served as council chairman from 2007 to 2011. “When I did legislation, I tried to figure out where the funding was coming from.”
Gray added that the council was “making promises to people” by approving legislation that won’t become law because it won’t be funded.
In an interview, Mendelson countered that it’s routine for the council to approve bills that are contingent upon future funding.
A major point of contention Tuesday centered around the council’s plans to lower the fines for speed-camera tickets and other speeding tickets.
Gray administration officials say the change, which would reduce the fine for traveling 11 mph and 15 mph above the speed limit to $75 from $100, would cost the city tens of millions of dollars. But the council disputes the estimate, and members vowed to implement the reduced fines even without the mayor’s support.
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