Calls to boycott DoorDash are growing following controversy over DC Home Rule laws

[00:00:00]Tempers flared on Capitol Hill this afternoon over DC's budget, home rule, and the city's political future.

[00:00:06]>> Yes, some Republicans advanced a bill that would require Congress to sign off on any new taxes or fees passed by the DC Council. The debate, it was intense.

[00:00:15]>> Why do you not support the sovereignty and independence of DC to make its own budgetary decisions?

[00:00:22]>> And it's it's We have legislative jurisdiction over Washington DC.

[00:00:27]We don't want to see more economic decline in the city as a result of a socialist takeover of the city with more taxes.

[00:00:35]>> Okay.

[00:00:36]>> Oversight Committee approved the bill with a 23 to 18 vote. It could face some changes before going to a full vote in the Republican-controlled House, and it's expected to face a hot tougher time in the Senate.

[00:00:48]>> Now, as you can imagine, DC leaders are not happy about this proposal. So, who's behind it? The man you heard there, Congressman James Comer, who serves as chairman of the House Oversight Committee. He says he wants to stop those tax increases and fees that burden businesses and residents.

[00:01:02]>> And DoorDash is openly supporting it.

[00:01:05]Tonight, there are calls to boycott the delivery app. Katie Lusso explains why.

[00:01:10]>> DoorDash says they fully support and have always supported home rule, but some here in the district say, "You can't say you support home rule if you also back a bill that city leaders say takes away DC's right to govern itself."

[00:01:22]>> Let me just say this. I think it's obvious this bill was not written by the people of DC, and I think it's obvious that you're trying to make this happen without their consent.

[00:01:32]>> Questions continue to swirl about why exactly Congress wants to control what taxes DC government puts in place, and who exactly supports it.

[00:01:39]>> letter from the Independent Women's Voice supporting this bill, and a letter from DoorDash supporting this bill.

[00:01:46]>> DoorDash has not held back how they feel, specifically about a 20-cent delivery tax that will go into effect in a few months, saying it fails the district and hurts DC's most vulnerable residents and businesses.

[00:01:57]>> It is a 20 cent fee per order that will help support the Food Policy Council and food access programs across the district, especially east of the river.

[00:02:07]Uh no one wants any more fees, but this was our attempt uh to provide a nominal fee um to district residents and businesses while providing an essential service by way of food access programs. Um and I did support it.

[00:02:21]>> Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker says this isn't about the fee, it's about DC's right to govern itself. A spokesperson for DoorDash told WUSA9 while they do support the bill that they also fully support home rule.

[00:02:32]>> You can't have it both ways. You can't say I support home rule yet I am going to actively lobby Congress. The fact remains that DoorDash as a company that has benefited from district residents and businesses actively lobbied and is currently actively lobbying against district home rule and autonomy. Uh and that should be unacceptable.

[00:02:53]>> And Parker told me he is now boycotting the app. He's actually deleted it off of his phone and is calling on DoorDash to publicly apologize. In Northwest DC, I'm Katie Lusso, WUSA9.