The No. 3 House Republican is casting doubt on whether Congress needs to pass a nationwide crime bill as the GOP seeks to project itself as the party of law and order.
“I think every local jurisdiction should be doing this,” Whip Tom Emmer said in an extended interview Thursday, when asked if there was appetite from his conference to pursue legislation to implement new federal policing and sentencing standards.
“You don’t need to wait for Congress,” the Minnesota lawmaker added.
His comments come the week the House considered on the chamber floor that would impose new crime policies on the District of Columbia, over which Congress has control.
The remarks also represent something of a reality check to President Donald Trump, who said around the time of his 30-day takeover of the D.C. police department that he wanted Congress to take up comprehensive crime legislation.
Earlier this month, Speaker Mike Johnson also said a nationwide crime bill is “one of the things on the table.”
Neither elaborated on what that bill might look like.
Emmer, however, noted Thursday that Republicans believe in a division between national and local governments, and specifically called on local officials in his own state — including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Tom Frey — to crack down on crime and other violent offenses.
“Look, President Trump, with his crime crackdown in the District, has proven that if leaders have the will to do this, they can accomplish amazing things,” Emmer said. “Donald Trump has taken the step and shown everyone across the country that this can be done.”
The House this week passed four bills that would impose new laws on D.C., including by lowering the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses.
Emmer said it was his understanding that other D.C. crime bills recently approved by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee would come up for a vote on the floor when the House returns from the Rosh Hashanah recess — though deferred to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise on the schedule.
“All of these things that are being done are to hold the criminals accountable,” Emmer said. “I expect there’s a huge appetite for that.”
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