Steve Burns
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON – (WMAL) D.C.’s controversial Death With Dignity legislation is up for a vote at today’s Council meeting following months of heated debate and lobbying. The measure would allow physicians to prescribe lethal drugs to patients with less than six months to live, as verified by two independent doctors.

“I’ve gotten a lot of communications,” Council Chairman Phil Mendelson told reporters this week. “The interesting thing is a lot of the opposition is coming from outside the city.” He said everyone who has lobbied him in person has been in favor of the bill.

Eight of the 13 Council members have expressed support for the measure. Mayor Muriel Bowser has not indicated where she stands on the bill. As with all District laws, it is also subject to Congressional review.

The District would join five other states in allowing physician-assisted suicide. Proponents have packed Council chambers in the past, arguing it gives a sense of freedom and independence in an otherwise grim situation by allowing terminally-ill patients a choice. Opponents have cited moral and religious beliefs, along with some disability advocates who are afraid patients could be coerced into taking the drugs.

Other bills scheduled for a vote on Tuesday include a measure raising the minimum age to buy cigarettes to 21, and a bill enhancing distracted driving penalties. Both are expected to have sufficient votes to pass.

Also Tuesday, Mendelson is expected to send a draft of the Paid Family Leave bill to the District’s Chief Financial Officer to review its financial impact. He has indicated it is his top priority of the legislative session, but it has also turned into one of the thorniest issues to get through. Mendelson and Bowser had a testy discussion at a Council breakfast two weeks ago, with Bowser accusing Mendelson of secrecy, and he accusing her of refusing to allow mayoral staff to meet with council staff. Mendelson said that has since been rectified.

The bill would allow all District workers paid time off to care for themselves, a loved one, or a newborn. It would be one of the most generous programs of its kind in the country. However, major points surrounding the bill still have to be ironed out, including how much leave each worker would receive.

“It’ll be substantially fewer than what was in the introduced version. The introduced version had 16 weeks,” Mendelson said. “What we’re trying to do is match the benefits to a payroll tax that would be at most one percent. We’re trying to see if it can be even less than one percent.”

While the process would need to speed up, Mendelson said it can still get done before the end of the session in December.

“I think there’s still a chance that it’ll get through before the end of the year.”

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