Muriel Bowser, the mayor of the District of Columbia, slapped down Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) during a Senate hearing on the DC statehood Tuesday afternoon, and in the process she proved just how utterly clueless Republicans are when it comes to their failure to comprehend that residents of the district deserve to be part of state since they pay the same federal taxes as the rest of us.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee was the setting, and Johnson began his questioning of Mayor Bowser by asserting that people who live in DC have a greater interest in a strong federal government than other Americans:

“Those individuals who are within the District obviously have a vested interest in a very powerful federal government. Which is counter to the power vested in the states [and] the states want to maintain their sovereign power.

“To me, this seems just like a naked power grab. In 2020, 92.2% of D.C. votes went to the Democratic candidate; 5.4% went to the Republican candidate. In the last 80 elections, no Republican candidate has gotten more than 10% of the vote.”

Johnson also cited the median income of DC residents as a point against statehood:

“In the end, people choose to live here.”

When the senator tried to change the subject to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and “riots,” Bowser refused to take the bait, telling Johnson:

“Thank you, Senator, for your interest in the District. But I have to address first by talking about the residents of D.C. — 700,000 people, hardworking individuals who educate their children, start businesses, and work in the District.”

“It would be incorrect to say that D.C. residents have more of an interest in the federal government than other Americans.”

Johnson interrupted the mayor:

“That’s not the question I asked you. Could you answer the question I asked you? Do you have a property damage estimate from the summer riots?”

Once again, Bowser gave as good as she got, replying:

“I’m glad to hear you say that you are opposed to riotous behavior, whether it happened on 16th Street or here at the Capitol.”

Clearly agitated, Johnson reiterated:

“Could you answer the question? Do you have an estimate of the property damage during the summer riots?”

Seconds later, Johnson also suggested that those who rioted on Jan. 6 were being treated more harshly than others who rioted in the city. That led Bowser to respond:

“If you’re asking about how the Federal Bureau of Investigation operates, you’ll have to address those questions to them. We do not permit any riotous behavior, whoever is conducting it.”

Once again, we see members of the GOP trying to excuse what took place when thousands of pro-Trump acolytes stormed the seat of government and called for the execution of Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Also, taxation without representation is wrong, no matter how you slice it. It’s one of the main reasons for the American revolution against Great Britain!

Kudos to Muriel Bowser for standing up to Johnson and calling out his lies for what they are: Complete bullshit.

Here’s the video:

Featured Image Via Screenshot