D.C. Ward 5 councilmember Zachary Parker claimed DoorDash is undermining D.C.’s Home Rule, while DoorDash said it is supporting D.C. residents
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NEED TO KNOW
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DoorDash publicly supports a congressional bill increasing federal oversight of D.C. tax policies, sparking criticism from a local leader
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The company opposes a new 20-cent delivery tax in D.C., calling it harmful to small businesses and underserved communities
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A D.C. councilmember accused DoorDash of undermining the district’s self-governance and called for residents to hold the company accountable
DoorDash has recently gotten involved in a political debate.
The delivery service publicly supported H.R. 9720, a congressional bill that city leaders say would grant Congress more control over D.C. tax policies, and a local lawmaker has responded by boycotting the service.
The D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act was introduced by Kentucky Rep. James Comer on July 16. It would require that any changes to Title 47 in the District of Columbia Code regarding taxation, or acts that would “impose or increase a tax or fee,” not take effect after 60 days unless the Senate and House enact a law approving them.
The D.C. Council is already required to send acts to Congress to undergo review, according to the D.C. Home Rule Act. However, the review period is currently limited to 30 days, and acts are immediately approved after that period unless Congress has enacted a joint resolution barring it.
While discussing the bill in a July 22 House Oversight and Government Reform Committee meeting, Comer critiqued D.C. lawmakers for proposing a delivery tax in the district.
“Actions like these only serve to hurt small businesses and the district’s already vulnerable residents,” he said. “This bill enhances Congress’ constitutional oversight authority over D.C. to restrain irresponsible policies.”
He listed several supporters of the bill, including DoorDash. He entered a letter from DoorDash supporting the bill into the congressional record.
“I got to like DoorDash,” he said.
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D.C. Ward 5 councilmember Zachary Parker said in a statement shared with PEOPLE in response to DoorDash’s support of the congressional bill, “Any business that lobbies Congress to undermine DC Home Rule and our right to self-governance is not a friend of the District.”
“DoorDash profits from DC businesses, consumers, and workers while simultaneously working on Capitol Hill to undermine our ability to govern ourselves,” he continued. “I’ve deleted my DoorDash account because I believe DoorDash must be held accountable, and District residents deserve to know exactly where the company stands.”
DoorDash said it is working to support D.C. residents.
“We have always supported Home Rule for D.C., and our commitment to the belief that the District and its residents should self-govern has not wavered,” a spokesperson for DoorDash told PEOPLE in a statement. “What we do not support is a new, unlimited regressive tax on D.C.’s most underserved communities for virtually everything they need delivered, from SNAP grocery orders to diapers and medicine to everyday meals.”
DoorDash’s endorsement of the congressional bill follows a statement the company posted on July 7 critiquing the D.C. Council’s proposed 20-cent delivery tax on third-party deliveries.
The company said the tax included everything from groceries to medication to diapers, calling it “overly broad” and claiming that the “regressive” tax harms “small businesses and working families” most.
“We will keep advocating for policies that empower D.C. neighborhoods rather than make it more expensive to live in them,” the company wrote.
“This tax passed without a single public hearing at a time when residents face skyrocketing costs and local restaurants are already struggling to keep their doors open,” the spokesperson said in their statement shared with PEOPLE. “Taxes like this fall hardest on the people D.C. says it wants to protect. We continue to urge D.C. Council and city leaders to reconsider this harmful delivery tax in support of small businesses, residents, and workers who cannot afford to pay more.”
Parker told WUSA that the 20-cent fee would go to the Food Policy Council and food access programs.
“No one wants any more fees, but this was our attempt to provide a nominal fee to District residents and businesses while providing an essential service by way of food access programs,” he told the outlet.
He continued, “Reasonable minds can disagree on tax policy, we can disagree on legislation, but it is clear that those decisions should be in the hands and in the realm of District lawmakers, not Congress.”
DoorDash said it supports Congress analyzing whether the proposed delivery tax is in residents’ best interests.
“This bill takes away D.C.’s authority over its tax code,” said D.C. Representative Eleanor Norton in the committee meeting, arguing that it would reduce D.C.’s authority in self-governance.
She also pointed out that this bill wouldn’t allow D.C. to remove a tax without congressional approval.
The bill passed the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with a vote of 23 to 18. It will proceed to the House of Representatives.
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