Committee chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) speaks during a hearing before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in July. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Committee chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) speaks as ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) listens during a hearing before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in July, but somehow it feels very fitting for this story. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Jason Chaffetz, a Utah congressman who mistakenly believes he represents D.C., now also seems to think he can speak for the people of Maryland.

During a House Oversight Committee hearing, Chaffetz casually mentioned that he was “exploring” having the residential areas of D.C. retrocede back to Maryland, though his exploration apparently has not yet involved speaking with people from the District or the Old Line State about the idea.

While most D.C. officials and residents believe that the best way for D.C. to get representation in Congress is to become a state, Chaffetz, the chair of the committee, said that it would be much better off joining a preexisting one.

He has a long history of meddling in D.C. affairs, including pledging to block D.C.’s Death With Dignity Act and voting to overturn the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act.

Don’t worry, though, he knows best. After all, as of 2010, he had been to every Five Guys and Matchbox in the city.

The topic emerged when D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced an amendment to the committee’s new draft plan that would strike the D.C.-specific provision, as she so often does. The Republican-majority committee voted it down.

People, including our actual elected leaders, did not take kindly to Chaffetz’s suggestion.

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is hosting a press conference this afternoon with Mayor Muriel Bowser and Council Chair Phil Mendelson to discuss Congress’s actions on the Death With Dignity law.

“Since the Committee would not allow D.C. officials to defend the law, I am bringing them to Capitol Hill to allow them to make clear the city’s opposition to this undemocratic assault on D.C. home rule,” Norton said in a release.

Filed Under: eleanor holmes norton, jason chaffetz, Maryland, meanwhile in maryland, meanwhile on capitol hill, statehood,