Norton Introduces Budget Autonomy Bill, and Asks Obama to Support It in His 2012 Budget as Bush Did

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the District of Columbia Budget Autonomy Act of 2011 to allow D.C.'s budget to immediately take effect, without congressional approval. In a recent letter to President Barack Obama, she requested that his upcoming fiscal year 2012 budget indicate support for budget autonomy over local D.C. taxpayer-raised funds, as President George W. Bush did in his 2004, 2005, and 2006 budgets. D.C. almost got budget autonomy late last year. Norton got waivers from the authorizers to get the bill included in the D.C. appropriations bill passed by a House appropriations subcommittee. As the lame-duck session ended, Republicans refused to support the omnibus appropriations bill that included budget autonomy, and a continuing resolution was passed instead.

"Like with voting rights, D.C. would have budget autonomy this year but for an unexpected event, in this case, the decision of Congress not to pass the omnibus appropriations bill that contained this provision," said Norton. "We must not cease pressing for budget autonomy until we get it. Allowing the city to spend its own funds, which residents raise through their own local taxes, is second only to achieving full voting rights. No principle is more essential to the right of self-government, the oldest American principle."

In her introduction statement, Norton highlighted the benefits of budget autonomy, explaining, "a timely budget means: eliminating the uncertainty of the congressional approval process, which has a negative effect on the city's bond rating, adding unnecessary interest costs for local taxpayers; significantly increasing the District's ability to make accurate revenue forecasts; and reducing the countless operational problems that result because the city's budget cannot be implemented until Congress approves it." Eliminating the congressional approval process would also permit the city to set its own fiscal calendar to July 1, aligning it with the school year, instead of the congressional fiscal year, which starts October 1, after the school year has already begun.

Last week, the Congresswoman introduced the first three bills in her Free and Equal D.C. series, critical to the city attaining self-governance. These three bills, the New Columbia Admission Act (providing for statehood), the District of Columbia Equal Representation Act (authorizing Senate and House seats), and the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act (giving the city a House vote), all have significant support among residents.

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