Letter to the Members of the House Appropriations Committee - National Coalition at Work in Members' Districts to Prevent D.C. Riders

Letter

Dear Members of the House Appropriations Committee:

The FY'12 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill before you this week wrongly interferes in the District of Columbia's own local affairs by imposing social-policy riders that usurp the prerogative of Washington, DC's elected mayor and council and the citizens they represent. No other jurisdiction in the country is subject to congressional control of its locally raised revenue or of its locally passed legislation.

We, the undersigned organizations, collectively representing millions of Americans, advocate on diverse issues but are united in our opposition to the inclusion of District of Columbia social-policy riders on the appropriations bill. These proposals are unfair and intolerable.

Should lawmakers continue to advance attacks on DC's autonomy, we will make certain that our members-in every district-know how their representatives are spending their time in Washington: meddling in the affairs of DC residents rather than focusing on the nation's true, pressing business.

We urge you to oppose any effort to force Congress' views on the District of Columbia through the fiscal year 2012 budget or any other bill.

Sincerely,

Paul Helmke

President

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Nancy Keenan

President

NARAL Pro-Choice America

William McColl

Director of Political Affairs

AIDS United

Joe Solmonese

President

Human Rights Campaign

Ilir Zherka

Executive Director

DC Vote

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