District of Colombia Appropriation

Floor Speech

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, the Financial Services appropriation soon due on the floor will be contentious; but one section should be a piece of cake because it only requires Members to vote on the local budget of a city, the District of Columbia, already voted on and locally funded by the only elected officials accountable to voters and the only officials who have familiarity with that local budget.

I ask my colleagues to give the local budget of my city the same respect you demand for yours. Please do not tell local people how to spend local money. According to the Republican Study Group, its 10th Amendment task force intends, and I quote, ``to disburse power from Washington back to regions and States, local governments and individuals.''

Your principle, please honor it.

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