Norton Statement on Proposed D.C. Council Budget Autonomy Charter Amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) issued the following statement on a bill introduced today in the District of Columbia Council authorizing a proposed Charter amendment to grant the city budget autonomy.

"Along with D.C. residents, I share the D.C. Council's frustration at sending the city's local budget to a Congress that has no part in raising the city's local revenue. The denial of budget autonomy not only violates a basic tenant of self-government, it also imposes substantial operational and financial costs on the city. After being informed of the proposed Charter amendment and investigating it, we briefed the Mayor and Council Chairman on the legal and institutional issues and risks of a referendum that would allow the city to give itself budget autonomy. In light of these issues and increasing Republican and Democratic support for budget autonomy, we will continue to work with our allies in the House and Senate to pass a budget autonomy bill."

Published: October 2, 2012