Norton Thanks White House for Strongly Opposing Anti-Home-Rule Riders in D.C. Appropriations Bill, Supporting Budget Autonomy

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today thanked the Obama administration for issuing a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) opposing the anti-home-rule riders in the House fiscal year 2017 District of Columbia appropriations bill and supporting D.C. budget autonomy. The SAP stated that the administration “strongly opposes” the three anti-home-rule riders embedded in the bill—one repealing a referendum overwhelmingly passed in 2013 by D.C. voters that granted the District budget autonomy, and two that block D.C. from spending its local funds on abortion services for low-income women and on taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana. Norton has filed amendments to strike those riders, and will testify before the Rules Committee this evening. The SAP also “urges the Congress to adopt provisions included in the FY 2017 Budget request that would permanently allow the District to use local funds without congressional action.” The SAP said the president’s senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. The bill will go to the House floor for a vote tomorrow.

“Once again, the White House has in strong terms opposed all undemocratic interferences into D.C.’s local affairs by unaccountable Members of Congress, and we are grateful,” Norton said. “I particularly want to make Republicans own up to the anti-home-rule riders they have planted in the bill when it comes to the House floor. I am asking the Rules Committee to make my amendments in order so they can be voted on the House floor.”