Norton Asks Appropriators to Forgo Riders to the DC Appropriations Bill (7/7/09)

Norton Asks Appropriators to Forgo Riders to the D.C. Appropriations Bill

July 7, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent letters to D.C. appropriators yesterday and again today urging the Appropriations Committee to approve the D.C. budget without any attachments. Since the Committee only had notice of an attempt to re-insert the abortion rider barring use of local funds for abortions for low-income women, Norton focused on that amendment. However, since other amendments could be introduced, she said in her letter, "I write on abortion because we understand that attachments on this subject could be offered. However, the democratic home rule basis for my request to you applies equally to all attachments that violate the District's right to govern itself. I respectfully ask that you oppose any anti-home rule amendments on the D.C. appropriations bill."

When Democrats gained control of the Congress, Norton asked that all riders be removed and the Committee has gradually done so, beginning with the rider barring use of local funds for a needle exchange program and for lobbying for D.C. voting rights.

Copies of both letters are attached.

Dear ____________,

I appreciate the excellent work of the Appropriations Committee on District of Columbia appropriations, consisting of the local budget for a local jurisdiction, with funds overwhelmingly raised by the local residents. We hope to relieve you soon of having to devote precious congressional time to a local budget, which, like similar budgets, is of no national concern or importance. Both President Obama and the Financial Services Subcommittee removed the abortion rider in their respective budget proposals, which had been attached to the District's budget despite the opposition of local officials, local residents, and me. The abortion rider has created a severe hardship for low income women in the District. Moreover, like all riders, it is a slap in the face to the city and to its duly elected local representatives and citizens to include this restriction, while other jurisdictions may decide this and other issues for themselves.

The proposal before you affects only the local funds raised from local taxpayers. The Hyde amendment barring the use of federal funds for abortion procedures in all U.S. jurisdictions, including the District, would be untouched. I recognize that your own views or those of your constituents might lead you to favor such an amendment if you or your own constituents were affected. However, out of respect for democratic local self-government, the oldest American credo, I ask that you oppose, on home rule grounds, any amendment to reinsert the abortion rider. Your state, like every other state, decides for itself whether to allow local funds to be used for abortions. I ask only that you allow District residents the same rights afforded to citizens of every other jurisdiction in the United States.

We respect the views of Members and of Americans who may differ from our own, especially on abortion. We ask only that you respect our right to carry out the wishes of our own local citizens on matters applicable only in and for the District. Even when I disagree with local laws, I believe that it is my democratic obligation to protect them against nullification by the national legislature when national concerns are not affected. I ask other Members of Congress to do the same.

I write on abortion because we understand that attachments on this subject could be offered. However, the democratic home rule basis for my request to you applies equally to all attachments that violate the District's right to govern itself. I respectfully ask that you oppose any anti-home rule amendments on the D.C. appropriations bill.

Dear Colleague:

Congress gave the citizens of the District of Columbia and its elected officials the same right to govern themselves as they see fit that your own constituents enjoy. Please respect the self-governing rights of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the City Council, and the American citizens who live in the District. In our country, the federal government does not interfere with local self-government.

Please oppose any amendments that violate the District's home rule rights as you consider the D.C. appropriations, which consist overwhelmingly of the local taxpayer funds of District residents.

Sincerely,

Eleanor