Norton Calls on House Republicans to Be Consistent, Apply New Budget’s Principles to D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) called on House Republicans to apply the principles of federalism and local control of local affairs outlined in their fiscal year 2016 budget, released today, to the local affairs of the District of Columbia. The budget makes a strong case for D.C. home rule: "America is a diverse nation. Our cities, states and local communities are best equipped and naturally inclined to develop solutions that will serve their populations. But far too often, local leaders are limited by numerous federal dictates. Often the precondition of federal [and local] dollars means forgoing the pursuit of new ideas that might better serve the unique needs of their communities."

"The new House Republican budget, perhaps unintentionally, makes a strong case for D.C. home rule and, if applied in practice, would end Republican interference in the District's local affairs," Norton said. "The Republican obsession with interfering in the District's local laws and budgets is inconsistent with the principles they have always professed, and which they lay out as cardinal principles of their budget. Hopefully, their new budget will guide their actions on local District matters for fiscal year 2016. District residents ask only that our Republican friends start applying their own principle of local independence to the District of Columbia."

For fiscal year 2015, Republicans have blocked D.C. from spending its local funds on abortion services for low-income women, blocked D.C. from spending its local funds to enact taxation and regulation of marijuana sales, and tried, but failed, to block D.C. from spending its local funds to legalize marijuana entirely. Recently, Republicans have been preparing to introduce resolutions of disapproval to block two D.C. anti-discrimination bills recently transmitted to Congress. The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act prohibits D.C. employers from discriminating against employees based on their personal reproductive health care decisions, and the Human Rights Amendment Act protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students from discrimination by educational institutions in the District.