Norton Celebrates Historic Bill Passed by Senate Appropriations Committee to Give D.C. Budget Autonomy
WASHINGTON, DC – In a historic step forward, the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday passed a bill to give the District of Columbia budget autonomy. The bill, the Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, reinforces the legislative provision granting D.C. budget autonomy that President Obama included in his fiscal year 2014 budget, at Norton's request. In addition, on Wednesday, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved a bill introduced by Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) that includes two major elements of budget autonomy: the D.C. government would no longer be subject to shutdowns, and D.C. could set its own fiscal year. The Issa bill would also allow D.C. to increase the maximum total compensation for the D.C. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) (to $230,700, which is tied to the Vice President's salary) as requested by the CFO search committee in order to attract candidates. At the same time, no action has been taken in Congress to interfere with the budget autonomy referendum approved by D.C. voters in April, which Norton celebrated last night with DC Vote and other groups at the Woman's National Democratic Club.
"The District has now moved closer to budget autonomy than ever in its history," said Norton. "The president's budget gave unprecedented support and new momentum to budget autonomy, and now, with the Senate Appropriations Committee's approval of the president's language, the positive trajectory for budget autonomy has risen to an entirely new level. We must seize the moment, bolstered as well by the people's budget autonomy referendum, to finally allow District officials and residents to spend their local funds they alone raise without congressional approval, just as every other U.S. jurisdiction does. I especially appreciate our new appropriations subcommittee chair, Senator Tom Udall, for his strong support of the District, which shines through in this historic legislation. I also thank Chairman Issa for his bill, which also brings us closer to budget autonomy, as I work with him on the final language of his bill."
Published: July 26, 2013