Norton Says Historic D.C. Shutdown-Avoidance Provision in Omnibus Continues Momentum for Budget Autonomy
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that the fiscal year 2014 omnibus appropriations bill released yesterday evening contains a historic and unprecedented District of Columbia shutdown-avoidance provision, allowing the city to spend its local funds and remain open in the event of a federal government shutdown in fiscal year 2015. The provision, for the first time ever, guarantees that D.C. will avoid a local government shutdown for an entire fiscal year. The continuing resolution (CR) passed in October to reopen the federal government through January 15, 2014, contained a provision permitting D.C. to spend its local funds for the remainder of the fiscal year (through September 30, 2014) and thereby avoid a shutdown threat in fiscal year 2014.
"Between the provisions in the CR and the omnibus, both of which were historic firsts, our city can rest assured that our local government will not shutdown through fiscal year 2015 if the Congress becomes as dysfunctional as it did last year," said Norton. "This guaranteed stability is a victory for the D.C. economy and our residents, and a significant step forward in our fight for full home rule and budget autonomy. We have every reason now to be hopeful as we continue to build the momentum and move forward on all fronts for full budget autonomy."
In addition to the shutdown-avoidance provision, no action was taken in the bill to overturn the budget autonomy referendum approved by D.C. voters. In fiscal year 2014, the president, for the first time in an administration's budget, included a legislative provision for budget autonomy. The Senate Appropriations Committee then included the president's budget autonomy provision in its committee-passed fiscal year 2014 D.C. Appropriations bill. Last year, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed Chairman Darrell Issa's (R-CA) bill that has major elements of budget autonomy. He and Norton are working to perfect final language. In addition, Republicans, in arguing for the a CR to keep D.C. open during the federal government shutdown, made strong arguments that the city should be able to spend its own money and not face shutdowns.
Published: January 14, 2014