Norton Says Republican Budget Sets Course for Possible Government Shutdown, Underscoring Urgency of D.C. Budget Autonomy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The fiscal year 2013 budget released today by House Republicans "could lead to a federal government, and therefore a District of Columbia government, shutdown on October 1, adding new urgency to our ongoing, bipartisan efforts for D.C. budget autonomy," Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said. The Republican budget establishes a lower top-line discretionary spending level for fiscal year 2013 than House Republicans agreed to last summer in the Budget Control Act to increase the debt limit. "By reneging on the deal, House Republicans have set up a fight over fiscal year 2013 spending, which could leave the D.C. government caught in the crossfire once again," Norton said. She explained that the House appropriators will be forced to adhere to the House budget level of $1.028 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal year 2013, while Senate appropriators have said they will stick to the higher level agreed to in the Budget Control Act, $1.047 trillion. "Six months away from the start of the fiscal year, the House Republican budget sets us on an ominous path," Norton said. "We must take action now to prevent a replay of the circumstances that led to near-shutdowns of the District government last April and December. With the recent budget autonomy proposal by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA), we intend to permanently remove the cloud of a D.C. government shutdown."

After Issa announced his support for D.C. budget autonomy late last year, the issue has quickly gained unprecedented momentum. In the past two months, two more Republican leaders, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA) and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, have indicated their support, and the Obama administration has committed to work to pass a budget autonomy bill. However, with the possibility of a D.C. government shutdown heightened by this year's Republican budget, Norton is not only seeking to turn this momentum into a budget autonomy bill. She also feels she must simultaneously work with allies in the House and Senate to give the District the authority, as the president requested in his fiscal year 2013 budget, to spend its local funds in any year in which Congress has not approved the District's budget by the start of the fiscal year. The president took the unusual step of recommending actual legislative language, which was similar to a bill Norton has introduced, in his budget. While this authority will not provide the District with all of the benefits of budget autonomy, the District government would never again face the uncertainty and costs of a shutdown, or of preparing for one, due to unrelated federal spending fights.

Published: March 20, 2012