Norton Says Republicans Rushing to Mark Up Bill to Repeal D.C. Budget Autonomy Law in Time for Appropriations Process

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she expects that as early as next week the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) will mark up a bill to repeal the Local Budget Autonomy Act of 2012 (BAA), a referendum ratified overwhelmingly by District of Columbia voters in 2013, and to prohibit the District from passing any budget autonomy legislation in the future. Norton said that was all but apparent in today’s hearing on the BAA, where she cited Speaker Paul Ryan’s stated intention to pursue “legislative options” to nullify the BAA.

“It is clear that our committee had planned to mark up a bill to repeal the Local Budget Autonomy Act, passed by D.C. voters and upheld in court, even before today’s hearing and regardless of what the witnesses explained,” Norton said. “Although a party-line vote on the repeal bill is expected in committee next week, and eventually on the House floor, we do not expect the Senate to take up the bill. Instead, House Republicans will have to turn once again to the appropriations process to repeal the BAA.”