Norton Still Working to Keep D.C. Government Open Throughout Fiscal Year 2012

September 23, 2011

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) expressed disappointment today that the Senate Democratic amendment to the short-term continuing resolution (CR) that House Republicans passed last night, which would keep the federal government running through November 18, does not give the District of Columbia government the authority to spend its own local funds for all of fiscal year 2012. Under the pending CR, the District's authority to spend its own local funds expires on November 18, too. Although the Congresswoman believes that House Republicans are desperate to avoid a federal government shutdown on September 30, when fiscal year 2011 ends, she continues to work with House and Senate Democratic leadership to try to ensure that the final CR gives D.C. the authority to spend its local funds for all of fiscal year 2012. Without this authority, the District government will have to spend significant resources preparing for its own shutdown if and when a federal government shutdown looms in fiscal year 2012. Further, it is costly for the city to operate under successive CRs.