Norton Thanks Cantor for Budget Autonomy Support and Notes Unprecedented Momentum

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Taking note of more good news for the District of Columbia budget autonomy proposal by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today expressed her appreciation to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) for his support of budget autonomy for the District. In an editorial in The Washington Post today, Cantor's spokeswoman said that he is "certainly willing to work with the District toward its goal of budget autonomy..." This is the first time that a member of the House Republican leadership has publicly indicated support for budget autonomy.

"The President, the House Majority Leader, the chairman of the committee of jurisdiction and our neighboring Republican governor, in short order, have all publically expressed their support for D.C. budget autonomy," Norton said. "I appreciate the support of Majority Leader Cantor, who is familiar with our city and its central role in our region. His support adds to the momentum and our hopes for budget autonomy this year. I look forward to working with Majority Leader Cantor and the other House leaders to secure the District's right to enact and enforce its own budget, like every other jurisdiction in the country."

Last month, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) sent a letter to Cantor and Issa expressing support for the Issa proposal to give the District budget autonomy, which mirrors much of Norton's own budget autonomy bill. McDonnell spelled out the effect on the region of requiring congressional approval of D.C.'s local budget, including on Metro and vital District services that 100,000 commuters from Virginia depend upon, and the domino effect throughout the region of a threatened or actual D.C. government shutdown as a result of unrelated federal spending fights. In the letter, McDonnell urged the two House leaders to work to pass budget autonomy. Issa has said that he will continue working on budget autonomy until "it becomes law."

President Obama's fiscal year 2013 budget, released last month, kept a promise he personally made to Norton on January 16 to work to help pass a D.C. budget autonomy bill, when the President and Mrs. Obama invited her to the President's box at the Kennedy Center for the Martin Luther King Jr. concert. The President's budget says, "The Administration will work with Congress and the Mayor to pass legislation to amend the D.C. Home Rule Act to provide the District with local budget autonomy."

Published: March 2, 2012

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