Norton Trying Several Approaches to Ensure DC Does Not Shut Down

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who is taking extra precautions to ensure that the city remains open if the federal government shuts down, today thanked President Obama for including in his fiscal year 2012 short-term continuing resolution (CR) submission her request to authorize the District of Columbia to spend its local funds for the entire fiscal year. Norton, however, expressed disappointment that the CR released by the House late yesterday evening does not include this authority. This morning, at Norton's request, Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL) of the House Rules Committee offered her amendment to allow the District to continue operating using its own local funds in case of a federal government shutdown. The amendment failed on a party line vote. Norton also has pending H.R. 980, a bill to keep the District open whenever the federal government shuts down. Norton is now calling on Senate Democratic leadership to amend the CR to give the city the year-long spending authority. Although a federal government shutdown is less likely in fiscal year 2012 than last year, Norton is taking extra precautions to avoid the increased costs to the District of operating under successive CRs and to avoid another possible D.C. government shutdown like the city faced last year.

"I am grateful to President Obama for requesting that the city be given the basic right to spend its local funds for the full fiscal year in the short-term CR, for the rest of the fiscal year, instead of becoming embroiled in another federal fight over federal spending that has nothing to do with the city's local funds," said Norton. "Bad history is repeating itself as House Republicans prevent the District from spending its local funds for the entire fiscal year for no apparent reason, even though the city balanced and passed its budget several months ago. However, I am continuing to work with Senate Democrats to ensure the District realizes the budget freedom it deserves under home rule."

Norton said that she was relieved that, under an agreement she reached several years ago with Republican appropriators, the first CR will at least again allow the District to spend at next year's level pursuant to the District's 2012 budget. This reform rescued the city from the hardship of running a city at the previous year's spending levels. However, the District's authority to spend local funds expires on the same date as the CR, which would result in a District government shutdown if the federal government shuts down.

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