Issue Position: Norton Strategy for D.C. Budget Autonomy Almost Worked

Issue Position

Until the last days of the lame-duck session in December, Norton's D.C. budget autonomy bill was on track for enactment. Norton successfully used an unusual procedure to get her bill included in the D.C. appropriations bill, which was passed by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. Norton had convinced the authorizing committee to waive its jurisdiction over the bill to prevent gun and other anti-home rule attachments. She gave special priority to budget autonomy, second only to D.C. voting rights, because unfettered jurisdiction over local taxpayer-raised funds is the essence of home rule and because of the multiple benefits to government operations and to the District's finances. However, Congress decided on a Continuing Resolution instead of regular appropriations bills.

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