Former Mayor Williams, Tom Davis, Alice Rivlin to Discuss Importance of DC Budget Freedom Bill at Nov. 9 DC Council Hearing

For more information contact: James Jones, Communications Director
202.462.6000 x12 office / 202.557.4864 mobile / jjones@dcvote.org

November 8, 2012

Three well-known advocates for greater DC democracy will lead off a DC Council hearing on the Local Budget Autonomy Act of 2012.

Former DC Mayor Anthony Williams, former Republican Congressman Tom Davis, and former Federal Reserve Board member Alice Rivlin will endorse local budget control for the District. The bill, (19-993), provides for a voter referendum to amend the Home Rule Act and give DC greater budget autonomy. Under the bill, once the DC Council and the Mayor approve the spending of the city’s local revenues in its local budget, the city would no longer have to wait indefinitely for Congress to pass affirmative legislation approving the budget.

Untangling the District’s budget from the federal appropriations process is an idea whose time has come. The city has produced a balanced budget each of the last 11 years, building up cash reserves and dramatically improving its credit rating. Meanwhile, federal and state officials struggle with putting their finances in order. The lack of budget autonomy imposes significant costs upon the city. Every time the Federal Government threatens a shutdown, the District government is forced to spend city funds preparing for a potential city shutdown. The routine months-long delays in Congress approving DC’s local budget cost the city millions in extra interest charges and undermine sound fiscal planning.

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