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DC One Step Closer to Budget Freedom
Council Bill Would Ease Congressional Control Over DC's Local Dollars
For more information contact: James Jones, Communications Director
202.462.6000 x12 office / 202.557.4864 mobile / jjones@dcvote.org
December 4, 2012
The DC Council unanimously passed emergency legislation this evening that will allow DC citizens to decide the question of Congressional control over local DC tax dollars, bringing the District one step closer to budget freedom. This historic legislation is a major step toward full self-determination.
The Local Budget Autonomy Referendum Act would allow D.C. voters to amend the Home Rule Charter to establish greater budget autonomy for the District. 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.
DC Vote, which advocated for the legislation along with DC Appleseed, strongly supports the bill (B 19-993) and commends Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and the entire council for their strong leadership. The council action means the budget freedom referendum is on track to appear on the April 23, 2013 special election ballot.
Passage of the legislation today continues progress towards a "second track" in our fight. DC Vote continues to press for action on Capitol Hill, where DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mayor Vincent C. Gray have built bi-partisan support for DC budget autonomy legislation.
DC Vote is encouraged by these efforts, but some in Congress remain committed to placing noxious amendments on the DC budget autonomy legislation that have prevented progress. DC residents have waited too long for budget freedom. The referendum will give DC residents a second track in this fight.
Support for the budget freedom referendum continues to build. Today, DC Vote delivered to the Mayor and the DC Council a statement of support from 31 diverse national and local organizations that are backing the referendum bill and a yes vote on the referendum in the spring.
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