Why are you reversing position on budget autonomy?
Mayor Bowser has always been in favor of budget autonomy. Mayor Bowser supported it as a Council Member and supports the will of the voters as expressed in the budget autonomy referendum.
Do you think the Court of Appeals will agree with you? The pro-budget autonomy position lost in the District Court.
We make the argument that the case is no longer properly before the Court. The Mayor will fight to support the voters’ expressed desire for the District to exert more control over our finances.
Why do you support budget autonomy?
Mayor Bowser was elected Mayor by the voters of DC, who voted for budget autonomy by a resounding 83%. It’s Mayor Bowser’s job to support the will of the people, and Washingtonians recognize that budget autonomy is in our best financial interests.
What would happen if the Budget Autonomy Amendment goes into effect?
It will be good for the city – for our credit rating, and for our planning purposes. We’ll be able to enact our own budget and appropriations and send it up to Congress for passive review as we do with other legislation. If Congress does not act, our budget could go into effect in weeks, not months. Without budget autonomy, our budget gets folded into an appropriations bill that must be affirmatively passed by Congress.
We have to wait for Congress to pass its appropriations bill – supposedly by October 1. Our budgets from prior years get folded into continuing resolutions, and thus we are threatened because we are linked to federal shutdowns.
How does your decision affect this year’s budget?
Right now, it’s to be determined. The case is working its way through the courts. Until the lower court decision is vacated, we will continue to follow the procedure that has bound the District to the Congressional appropriations process.
How does budget autonomy fit into your views on statehood?
Budget autonomy is consistent with the Mayor’s support for statehood. The District took the Budget Autonomy Referendum to the Board of Elections, and the people voted on it. It was sent to Congress and Congress did not disturb it. Now we’re going through the courts, and proceeding in accord with the law. The District has shown our financial maturity; we’re ready for budget autonomy.