Congress may block DC government from spending its own money

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Congress may block DC government from spending its own money

Ben Nuckols, Associated Press

Updated 4:30 pm, Thursday, May 12, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are working on legislation that would block the District of Columbia government from spending its local tax dollars without approval by Congress, a subcommittee chairman said Thursday.

Rep. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican who chairs the subcommittee on government operations, said lawmakers are seeking to clarify the requirement that the city submit its local budget to Congress, as it has during more than 40 years of self-rule.

City leaders planned to go ahead and spend local tax revenue this year without taking that step. Meadows warned at a hearing Thursday that if they went through with that plan, city officials could be subject to civil penalties and even criminal prosecution under a federal law that prevents agencies from spending money they don't have.

House Speaker Paul Ryan opposes the city's efforts to take control of its budget, with a spokeswoman calling it an "attempt to strip Congress of its Article 1 powers."


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Congress-asking-if-DC-government-can-spend-its-7463732.php

[KamaAina]

1. But wait! There's more!

Even though the District government gets roughly three-quarters of its $13 billion budget from local funds, Congress treats it like a federal agency, which means it can't start spending the money until it gets the OK from Capitol Hill.

That requirement was spelled out in the 1973 bill that gave District residents the power to elect their own mayor and council. City leaders tried to change it through a novel legal strategy, putting a referendum on the ballot to amend the city charter. The referendum was approved overwhelmingly in 2013. It was challenged in court, but after a judge ruled in the city's favor earlier this year, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser said the city would no longer submit its budget to Congress. A separate legal challenge is still spending (sic).

The arcane issue of how and when the city can spend its money is a big deal to advocates of self-rule, who see Congressional review as an unnecessary intrusion into local affairs. The city government has been forced to close during federal shutdowns even though it had plenty of money to continue operating.

[elleng]

2. 'The arcane issue of how and when the city can spend its money is a big deal to advocates of

self-rule,' imagine that ARCANE, how the District spends it OWN MONEY!!!

[IronLionZion]

3. I bet they've been getting a ton of property tax revenue

from the completely insane rise in housing costs and redevelopment.

[houston16revival]

4. DC should sue

This is a one-man one-vote violation

not to mention private property rights (since DC is not a state)

and theft by unlawful taking

and illegal eminent domain

[blackspade]

5. So, DC is Congress' fiefdom?

How 12th century of them....