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White House Calls House Republican Actions On DC ‘Affront’ To Democracy

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas.

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Steve Birr Vice Reporter
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The White House took aim at Republicans Tuesday in the House of Representatives over amendments to an appropriations bill targeting the District’s budget autonomy.

Officials with the Obama Administration’s Office of Management and Budget issued it’s second statement of administration policy on the issue of D.C. autonomy, slamming Republican amendments to the appropriations bill that rewrite District gun laws. The amendments also aim at preventing District leaders from spending local funds on marijuana legalization and abortion services, reports Washington City Paper.

Officials in D.C. are currently battling Congress over who has final fiscal authority in the city. Officials in the District want to be granted home rule, which is the idea that they can legislate free of Congressional interference.

“The residents of the District and their elected leaders deserve to have the same ability as other U.S. residents and elected leaders to determine how to use their local revenues,” read the White House policy statement. “Such authority is fundamental to a well-functioning democracy and the denial of such authority is an affront to the residents and leaders of the District.”

The Republican amendments are meant to challenge amendments introduced by Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.’s non-voting representative in the House, which seeks to protect District home rule. Norton thanked the White House Wednesday for their support. Republicans continue to argue that attempts to budget free of Congressional influence are unconstitutional.

“Once again, the White House has in strong terms opposed all undemocratic interferences into D.C.’s local affairs by unaccountable Members of Congress, and we are grateful,” Norton said in a statement. “I particularly want to make Republicans own up to the anti-home-rule riders they have planted in the bill when it comes to the House floor.  I am asking the Rules Committee to make my amendments in order so they can be voted on the House floor.”

One of Norton’s amendments would write the 2013 referendum into federal law, solidifying the District’s ability to spend funds without Congressional approval. The second amendment eliminates a Congressional rider barring the D.C. Council from using unspent local funds to regulate legalized marijuana, which would open up the possibility of broader legalization in the city. The third amendment would eliminate a similar rider which bans the city from spending local funds on abortion.

The District passed a budget autonomy amendment in 2013 eliminating a measure from the city charter requiring them to wait for congressional approval before spending money from their budget. The amendment says the city can start spending after a 30 day review period upon submission to Congress in which they can only cast an up or down vote approving the budget. (RELATED: Battle Over DC Budget Escalating As Obama Threatens Veto)

The U.S. District Court struck the amendment down, however the D.C. Superior Court ruled in March the District has a right to spend freely. The D.C. Council argues the judge’s ruling is all the approval it needs to defy Congress.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie is proposing eliminating gun-free zones in the District and passing a law allowing for concealed and open carry of firearms. Representative Gary Palmer introduced a separate amendment stopping the District from spending local funds on abortion services.

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