Senator Joseph Lieberman has introduced a budget autonomy bill that would give Washington, D.C. more control over its municipal budget. On Tuesday, Connecticut Independent Lieberman was joined by Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii to introduce the District of Columbia Budget Autonomy Act of 2012.
The new bill would permit the District to spend its local tax dollars without the approval of Congress and to set its own fiscal year. The bill would also guarantee that the city government could continue functioning amid a federal shutdown. Leaders in the District praised the bill and Mayor Vincent Gray called the bill a “bold step.” A similar bill was drafted last year by Republican Representative Darrell Issa of California, but was denied by local officials because it restricted the city’s ability to fund abortions.
