Norton Says Republican Budget Sets Course for Possible Government Shutdown, Underscoring Urgency of D.C. Budget Autonomy

Statement

The fiscal year 2013 budget released today by House Republicans "could lead to a federal government, and therefore a District of Columbia government, shutdown on October 1, adding new urgency to our ongoing, bipartisan efforts for D.C. budget autonomy," Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said. The Republican budget establishes a lower top-line discretionary spending level for fiscal year 2013 than House Republicans agreed to last summer in the Budget Control Act to increase the debt limit. "By reneging on the deal, House Republicans have set up a fight over fiscal year 2013 spending, which could leave the D.C. government caught in the crossfire once again," Norton said. She explained that the House appropriators will be forced to adhere to the House budget level of $1.028 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal year 2013, while Senate appropriators have said they will stick to the higher level agreed to in the Budget Control Act, $1.047 trillion. "Six months away from the start of the fiscal year, the House Republican budget sets us on an ominous path," Norton said. "We must take action now to prevent a replay of the circumstances that led to near-shutdowns of the District government last April and December. With the recent budget autonomy proposal by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA), we intend to permanently remove the cloud of a D.C. government shutdown."

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