Virginia’s Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell says he supports a controversial plan to grant the District budget autonomy in exchange for congressionally imposed restrictions like limits on taxpayer-funded abortions.
In a letter obtained by The Washington Examiner, McDonnell told House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, also a Virginia Republican, and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., that he is concerned about the effects of a federal government shutdown on Virginians who commute into the capital.
“When Congress does not pass the D.C. appropriations bill… the city’s budget remains on hold,” McDonnell wrote. “This problem is exacerbated if a shutdown occurs because the District’s budget, needing congressional approval to become effective, is also shut down.”
McDonnell added that budgetary independence would benefit the entire capital region.
“It is in both Virginia’s and Maryland’s best interest that the District be able to operate without interruption, resulting in the financial certainty that will enable long term planning and better regional cooperation,” McDonnell wrote in the letter dated Feb. 9.
Last year, Issa, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, proposed giving D.C. the authority to approve its own budget without needing an endorsement from Capitol Hill. But Issa added a provision that would have mandated limits on abortions in the District, drawing the ire of city leaders. Issa subsequently yanked his proposal and said he’d revisit the issue later.
Earlier this month, President Obama said in his budget that the White House would work with Congress to secure budget autonomy for D.C., a change from last year when the president said he merely supported the change.
