For D.C., the big item in President Obama’s budget, scheduled for release later this morning, is a section supporting budget autonomy for the District.
“It is the administration’s view that the District’s local budget should be authorized to take effect without a separate annual federal appropriations bill,” the Obama White House’s budget says. “The administration will work with Congress and the mayor to amend the D.C. Home Rule Act to provide the District with local budget autonomy.”
The White House’s brief commentary comes after a top Republican in Congress, California Rep. Darrell Issa, expressed interest in developing a budget autonomy measure for D.C. in a bid to immunize the District from federal shutdowns.
Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Chairman Kwame Brown will make a public push for autonomy at a 1:30 p.m. news conference in front of the Wilson Building.
