The District’s quest for financial independence from Congress might still be within reach even after D.C. leaders last week rejected a budget autonomy proposal because of a restriction on abortion funding. D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton said in a statement the bill proposed last week by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., “is probably the best chance the District has for getting budget autonomy in the near future,” and she and “Issa agreed that they have come too far to give up on getting a final bill” before Congress.

The bill would grant D.C. nearly full control over its budget by giving the District the authority to spend its own funds after the local budget has been passed by the city council and approved by the mayor.