[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 13, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H4953-H4954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DON'T TREAD ON D.C.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor to alert Members who 
interfere with the local funds of a local jurisdiction, not your own, 
in this case the District of Columbia, that this year, it will be 
highlighted in your own district.
  The debt limit discussions spotlight our differences, but one idea 
always has enjoyed the broadest support in this country and in this 
House. The Federal Government does not interfere with local matters, 
especially local funds not raised by the Federal Government.
  The Framers formed a federal government only after trying a 
confederation, but it became clear that there were some matters of 
overarching concern that could be arbitrated only by a true national 
government. But, they were at great pains to reserve maximum freedom at 
the local level where people live.
  Nothing is more local than the local funds a jurisdiction raises on 
its own from its own local taxpayers. You raise the funds, you get to 
say how they will be spent.
  The principle applies to all. No second class citizens on local 
matters, especially local funds, and that includes

[[Page H4954]]

the 600,000 residents of the District of Columbia.
  Congress ceded its power to run the District of Columbia in 1973 when 
it passed the Home Rule Act. It still approves the D.C. budget, but it 
does not change that budget.
  Members of Congress, unaccountable to the electorate of the District 
of Columbia, have no right to use the budget process to direct spending 
away from matters that may be controversial to you but not to our own 
local jurisdiction. That is tea party doctrine; that is a principle of 
the Democratic Party.
  License was taken to put controversial attachments on the 2011 budget 
deal and the world watched as the entire executive and legislative 
branches of the local government here were arrested in an act of civil 
disobedience.
  This time a coalition of national organizations with millions of 
members are taking preventive action, and I quote from a letter all of 
you will receive: ``Should lawmakers continue to advance attacks on 
D.C.'s autonomy, we will make certain that our members in every 
district know how their representatives are spending their time in 
Washington, meddling in the affairs of D.C. residents rather than 
focusing on the Nation's true pressing business.''
  Meddle with D.C.'s local funds, we will pull the covers off in your 
own districts.
  Congress, this year ``don't tread on D.C.''

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