Mayor Bowser proposed a budget the people and Congress can approve. Now it’s the Council’s turn. An executive’s budget is never accepted as proposed.
That is fine. But D.C. does not have budget autonomy, so unfortunately, Congress could have the last word. I urge the mayor and City Council to work closely on this year’s budget.
Considering the threat to home rule based on Congress overturning the criminal code, it will be important to have a rational, balanced budget.
Like it or not, and I don’t like it, Congress has legislative and budget oversight of D.C. Next time Democrats control both houses of Congress, we should ask them to change that; even if they won’t do the right thing, and give us full statehood.