Councilmember McDuffie’s Statement on Today’s Ruling on Budget Autonomy

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2016

Contact: Dionne Calhoun, 202-297-0152, dcalhoun@dccouncil.us

Washington, D.C. – Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D – Ward 5) released the following statement today regarding the Budget Autonomy ruling by the Superior Court.

“On April 27, 2014 I joined Chairman Phil Mendelson at Superior Court to announce that the Council of the District of Columbia was suing to enforce the will of the residents of the District. As Judge Holeman noted in his opinion “the citizens of the District overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for the Budget Autonomy Act, voting to adopt it by an 82-to-18 percent margin.”

“Today, almost two years later, the will of the people is vindicated. Judge Holeman’s ruling means that, finally, the District can spend its own local dollars without an appropriation from Congress. I want to thank all the residents, my colleagues, and all the advocates who stood firmly in support of the District’s rights. Though this is an important step on the path, we must continue to push for voting representation and statehood.”

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