Congressional Hearing on D.C. Autonomy Set for Wednesday

The fight for D.C. voting rights has always been two-fold. On one front, the city has demanded representation in Congress, while on the other it has fought for greater autonomy in local budgetary and legislative matters. While the struggle for congressional representation often gets more press, tomorrow a hearing on Capitol Hill will focus on how better to allow the city to make decisions for itself.

The hearing before the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia Subcommittee starts at 10 a.m. in 2154 Rayburn and will include testimony from Mayor Adrian Fenty, D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray, District CFO Natwar M. Gandhi, Brookings Institution economist Alice Rivlin and D.C. Appleseed's Walter Smith. With local same-sex marriage opponents pledging to ask Congress to intervene against the city, issues surrounding home rule are more timely than ever. Subcommittee member D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton will of course also be on hand to help Chair Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) shepherd the proceedings.