Serrano

While D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton has cautiously approached the idea of a citywide referendum on D.C. budget autonomy, one of her colleagues isn’t leaving any doubt where he stands.

In a press release sent out today, Rep. José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) fully backed the proposed referendum, which was introduced by D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson earlier this week:

“I have continually said that the District of Columbia must be allowed to spend its own local tax dollars in the ways that it sees fit without meddling from Congress. The heart of that statement is the belief that the people they elect should make decisions for them and not Members of Congress from other places. No other place in the nation has its local budget dictated by Congress.

“By moving to conduct a referendum and amend their charter, the Council will be working within the powers it has been given by the Home Rule Act. Through this process, we will see the direct expression of the DC people’s desire for more direct control over their own affairs. This is democracy at its very core. The process that they have laid out is transparent and fair, and should be respected by Congress once it has taken place.

“As the referendum process moves forward, I also hope Congress continues to move towards granting budget autonomy and a vote in Congress to the District. I do not think that the expression of the popular will through a legitimate process should hinder those efforts. We cannot hide the inability of Congress to move forward behind procedural questions about the referendum—especially questions that would never be raised if citizens of another jurisdiction in our nation were to take a referendum about their local affairs.

“It is long past time for the citizens of the District of Columbia to have full local control and a vote in their national government. I applaud the City Council for taking this bold step forward and look forward to supporting their efforts going forward.”

Serrano has fought for D.C. budget autonomy in the past, so much so that in 2010 the D.C. Council recognized him with a ceremonial resolution.