Photo by wallyg

At midnight Monday, the federal government is probably going to shut down because birth control and Obamacare and other dumb stuff. Because of Washington’s unique connection to the federal government, the city would usually shut down with it. Usually being the opportune word, as Mayor Vincent Gray has told Congress he’ll declare every government worker in D.C. essential thus keeping the city government running.

Tomorrow the Council will vote on emergency legislation to do, essentially, the exact same thing. So what’s the point of that? Council Chairman Phil Mendelson answered that question this morning at a legislative meeting briefing.

“I think it’s important that the different branches of government are making their statement together,” he said. “The emergency legislation we’ll have before us tomorrow … is a statement from the Council that we agree with the Mayor.”

“I think it just makes it clear that both the legislative branch and the executive branch are on the same page,” Mendelson continued.

Washington Post reporter Mike DeBonis said sources in the mayor’s office had concerns the bill “muddied the waters,” which Mendelson said he had not heard about during his two meetings last week with Gray.

When asked by DCist about Gray’s opinion on the legislation, his spokesperson Pedro Ribeiro replied, “The Mayor is happy to have their support.” And just to be clear: Ribeiro says the government will be open tomorrow.