Photo by photopete.

We spend a lot of time bemoaning and examining the complicated relationship between the District and Congress. But our status is such that even quibbles between congressional committees can hold up our budget.

Ben Pershing reported last week that a House vote on the District’s annual appropriations bill had been pushed back “indefinitely” because of language in the bill which would ban the implementation of a requirement for individuals to purchase health insurance. Seems like the House’s Ways and Means Committee thinks that they should have been consulted about the ban before it was written into law, and so the measure was pulled from the docket.

Congress goes on recess for the summer in August, and so there is a chance that the bill might not be considered until September, when the legislature will get back to the business of reviewing everything our local government passes.

But what about the autonomy compromise put forward by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) in May which would lend the District some autonomy by separating Congress’ votes on locally raised and federally appropriated budget funds? A representative from Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office says that’s still a long way off, too.

“In regards to Congressman Issa’s proposal, discussions are continuing to see what is possible,” said a Norton spokesperson.