Photo by jagosaurus

We all think it, and it’s nice to see that an overwhelming majority of Americans seem to agree.

According to a nationwide survey commissioned by DC Vote, 71 percent of Americans believe that D.C. should be able to spend its money when and how it wants. The survey of 1,007 adults found that budget autonomy enjoys support across partisan and geographic lines, too. Seventy-two percent of Republicans agreed that D.C. should be able to spend its own money without restrictions; support was highest among women, independent voters and those in the Midwest, who sided with budget autonomy to the tune of 74 percent. Only respondents with a high school degree or less seemed soft on the issue—only 60 percent of them sided with D.C. Additionally, 78 percent of respondents said that Congress shouldn’t interfere in local affairs.

Currently, the city’s annual budget—the majority of which is funded by local dollars—goes to the Hill, where members of Congress sign off on it. The arrangement has angered local leaders since the city’s budget has often been delayed by partisan squabbles on other issues.

Budget autonomy has been the focus of the movement’s energy since last April, when Mayor Vince Gray, six members of the D.C. Council and three-dozen residents were arrested during a protest on Capitol Hill. Progress has been made, though it comes with a catch—under a proposal floated by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and supported by a number of prominent Republicans, D.C. would gain the right to spend its money on everything but abortions.

DC Vote is organizing a lobby day tomorrow to push for D.C. budget autonomy, starting with a breakfast with Gray and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton at 8:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Building (100 Maryland Avenue, NE) and followed by visits to a number of Hill offices.

The last national poll on D.C. voting rights was conducted in 2005, and found that 82 percent of Americans agreed that D.C. residents should have some sort of representation in the House and Senate.