D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. Photo by IntangibleArts

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton is certainly parsing her words when it comes to a new proposal to let D.C. residents vote on amending the Home Rule Charter to include a provision increasing the city’s control over its own money.

Yesterday Norton seemed less-than-enthused with the idea, hinting that it was best to allow Congress to debate and pass a bill offering D.C. more budget autonomy instead. (Albeit with strings attached.) Today, Norton spokesman Scott McCrary clarified Norton’s original statements—somewhat.

“The Congresswoman hopes and expects D.C. residents to join her in voting ‘yes’ for budget autonomy when the issue appears on the ballot. She continues to pursue a budget autonomy bill in Congress in order to preserve the bipartisan congressional support that has been building and that may prove necessary, considering the many difficult issues raised by the referendum, and to preserve the city’s options on other D.C. matters,” he said.

“She does not intend to give opponents of budget autonomy a roadmap by discussing matters that could be used against the District. Whether through legislation or referendum, there is no clear or easy path to budget autonomy. Any approach will require active community support.”

Basically, Norton doesn’t oppose a referendum, but she’s not crossing her fingers that it’ll work. As such, she’ll stay quiet on it and focus her efforts on getting a budget autonomy bill through Congress.