Thanks, Obama! No really — thanks.

President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget grants D.C. budget and legislative autonomy, “the strongest and most comprehensive call for local D.C. autonomy in a President’s budget ever,” according to a release from Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. Here the narrative* from the budget:

The District of Columbia annually receives direct Federal payments for a number of local programs in recognition of the District’s unique status as the seat of the Federal Government. These General and Special Payments are separate from and in addition to the District’s local budget, which is funded through local revenues. Consistent with the principle of home rule, it is the Administration’s view that the District’s local autonomy should be enhanced and increased. The Administration will work with Congress and the Mayor to provide the District local budget and legislative autonomy, as proposed in the Budget.

“This is the best news in a president’s budget for D.C. funding in several years and for D.C. policy ever,” Norton said in a release. “Residents will be cheered to see the President’s statutory language for both budget and legislative autonomy, and parents and students will be particularly gratified by the strong increase in funding for DCTAG. “

You may be thinking, “Hey! I thought D.C. already had budget autonomy because of that referendum we passed.” That’s debatable.

While D.C. Vote and Council Chair Phil Mendelson contends the budget autonomy referendum is legal, an opinion by the Government Accountability Office says it has “no legal effect.” And while the GAO opinion isn’t legal binding, it may influence how Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey S. DeWitt responds to the referendum as the 2015 budget process begins.

But the D.C. Council is ready to fight for the referendum, as they today passed a resolution to allow city lawyers to defend it in court.

“With the implementation of our new budget law, the District of Columbia is poised to secure a major advancement in our fight for greater self-governance.” DC Vote Executive Director Kimberly Perry said of the resolution in a statement. “Those who seek to undermine the law discount the weight of the injustice we face each day. But, there is still ample time to unify behind the law passed by the people. DC Vote encourages all of our elected and appointed public officials to be part of this historic breakthrough.”

There’s also reason to be cynical about Obama’s gesture, or rather if Democrats will defend it once Republicans take it out of the budget. Indeed, we’ve been through this before.

*This has been corrected.

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