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D.C.’s marijuana decriminalization and gun laws are safe in a House bill needed to avoid a government shutdown.
As Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton stated in a release, House riders blocking D.C. from enforcing those laws are not included in the fiscal year 2015 short-term continuing resolution. An amendment introduced by Maryland Rep. Andy Harris blocking the implementation of D.C.’s marijuana decriminalization law was successfully added to the fiscal year 2015 Appropriations bill in July, as was an amendment by Rep. Thomas Massie that blocks D.C from spending local money to enforce gun laws.
“Yesterday’s victory was an important step in our efforts to protect the District’s right to self-government,” Norton said in a release.
The continuing resolution would fund the government through December, thus avoiding another shutdown. According to the Post:
The legislation should win approval in the House by Thursday, sending it to the Senate, where it is expected to pass next week. That would avert a repeat of last October’s 17-day shutdown of the federal government, which was caused by Republicans trying to undo the health-care law.
Even if the government does shutdown, D.C. would be allowed to spend its local funds under a provision included in the fiscal year 2014 appropriations bill.
In another victory for autonomy advocates, the Senate will hold a hearing Monday on a bill to grant D.C. statehood.