The House did just that, passing legislation to repeal D.C. budget autonomy.

Surprise! Congress’ Financial Services Bill screws over D.C.

The House Appropriations Committee yesterday passed a bill authorizing the slice of the District’s budget that comes from the federal government, and once again, Congress is up to its annual shenanigans.

In a statement, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton said she “remains resolute” to get the abortion rider removed from the appropriations bill “once and for all.”

Members of Congress are making their voices heard on two issues that affect D.C.—a school voucher program and needle-exchange programs.

In April 2011, Antonio Davis was arrested during a protest on Capitol Hill. Almost a year later, he faces trial because the doctor-recommended marijuana he uses to mitigate the pain from AIDS registered on a court-mandated drug test.

Abortion clearly remains a controversial social issue for Republicans, but same-sex marriage, needle-exchange programs and medical marijuana don’t seem to be attracting the same ire they once did.

While it probably will do little to curb the fury which has developed over President Barack Obama’s decision to sellout access to abortions for low-income women in Washington, it’s at least some positive news for those seeking D.C. autonomy: HuffPo’s Arthur Delaney reports that the city will still be able to spend local funds on needle-exchange programs.

We’ve noted that the congressional ban on the District’s ability to spend funds on needle exchange programs — which was lifted in 2007, only to be brought back to life by House Republicans in February — can have a negative effect on the health of many around the District. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, however, isn’t mincing words on the subject.

We often talk about D.C. voting rights and self-determination in very academic terms, but not having either can have very real consequences. Today’s closure of one local service provider proves that.