Abortion - Greater Greater Washington

DC mayor Franks gets complaints

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:47:00 EDT

DC residents tried to leave constituent complaints such as the need for Metro funding and pothole repair for Trent Franks, an Arizona Republican who introduced a bill overriding DC's abortion laws. DC Vote decided that if he wants to be DC's mayor, he should provide constituent service. (Fox 5)

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Norton not allowed to represent

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:50:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Congress won't let Eleanor Holmes Norton speak at a hearing on a bill about abortions in DC. DC Vote wants residents to bring pothole complaints and other requests to Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), the bill's sponsor. (DCist)

Comment

Bush threatening veto of Amtrak funding (Jun 10, 2008)
Union Station latest photo flashpoint (Jun 3, 2008)
Norton berates Union Station reps over photography, intermodal plans (Jul 22, 2008)
Voting rights hearing going on now (Jan 27, 2009)
Norton wants to push Park Service to be more responsive (Jul 26, 2011)

And...

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:42:00 EDT

by David Edmondson

DCPS will reopen its only planetarium, which has been used as storage for years. (Examiner) ... Legislative scenarios that would lead to budget autonomy do not look good for abortion rights in the District. (Roll Call) ... Please don't nail signs to trees. (District Curmudgeon)

Comment

Budget deal keeps government open but hurts DC (Apr 9, 2011)
How much federal money does DC actually get? (Jul 5, 2011)
Mayor Gray should keep promises on education funding (Jan 17, 2012)
Online common application may help DC specialized high schools compete for top students (Oct 25, 2011)
DCPS cancels promised arts magnet middle school (Dec 8, 2011)

Women's rights take step backward

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:37:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Virginia will require an intrusive and medically unnecessary procedure to try to deter women who want or need legal abortions. (Slate)

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Who's popular in Virginia

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:20:00 EDT

by David Alpert

61% of Virginians approve of Governor McDonnell. 64% approve of Senator Mark Warner, 47% of Ken Cuccinelli, 55% of strict regulations on abortion clinics. (Post)

Comment

Virginia Senate kills bad anti-livability, WMATA board bills (Feb 22, 2011)
McDonnell trying again to take WMATA seat from NoVA (Mar 31, 2011)
If those who pay for transit should pick the WMATA Board, where are the rider reps? (Jun 18, 2010)
McDonnell transportation plan: Mortgage future, build roads (Dec 10, 2010)
Put your (transportation) money where your mouth is, Governor McDonnell (Apr 26, 2011)

How much federal money does DC actually get?

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:10:00 EDT

by Adam Lewis

Opponents of DC budget autonomy often cite Congressional funding for the city's budget as justification of federal meddling in DC affairs. But it turns out several states rely on federal largesse even more than the District.

Photo by zzzack on Flickr.

A Congressional appropriations subcommittee recently passed a $637 million payment to the District that includes a number of provisions detailing how the city can and cannot spend money.

That bill will now make its way to the House appropriations committee, and then to the entire House and Senate for final passage. At each stage members of Congress may offer amendments to further restrict the District's authority in matters such as needle exchange, abortion, and gun control.

Many members of Congress believe it is their duty to micromanage the District's local budget. Representative Darrel Issa of California, who chairs the House committee that is primarily responsible for the District, has said that Congress has an obligation to oversee how DC spends its money because "federal taxpayer dollars fund a large portion of the District's budget."

Many people readily agree with that statement. It seems to make sense. Of course the federal government pays for the operations of the federal district. This argument is also often cited by opponents of DC voting rights, who say that DC residents shouldn't have a vote in Congress because they are recipients of so much federal government largesse.

Given these facts, it seems prudent to question just exactly what percentage of the District's budget is paid using federal funds. What exactly qualifies as a "large portion"? 50%? 75%?

Not even close. Federal funds in fact make up only about 25% of the District's local budget.

Of course, having the feds pick up the tab for one-quarter of the city government's expenditures is nothing to sneeze at. Certainly that represents a greater percentage of the local budget than any other state government, right?

Wrong.

The US Census Bureau calculates the total federal funds transferred to state and local governments, and the total revenues collected in each state. The latest available figures (2008) reveal that Mississippi leads the nation with 35% of its combined state and local budget revenue coming from the federal government. Louisiana is a close second at 34%, followed by New Mexico and South Dakota at 27% each.

The District government receives the same percentage of federal funds as Alabama, Montana, Vermont, and West Virginia. In all, 8 states receive as much or more aid than the District. The complete list can be found below.

State	Total state & local revenues	Federal funds	Percent
MS	23.6	8.2	35%
LA	44.2	15.1	34%
SD	5.2	1.4	27%
NM	16.9	4.5	27%
AL	31.8	8.1	25%
DC	11.8	3.0	25%
WV	13.7	3.4	25%
MT	8.5	2.1	25%
VT	6.1	1.5	25%
AR	19.6	4.8	24%
ME	10.8	2.6	24%
KY	29.5	7.0	24%
RI	9.4	2.1	22%
WY	9.4	2.1	22%
OK	26.8	5.9	22%
MI	68.6	14.9	22%
MO	42.2	9.1	22%
ID	10.5	2.2	21%
ND	6.7	1.4	21%
OR	29.0	5.9	20%
AZ	47.7	9.7	20%
SC	35.4	7.0	20%
NC	77.2	15.1	20%
MN	45.7	8.9	19%
HI	11.9	2.3	19%
IA	25.0	4.8	19%
GA	73.0	14.0	19%
IN	46.4	8.6	19%
OH	100.9	18.7	19%
TN	48.0	8.8	18%
NY	243.9	44.7	18%
MD	45.4	8.2	18%
WI	41.7	7.4	18%
NH	9.6	1.7	18%
PA	109.7	19.0	17%
TX	196.5	33.0	17%
IL	104.2	17.3	17%
UT	23.0	3.8	17%
KS	22.7	3.7	16%
CA	354.0	57.7	16%
FL	148.0	23.3	16%
NE	17.8	2.8	16%
DE	8.4	1.3	15%
MA	73.5	11.2	15%
WA	63.2	9.3	15%
CT	33.3	4.7	14%
VA	58.2	8	14%
NJ	85.9	11.5	13%
AK	18.8	2.4	13%
CO	47.1	5.6	12%
NV	20.0	2.3	12%

All dollar figures in billions.

Clearly, multiple other states receive a larger percentage of their budget from Congress without any of the oversight that accompanies DC's role as capital city.

Mr. Issa may ultimately be right that Congress has the authority and responsibility to exercise a higher level of oversight regarding the District, but if so it is not because of the false belief that the local government is funded to the hilt with federal dollars.

44 comments

Budget deal keeps government open but hurts DC (Apr 9, 2011)
Being outside a state has its advantages (Jun 7, 2010)
GOP continuing resolution cuts WMATA, DC funds (Feb 12, 2011)
Federal bureaucracy delays WMATA "dedicated funding" (Apr 7, 2010)
Next stop: Metro funding (Aug 3, 2009)

House keeps riders, doesn't add more

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:11:00 EDT

by David Alpert

The House's spending bill keeps the riders prohibiting funding for abortion, needle exchange and medical marijuana, but doesn't (yet) add any more about same-sex marriage or gun control. (Post)

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Budget deal keeps government open but hurts DC

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 13:19:00 EDT

by David Alpert

As most every news outlet and blog has reported, Congress reached a budget deal that keeps the government open but also imposes policies on DC including a ban on any local funding for abortion and extending the school voucher program.

Residents and leaders are understandably frustrated that people who don't represent us sacrifice our self-determination to make a deal. We're trying to find out what became of other DC-specific budget items, especially the federal funds for Metro's safety repairs, but even people who work in Congress don't yet know all the details.

20 comments

Breaking: Gray DOES NOT cut streetcars (Dec 7, 2010)
How good is Congress' word on Metro funding? (Feb 18, 2009)
Next stop: Metro funding (Aug 3, 2009)
GOP continuing resolution cuts WMATA, DC funds (Feb 12, 2011)
McDonnell still refusing to push Congress on Metro funding (Feb 23, 2011)

Legislative shenanigans

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 08:43:00 EDT

by David Alpert

The House GOP knocked Mayor Gray off the witness list for a hearing on DC's voucher program ... Two Maryland delegates unexpectedly skipped a committee vote on gay marriage, stalling the measure ... The Virginia legislature slipped in an anti-abortion bill and some officials are trying to rush through regulations. (Post)

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