Congressional Hearing Wed.

 on D.C. Ability to handle its own Budget and Legislation without Congressional Oversight

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who serves on the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia, said that a legislative hearing entitled, "Greater Autonomy for the Nation's Capital," will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., in room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Witnesses are D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty; D.C. City Council Chair Vincent Gray; Dr. Natwar Gandhi, D.C. Chief Financial Officer; former D.C. Control Board Chair Alice M. Rivlin, currently a Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, and Director, Greater Washington Research, Brookings Institution (former Congressional Budget Office director); and former Corporation Council Walter Smith, currently Executive Director, D.C. Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.

Norton said that Alice Rivlin in particular is in "a unique position to offer an expert and objective opinion on whether the District is able to handle its own budget and legislative affairs without congressional oversight."

The hearing will address the merits of two bills the Congresswoman has introduced this year: H.R. 1045, the "District of Columbia Budget Autonomy Act of 2009," and H.R. 960, the "District of Columbia Legislative Autonomy Act of 2009," which together would eliminate congressional review of D.C.'s budget and laws.

The Congresswoman also has pending before Democratic leadership a variety of approaches to pass the D.C.  Voting Rights Act of 2009 without a dangerous amendment that would wipe out D.C. gun laws.

Who: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and D.C. Officials

What: "Greater Autonomy for the Nation's Capital" hearing

When: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m.

Where: 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building