D.C. makes final plea to avoid $1B in cuts in government shutdown bill
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D.C. leaders and activists are pleading with U.S. Senate offices to avoid $1.1 billion in cuts from the city's budget.
Why it matters: The House GOP muscled through a bill late Tuesday to avoid a government shutdown, but the bill would force local spending cuts that the mayor's office says would impact police staffing, public schools, bus and rail service, and first responders.
The big picture: The bill treats the District as a federal agency and requires the city to revert to funding levels from the previous fiscal year for the next six months.
State of play: Mayor Muriel Bowser yesterday called Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who said the D.C. language "came as a surprise to me," per HuffPost.
- "That was not a provision that was in the Senate bill or anything that we advocated for," said Collins, who chairs the appropriations committee.
- Council members including Brianne Nadeau joined a group of D.C. activists visiting Senate offices yesterday.
D.C.'s chances of averting the cuts dimmed after the bill passed the House, but the city has some hope left to bet on.
- Democrats are playing hardball, willing to risk a shutdown to negotiate a better deal with Republicans — and that would also avoid D.C.'s budget cuts.
- Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine says his fellow Democrats could rally behind a 30-day spending bill proposed by Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington that would leave D.C.'s budget alone.
Yes, but: Any changes would need House approval, complicating a precarious process to avoid the government from shutting down late Friday.
- Bowser signaled to Republicans that their cuts would detract from President Trump's desire to improve and beautify the District.
- The funds in question are local taxpayer dollars — not federal subsidies.
What's ahead: Activists are inviting parents and kids to join them in protest at 10am Thursday: "Kids off from school on Thursday? Let's have recess at the Senate Hart Building as lawmakers consider DC's future."