WASHINGTON (AP) - Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell says he supports budget autonomy for the District of Columbia.
Republican Rep. Darrell Issa (EYE-suh), chairman of the House committee that oversees the district, has proposed allowing the district to spend its local tax dollars without approval by Congress. Such a bill would allow the district government to continue running in the event of a federal shutdown and let local officials set their own fiscal year.
McDonnell, a Republican, voiced his support in a letter this month to Issa and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. He says he's especially concerned about the impact of a federal shutdown on the Metro transit system and the more than 100,000 Virginians who work in the district. He says budget autonomy would lead to better long-term planning and regional cooperation.
