DC COPE Report: Rand Paul Scuttles DC Budget Bill with "Right to Work" Amendment
Thursday, June 28, 2012
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) derailed the DC Budget
Autonomy Act yesterday when he launched what DC
Vote called “a full-scale assault on DC Home
Rule.” In addition to controversial
amendments regarding guns and abortions, Rand
proposed extending anti-labor “right to
work” laws to the District with an amendment
providing that “membership in a labor
organization may not be applied as a
precondition for employment” in the District.
“Labor must be prepared to stand our ground
everywhere,” said Metro Council
President Jos Williams “They’re coming
after us, even in D.C. and we would rather see
the bill killed than accept any of the
amendments.” DC Vote Director Ilir Zherka
said the advocacy group was “deeply
offended” by Senator Paul’s move. The
Budget Autonomy Act, which enjoys strong
support from Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton
(D-D.C.) and other local officials, would let
the city spend its own money once the mayor and
D.C. Council have agreed on a budget without
waiting for Congress to grant approval.
Scheduled to be marked-up on Wednesday, the
bill was pulled after negotiations between
Democrats and Sen. Paul’s office failed to
produce any agreement on his proposed
amendments. -
image from DC Vote's petition
for budget autonomy