House Passes Bill to Fund D.C. Government Through Dec. 15

The House passed a temporary measure to fund the Washington, D.C. government late Wednesday afternoon.

Members conducted a voice vote, which means they do not need to tally the votes.

The bill would fund the D.C. government through Dec. 15 at current levels if the Senate were to pass the bill and President Barack Obama were to sign it. But D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton said she doesn't have high hopes that the bill will pass the Democrat-controlled Senate.

She told News4's Tom Sherwood that while she wants to see the city funded, she recognizes that the Senate Democrats are looking to present a united front.

Democrats have said they don't want to pass piecemeal legislation and are pushing for a full continuing resolution to reopen the federal government. The House rejected a similar bill late Tuesday.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray had declared all local D.C. government workers essential in advance of the federal shutdown, keeping city services such as trash collection and parking enforcement running, and libraries and DMVs open.

Congress oversees the city and must approve the city's spending, although it collects taxes from local residents. The district has about two weeks' worth of money already authorized by Congress, but could have to shut down services if the government shutdown drags on.

"We raise locally almost $7 billion a year to spend on our services, and for us to be prohibited from spending that money and having to close down the government because Congress can't agree with the president is ridiculous," D.C.'s Finance and Revenue Committee Chairman Jack Evans said Monday.

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