A former Republican congressman says he doesn't expect Congress to block an effort by the District of Columbia to grant itself control over its municipal budget.
The D.C. Council has proposed a charter amendment to allow the city to spend local tax dollars without Congressional approval. The proposal is an end-run around Congress, which would have to proactively block the amendment.
Former congressman Tom Davis of Virginia said at a hearing Friday that he doesn't think that will happen. Davis says there's broad support in Congress to give the district control over its municipal funds, "but nothing seems to happen." He says he doubts that Congress will try "in any meaningful way" to overturn the measure.
Former mayor Anthony Williams had been scheduled to testify Friday but did not.
