Statement on Elimination of Statehood Funding in Mayor’s Budget
The mayor’s proposed budget eliminates what little funding there was for statehood initiatives. You can read more in this Washington Times article. (link)
I’ve released the following statement on this, which I hope you’ll share:
“For many years Congress mandated that the District couldn’t spend our local tax dollars to lobby for statehood or expanded home rule. With those restrictions now removed, it’s painfully ironic that the Mayor’s proposed budget eliminates what modest funding there was for these efforts. If the final budget lacks any resources to fund statehood advocacy efforts, the Mayor and the Council are essentially embracing the status quo and sending a signal that we’ve given up the fight. ”
- Mike Panetta, U.S. “Shadow” Representative (D-DC)
Now, if only the people who got all worked up over proposed taxes on yoga were as passionate about this issue, we’d be the 51st state sometime next week. 
