LWVUS joined DC autonomy advocates in urging the Senate to vote NO on a disapproval resolution that would further encroach on DC’s right to manage its own budget.
February 4, 2026
Dear Senator,
We are writing to you to urge you to vote NO on S.J.Res. 102/H.J.Res. 142 . This disapproval resolution is an anti-democratic overreach into local governance issues and would further encroach on DC’s right to manage its own budget. This resolution would destabilize DC’s finances and impoverish DC’s children.
- First and foremost, DC deserves the same autonomy over our local taxes that all 50 states exercise. Ten states have decoupled from various provisions in the OBBBA for their own various reasons (CA, CO, DE, DC, IL, HI, ME, MD, MI, PA, RI), because different jurisdictions face different economic concerns. DC must have the power to regulate our local taxes. The disapproval resolution is the very definition of TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
- Second, DC’s bill raises 1 in 5 of our children out of poverty, which will create a more equitable future for our capital and contribute to public safety.
- Third, if Congress denies DC hundreds of millions of our revenue, DC likely will face another bond rating downgrade as happened last year after the continuing resolution slashed $1.1 billion out of our budget. DC has excellent financial management and balances its budget every year, but federal interference in the stability of DC revenue lowers confidence that DC can meet its financial obligations.
- Fourth, it is already tax season. Tax forms have been created using DC’s new tax structure. Reversing changes in the tax code at this moment would create chaos for DC residents.
This resolution would undermine priorities set by the duly elected DC Council. We thank the Senate for unanimously passing the DC Local Funds Act last year to prevent a similar financial hit on DC’s budget. We, the undersigned national organizations, urge you and all Senators to be strong allies to DC and oppose SJR 102.
We have seen what the Trump administration’s interference in local law governance has done so far. Communities have been terrorized by federal agents’ race-based targeting of residents and National Guard soldiers carrying weapons of war in DC streets.
This bill is only the most imminent threat facing DC. Many more bills and appropriations riders are in the pipeline. In solidarity with the people of the District of Columbia and our national democracy, we, the undersigned, call on you to side with DC and oppose every bill and rider that seeks to prohibit, restrict, or undo DC’s laws, and co-sponsor and support all bills that seek to expand DC's local power.
DC needs more local power — not more attacks. The 700,000 people who live in DC deserve the same rights and dignity as the people in your state. No democracy will be able to function in the United States if the capital city is under military control, cannot pass or enact its own basic laws, and is subject to anti-democratic interference against the will of the people.
Thank you for your attention and swift action on this matter.
Sincerely,
Free DC