Dick Durbin: “as a member of the DC Appropriations Subcommittee, I thank Senator DeWine and Senator Landrieu and their staffs for…”

“as a member of the DC Appropriations Subcommittee, I thank Senator DeWine and Senator Landrieu and their staffs for their hard work on this important legislation. This is never an easy bill. I have been ranking member of this subcommittee in years gone by. It appears every Senator or Congressman, whoever in their weakest moment or wildest dreams wanted to be a mayor or a member of a city council, decides they can play the role when it comes to the DC appropriations bill. Thank goodness for Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton who has stood fast year after weary year, beating off every assault on home rule with some success and a few setbacks. But this bill is a tough one. It is always a tough one. Members of Congress will do on this bill what they wouldn't dare do in their own districts or State. They will force on the District of Columbia things they would never even consider doing at home. They think it is easy. This is an area of America which, sadly, does not have a vote in Congress nor in the Senate. Frankly, they don't have to answer to the voters of the State. So when it comes to experimenting and doing what you would never suggest at home, it is usually the DC appropriations bill that becomes that laboratory, that political playground. Senators DeWine and Landrieu, with very few exceptions, have done their level best to make certain this year's appropriations bill did not deteriorate into that particular situation.”