Pubdate: Fri, 27 Feb 2015
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.

POT FIGHT HEATING UP IN CAPITAL

WASHINGTON (AP) - The new mayor of the nation's capital was hoping to 
get along fine with Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Instead, they've threatened her with prison and she has accused them 
of acting like bullies in a showdown over legal pot that could end up 
costing District of Columbia residents dearly.

Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser defied threats from Congress by 
implementing a voter-approved initiative on Thursday, making the city 
the only place east of the Mississippi River where people can legally 
grow and share marijuana in private.

But Congress still has the final say over the city's budget and laws, 
and the Republicans in charge seem determined to make Bowser pay.

"We provide half a billion dollars (annually) to the District. One 
would think they would be much more compliant with the wishes of 
Congress," Rep. Andy Harris, a Maryland Republican and one of the 
most vocal pot opponents, said in an interview Thursday.

Actually, the District received more than $670 million in federal 
funding last year to support its $11 billion budget. The federal 
money is earmarked for specific programs - including the city's court system.

Republicans will "find some areas where perhaps we have been very 
generous with the citizens of the District. That will all come with 
time," Harris warned.

Even top advocates of city autonomy are preparing for tough times on 
Capitol Hill.

"I do believe it's likely this is a short-lived victory," said 
Kimberly Perry, executive director of D.C. Vote. "Members of the 
House are going to come after D.C. with a vengeance on appropriations 
for 2016."

Before Bowser announced that she wasn't backing down, she spoke with 
the chairman of the House Oversight Committee and reiterated that her 
goal is not to defy Congress, but to honor the will of the voters, 
said her spokesman.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom