D.C. mayor Gray confronts Reid on Capitol steps over shutdown’s impact on city

http://m.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-gray-confronts-reid-on-capitol-steps-over-shutdowns-impact-on-city/2013/10/09/02577428-3103-11e3-89ae-16e186e117d8_story.html

By Mike DeBonis and Ed O’Keefe

Wednesday, October 9, 10:39 AM

An unusual confrontation took place on the U.S. Capitol steps Wednesday when District Mayor Vincent C. Gray crashed a news conference held by Senate Democrats and asked Majority Leader Harry Reid to exempt the city from the ongoing shutdown.

“Sir, we are not a department of the government,” Gray told Reid moments after the mayor concluded his own press event about 50 yards from where Reid held one. “We’re simply trying to be able to spend our own money.”

“I’m on your side, don’t screw it up, okay? Don’t screw it up,” Reid (Nev.) told his fellow Democrat.

The intraparty tension comes after the Republican-controlled House voted last week to pass a bill allowing the District to use its locally raised tax funds to maintain operations until Dec. 15. But Democrats, including Reid and President Obama, have held fast in opposition to piecemeal funding bills, saying Republicans must come to a deal to fund the entire government, not just favored segments.

The District government has tapped a $144 million contingency cash reserve fund to keep its 32,000 employees on the job since the federal shutdown took effect Oct. 1. But the city has frozen many of its outgoing payments in order to conserve the contingency account, which is expected to be exhausted sometime next week.

At their own news conference on the Capitol grounds Wednesday, Gray and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) highlighted the partisan contradictions while detailing the drastic effect of the cash crunch on the District government — including schools, health care, services for the disabled and senior programs.

“Democrats, at this critical moment, have abandoned their long-held principles,” Norton said, calling it “shameful ... to hold the city’s local funds hostage to make a federal point.”

In a particular jab at Democrats, the event featured remarks from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, who called on Reid and his allies to pass a D.C. funding bill — and at one point alluded to a favored bit of tea party rhetoric.

“I cannot help but notice your license plates say ‘No Taxation Without Representation,’” Issa said. “Perhaps they should say, ‘Federal government, don’t tread on me,’ instead.”

Gray thanked Issa for his support and told a supportive crowd of hundreds to push Democrats to “act now” on a D.C. funding bill. As soon as the event wrapped up, Gray walked over to the separate event being held by Senate Democrats on the east steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Gray cut his way through a bank of TV cameras and walked up to Reid and began speaking with him as senators from Maryland and Virginia explained to reporters the economic hardship facing the two states bordering the nation’s capital.

Sens. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) and Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), in particular, had to raise their voices as they spoke in order to be heard over ralliers who had attended Gray’s event and then turned their attention towards the senators, yelling chants of “Free D.C.”

Reid (D-Nev.) took questions from reporters, including a question about whether the Senate would vote on a D.C. funding measure.

“Talk to the Republicans, they’re the ones objecting,” Reid said.

With cameras rolling, Gray stood a few paces to Reid’s right, staring at the Senate leader. As the news conference concluded and Reid began to walk back into the U.S. Capitol, Gray approached the Senate leader again and made the remarks, prompting the “don’t screw it up” comment.

Local television reporters began shouting at Reid: “What does ‘don’t screw it up’ mean?”

Reid ignored the questions and walked away surrounded by aides and security guards, at one point telling reporters that “of course” he supports giving the District the budgetary flexibility needed to continue operating during the partial shutdown.

Norton left a few minutes later after being approached by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who was heard telling her “we’ve got your back.”

After Reid left the steps, Gray got into a heated exchange with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who attempted to explain the Hill Democrats’ position to the mayor. “We’ve got to open up this government for all the good people, in D.C., Maryland, Virginia,” she said.

Gray replied to Boxer: “We’re just asking to spend our own money — our own money, not the federal money.”