reading the d.c. voucher act in the big spending bill. i've never read a spending bill before and so i don't know if this is unusual, but there are some bizarre and slightly disturbing things in here. after title III, which describes the voucher program, comes title IV, which describes general provisions of the d.c. appropriations. just a reminder, this is federal legislation applying to a city's spending. i'm not sure if these rules apply to the money that d.c. raises from its own local taxes, or if it just applies to the federal appropriations, or if there's any difference, but here are some key weirdnesses:

Sec. 407 (b) The District of Columbia may use local funds provided in this Act to carry out lobbying activities on any matter other than--

(1) the promotion or support of any boycott; or

(2) statehood for the District of Columbia or voting representation in Congress for the District of Columbia.

SEC. 415. None of the funds appropriated under this Act shall be expended for any abortion except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or where the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.

SEC. 416. None of the Federal funds made available in this Act may be used to implement or enforce the Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992 (D.C. Law 9-114; D.C. Official Code, sec. 32-701 et seq.) or to otherwise implement or enforce any system of registration of unmarried, cohabiting couples, including but not limited to registration for the purpose of extending employment, health, or governmental benefits to such couples on the same basis that such benefits are extended to legally married couples.

SEC. 421. (a) None of the funds contained in this Act may be used for any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.


i'm sure i shouldn't be surprised or disturbed by these things; it's just a reminder of a) how obscenely political this whole politics thing is, and b) what a shitty position the people of d.c. are in. not only do they suffer from local politics, they suffer from national politics. the congressional delegates from my podunk, georgia have more say in the matter than anyone from this city.