A freshman senator single-handedly stopped Democrats from pushing through a bill expanding the District's authority last week. Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, thought it wasn't right to further empower the city unless it committed to a respect for life, the right to work and the Second Amendment.
Sen. Joe Lieberman plans to introduce legislation that would grant "budget autonomy" to the District, a key priority for Mayor Vincent C. Gray and other city leaders that would allow them to manage their fiscal year and local dollars without being tethered to congressional approval, a Senate committee aide said Monday.
