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Deborah Simmons

dsimmons@washingtontimes.com

Deborah Simmons was a senior correspondent who reported on City Hall and wrote about education, culture, sports and family-related topics.

Articles by Deborah Simmons

D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray

D.C. lawmakers seek more cash to spend

While fiscal conservatism has been espoused on occasion by D.C. lawmakers, profligate spending has been the rule of thumb for occupants of City Hall. 2010 is shaping up to be more of the same as eight of the 13 members of the D.C. Council — all but one Democrats — face election battles.

May 30, 2010
**FILE** Antonio Garcia restocks beverages at the Corner Market in Washington on May 22, 2010. (Associated Press)

Soda, sweet drinks tax passes in D.C.

D.C. lawmakers on Wednesday approved a controversial soda tax, trimmed funding for the H Street/Benning Road Northeast streetcar plan, funded a statehood initiative and approved legislation for a commuter tax

May 26, 2010
D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. calls his proposal the District Tax Dollars Fairness Act of 2010. (The Washington Times)

Bill seeks financial lift from D.C. commuters

The D.C. Council is poised to take up a change to the city charter that would clear the way to impose a commuter tax on most city government workers — including teachers and principals, public safety personnel and administrative and blue-collar workers — who do not live in the city.

May 24, 2010

Rhee seeking to revamp D.C. rules on teacher tenure

Before the fall of 2009, D.C. schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee followed the common practice of using a seniority-based method to lay off teachers. Her hands, like those of her counterparts across America, were tied by last-hired-first-fired rules. Now D.C., along with New York, Colorado and other states, are revamping those rules.

May 24, 2010
D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee is trying to turn around the culture of the school system itself. (The Washington Times)

Rhee seeking to revamp D.C. rules on teacher tenure

Before the fall of 2009, D.C. schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee followed the common practice of using a seniority-based method to lay off teachers. Her hands, like those of her counterparts across America, were tied by last-hired-first-fired rules. Now D.C., along with New York, Colorado and other states, are revamping those rules.

May 23, 2010

D.C. Council airs priorities for taxes, spending

D.C. Council members televised their behind-the-scenes budget discussion for the first time Wednesday, giving the Washington public a clear view of their election-year spending intentions as the city faces an estimated $535 million deficit.

May 20, 2010

D.C. Council airs priorities for taxes, spending

D.C. Council members televised their behind-the-scenes budget discussion for the first time Wednesday, giving the Washington public a clear view of their election-year spending intentions as the city faces an estimated $535 million deficit.

May 19, 2010

Fenty budget omits statehood-bid funds

Two D.C. Council members want to know why Mayor Adrian M. Fenty failed to put funds in his fiscal 2011 budget for the push for statehood - an issue he supports and that would give D.C. residents the congressional voting rights that have been repeatedly thwarted.

May 14, 2010

Fenty budget omits D.C. statehood-bid funds

Two D.C. Council members want to know why Mayor Adrian M. Fenty failed to put funds in his fiscal 2011 budget for the push for statehood - an issue he supports and that would give D.C. residents the congressional voting rights that have been repeatedly thwarted.

May 14, 2010

SIMMONS: Kids need exercise, not bureaucrats

First lady Michelle Obama's decision to fight childhood obesity is a courageous battle of good intentions. There's no need to cite the overwhelming statistics that prove America's couch potatoes are breeding overweight spuds. And there's no need to recite the growing list of corporations and nonprofits that are lining up to partake in the new Fight Fat Movement.

May 14, 2010

Kids need exercise, not bureaucrats

First lady Michelle Obama's decision to fight childhood obesity is a courageous battle of good intentions. There's no need to cite the overwhelming statistics that prove America's couch potatoes are breeding overweight spuds. And there's no need to recite the growing list of corporations and nonprofits that are lining up to partake in the new Fight Fat Movement.

May 14, 2010

D.C. OKs charter, adult-ed funding

The D.C. Council unanimously proposed Tuesday to bolster funds for charter schools, restore cuts to adult-education programs and leave several aspects of the mayor's education spending plans unchanged.

May 12, 2010

D.C. Council gives more money to schools

The D.C. Council on Tuesday morning unanimously proposed bolstering funds for charter schools, restoring cuts to adult education programs and leaving several aspects of the mayor's education spending plans unchanged.

May 11, 2010

Evans frets over D.C.’s bond ratings

The D.C. government is headed down a dangerous financial path and it must curb spending now, the lawmaker who heads the finance and revenue committee said Monday.

May 11, 2010

D.C. CFO certifies teachers contract

D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi announced Monday that he has certified a tentative four-year contract for teachers that includes salary and merit raises. Funding for charter schools remains in dispute.

May 11, 2010

A taxing proposal in Washington, D.C.

What do you get when you mix a read-my-lips, no-tax-increase pledge with election-year politics? Tax proposals, of course. Mayor Adrian Fenty and the D.C. Council are struggling to close a $550 million budget gap.

May 7, 2010