D.C. Vouchers In, Local Funding of Abortions Out, In Budget Bill; City Officials Protest

The budget deal reached Saturday night between the President and Congress apparently includes two controversial riders supported by Republicans relating to Washington, DC.  AP reports that the compromise reinstates a ban on the District of Columbia using its own local tax funds to pay for abortions for poor women.  Also, according to World Magazine, the President agreed to include the SOAR Act as part of the final budget bill.  The act reopens the voucher program that provides funds for poor parents in the District of Columbia to send their children to a school of their choice, including private and parochial schools.  The bill also increases the amount of the scholarship granted to each student to between $8000 and $12,000 per child, depending on grade level. The majority of D.C. city council supports the voucher program, but the mayor and D.C.'s Congressional delegate oppose it.  Still unclear is whether the final bill will also ban the use of local funds for needle exchange programs. On Monday, a demonstration near the Hart Senate Office Building protested the treatment of D.C. in the bill. According to Politico, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and six members of city council were arrested in the protest.