Live Q&As

This budget calls for shared sacrifices from residents and businesses across the city. Currently the top income tax bracket starts at $40,000 at 8.5% which is not progressive taxation. Many of the cuts that have been made in this budget impact lower and middle income residents in the District. The goal was to ensure that we've presented a fair budget that spreads the solution across the board.

As I have stated, the only agreement was for an interview. His resume indicated that he had qualifications and experience as an auditor for the position he was assigned. Also, there was an article in the  Washington Post in 2006 that stated that he was an auditor and that he worked on the Fenty campaign.

This is a great example of why the District should not be included in the shutdown. We have  funds to pay for trash collection but we are prevented by the Congress from spending them because these services have been determined to be nonessential. We are continuing to work on the trash collection problem.

It is my understanding that the parade will still be conducted but the route will be revised in the event of the shutdown.

(Post story: Cherry Blossom Parade would go on despite shutdown, organizers say)

We believe that all of our educational institutions should be open. However, the direction from the Federal government dictates that DCPS and public charter schools should not be closed because some of our children receive their only meals of the day at school. This would obviously be an extreme and unjust disruption to our students at UDC. It is yet another example why the District of Columbia should not be included in the shutdown. We are not an agency of the Federal government.

We are examining how the previously scheduled furlough days may be impacted by the Federal shutdown.

We steadfastly believe that the District of Columbia Government should not be included in this shutdown and we have been fighting to have the entire city exempted. About 60% of our employees will be exempted and discussions have continued throughout the week with the Federal government to determine who those employees will be. Discussions have been taking place with the Federal government for over a month, however, the Federal government just issued today guidance on details of how the shutdown effects employees during this lapse in authority to spend our money.

We've expanded adult job training programs and are enforcing the law that requires the hiring of District residents on contracts funded by the DC Government and we are providing additional incentives for the hiring of District residents. 

Also, The Community College of the District of Columbia is expanding its job training programs for adults throughout the city.

We certainly appreciate the presence of a soccer team in the city. We hope that a solution can be found in order for DC United to remain in the city. However, we have to be mindful of the economy, the many demands on the city and the high cost of a new stadium.

Yes

I am opposed to a shutdown including the DC Government. We are not a Federal agency! The cost of our services is borne by the taxpayers of the District of Columbia. I will continue to speak out against this injustice and I hope that the residents of our city will feel just as outraged as I am.

Yes

Unfortunately, even though this is our own taxpayer dollars, that decision does not rest with the District of Columbia Government. It is inappropriately in the hands of the United States Congress.

In the aftermath of a recent conversation, we checked to determine if the height standards could be changed anywhere in the city. We confirmed that the Federal government would have to change the height standards. However, we will continue to explore ways of making these changes where appropriate.