This photo is from Slate, taken by David Weigel. Mayor Gray was not informed about the riders on the Budget. Some of the riders that are of concern: ban on federal funds for reimbursement on family planning, ban on funds for the needle exchange, and the return on vouchers in the District.
That's Vincent Gray, D.C.'s new mayor -- nationally known, perhaps, as the man who unseated Michelle Rhee's boss -- being handcuffed after protesting the D.C. riders in the budget compromise. Gray stood outside the Hart and Dirksen Senate offices for about an hour, blocking traffic, along with several members of the D.C. city council. The protest began outside Hart because that's where Sen. Harry Reid's office is.
Gray was not informed by Senate Democrats, or by the president, about the policy riders that had remained in the budget as ways to get Republicans on board. Those include, as far as we know, a ban on federal funds being used to reimburse family planning, a ban on funds for the needle exchange program, and the return of the city's school voucher program.
It is kind of exciting that Gray would protest and be handcuffed for it. Once, again let's all agree the Budget sucks.
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