Barry Assails Congress, Clinton Aide Over Loss of Some Powers

Mayor Marion Barry railed Wednesday against members of Congress and one of President Clinton’s top aides over a new law that transfers most of his powers to a presidentially appointed financial control board.

“Democracy has been raped. We’re going to try to do something with the perpetrator,” Barry told a room packed with supporters during his weekly press briefing.

Clinton, meanwhile, defended the rescue package for the municipal government of the nation’s capital as being “on balance . . . very good.” But the president said Office of Management and Budget Director Franklin D. Raines would review aspects that may violate home rule.

In a tirade reminiscent of his days as a fiery civil rights activist, Barry said Sen. Lauch Faircloth, the North Carolina Republican who heads the Senate’s D.C. appropriations subcommittee, spearheaded the effort to strip the city of its self-governance.

Barry said Faircloth was “aided and abetted” by Rep. Thomas M. Davis (R-Va.), chairman of the House’s D.C. government oversight subcommittee, while Raines, who was once the city’s budget director, “sat on the sidelines.”

Clinton on Tuesday signed into law the federal budget that includes a rescue package to help the city’s financial status by taking over many of its functions. Barry and the City Council lose control over most city agencies.