WASHINGTON (AP) — The D.C. Council is hoping that voters will grant it the power to spend local tax dollars without Congressional approval.

Councilmember Phil Mendelson plans to introduce an amendment to the District of Columbia charter on Tuesday that would grant the district its long-sought budget autonomy.

District leaders have tried to work through Congress to secure budget autonomy, but the effort was derailed earlier this year when conservative lawmakers tried to restrict government spending on abortion in the city.

But if voters were to approve a referendum, it would be up to Congress and President Barack Obama to disapprove the action of local voters. D.C. voting rights advocates say they don’t think Obama would sign such a disapproval resolution if he is re-elected.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)