DC Vote News Release

[Ed_Palmedo]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2007

 

Strong Bipartisan Vote Boosts Momentum for DC Voting Rights

Senate Committee Passes Bill 9-1

 

 

Washington, DC - DC Vote applauds the strong, bipartisan vote today of 9-1 in favor of granting DC its first-ever voting member of Congress. All the Democrats on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted in favor of the bill. They were joined by three key Republicans: Senators Susan Collins (ME), Norm Coleman (MN) and George Voinovich (OH).

 

"Today's mark-up is a resounding victory for DC voting rights. DC Vote and our coalition worked aggressively to secure these votes, and we are thrilled to see that our efforts paid off," said DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka. "At every turn over the past four years, people have doubted our ability to move this legislation. But we have both the moral advantage in this debate and the bipartisan support to get the job done. We also now have the momentum we need to get this bill enacted by the full Senate."

 

The Committee adopted two amendments to the bill. One amendment seeks to stipulate that this bill only provides representation in the House for DC residents. DC Vote believes that Americans living in our nation's capital deserve full representation in the House and the Senate. We recognize that S. 1257 doesn't provide for Senate representation, and we support the bill for providing the most basic right, a vote in the People's House. A second amendment seeks expedited review.

 

In a room packed with supporters wearing red and blue "Let DC Vote in the People's House" buttons, Chairman Lieberman (I-CT) allowed for a brief, spontaneous burst of applause as the vote count was announced.

 

"Lieberman and Collins displayed tremendous leadership in moving this civil rights legislation forward in the Senate," said Zherka.

 

Senator Obama (D-IL) called the mark-up "a step in the direction of justice" and Senator Coleman stated that passage of S. 1257 would mean "this country would be better off."

 

Now that the Committee has taken action on the DC House Voting Rights Act, the DC Vote Coalition will work hard around the country to secure enough votes to pass this bill on the Senate Floor. "It's difficult to imagine a force strong enough to stop this kind of bipartisan support and momentum," said Zherka.

[Guest BlingBling_*]

We can thank Senators Mitch McConnell and Trent Lott for preventing the majority from voting on our bill.

[Luke_Wilbur]

This release was sent to me:

 

Ward 5 Councilmember “Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. joins other elected officials and civic activists in expressing disappointment regarding the U.S. Senate’s failure on September 18 to act on the D.C. voting rights bill. Fifty-seven Senators voted to begin action on the bill, three votes short of the 60 votes needed to proceed.

 

Councilmember Thomas pledges to continue to work with his Council colleagues, Congressional Delegate Norton, Mayor Fenty, and civic leaders to press for D.C. voting rights in Congress. “The Senate vote is a setback to our years of effort to obtain voting representation in Congress for the residents of the District of Columbia, but we will not give up the fight. D.C. residents deserve nothing less than full statehood,” said Thomas.

[Guest DC Vote]

DC Vote Staff members Eugene Kinlow, Nell Schaffer and Jaline Quinto will travel to Portland and Eugene from March 10-14 to meet with community groups, students and media in order to spread the message about DC voting rights. Already on the agenda are meetings with the Urban League, the Portland Business Alliance, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, AFL-CIO, League of Women Voters, Jewish Student Union at Lewis and Clark College, Portland State University NAACP, and more. We'll end our trip with a co-sponsored social event with the Bus Project of Oregon.

[Psycho]

DC should never be given a vote in Congress!

 

 

DC Vote Staff members Eugene Kinlow, Nell Schaffer and Jaline Quinto will travel to Portland and Eugene from March 10-14 to meet with community groups, students and media in order to spread the message about DC voting rights. Already on the agenda are meetings with the Urban League, the Portland Business Alliance, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, AFL-CIO, League of Women Voters, Jewish Student Union at Lewis and Clark College, Portland State University NAACP, and more. We'll end our trip with a co-sponsored social event with the Bus Project of Oregon.