DC Vote Applauds Rep. Davis' Leadership on DC Voting Rights

May 3, 2005

Washington, DC - The following is a statement made by Ilir Zherka, DC Vote executive director:

"We applaud Representative Tom Davis' (R-Virginia) re-introduction of the 'DC Fairness in Representation Act' (also known as the 'DC FAIR Act'), which would add a voting member from the District of Columbia to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with an additional seat for Utah. We welcome his ideas and leadership. Tom Davis' proposal, together with other Republican co-sponsors, represents a new chapter in Republican support for DC voting rights and provides an opening for a bi-partisan bill to be enacted by this Congress.

"We particularly appreciate Rep. Davis' statement that, 'It's hard to make a straight-faced argument that the capital of the free world shouldn't have a vote in Congress.' We also appreciate Davis' view that DC residents have been unjustly denied full voting representation.

"DC Vote believes that Americans in DC ought to be equal citizens. To accomplish that goal, we support the 'No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2005' (S. 195 and H.R. 398), which provides District residents with full voting representation in Congress.

“Nonetheless, DC Vote understands that full voting representation will likely come in stages. A vote in the U.S. House of Representative is very important, and we support Representative Davis' effort to secure such a vote. We also believe, however, that whatever measure the Congress enacts concerning DC voting rights should include representation in the Senate as well. Congress is a bi-cameral legislature and DC's biggest disadvantage now is that residents have absolutely no representation, whether voting or otherwise, in the Senate. That must change.

"Clearly, given the introduction of the 'DC FAIR Act' and the 'No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2005', there is bi-partisan interest in the Congress to end the disenfranchisement of DC residents. Moreover, there is overwhelming support around the nation for voting representation for DC. A national poll commissioned by DC Vote in January 2005 showed that 82 percent of Americans support giving District residents equal voting rights in both chambers of Congress.

"DC Vote calls on the Judiciary Committees in the House and Senate to now take the next step by holding hearings on DC voting rights. Members of Congress should work together to bring American democracy to America’s capital."

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