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Congress Adds Insult to Injury, Revoking DC's Vote in Committee of the Whole
DC Delegate's Resolution to Reconsider Is The First Vote of 112th Congress
For more information contact: James Jones, Communications Director
202.462.6000 x12 office / 202.557.4864 mobile / jjones@dcvote.org
January 5, 2011
In a shameful start to the 112th Congress, the House of Representatives today adopted rules that revoked the privilege of the
DC Delegate to vote in the Committee of the Whole House. Despite letters, formal requests from Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton
(D-DC) and a lobby day yesterday by DC Vote activists, residents of the District of Columbia have lost what little voting
representation they had in the "People's House." While lobbying Tuesday, DC Vote activists asked that the DC Delegate be
considered separately, as she is the only non-voting delegate that represents citizens who pay full federal taxes.
Representative John Boehner (R-OH) argued in a statement yesterday that the delegate vote is unconstitutional. To the contrary, in
1994 a federal appeals court upheld the decision in Michel v. Anderson that Congress has the Constitutional authority to
allow delegate voting in the Committee of the Whole. (14 F.3d 623, D.C. Cir. 1994).
"It is contradictory that Speaker Boehner would pledge fidelity to the Constitution yet reject the Constitutional separation of
powers," said DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka. "In America the courts determine what
is Constitutional and in the case of delegate voting in the Committee of the Whole, the federal courts have made a definitive
ruling. Rather than putting partisan politics aside and letting this established practice stand, Rep. Boehner has denied 600,000 Americans living in Washington, DC the only vote they have in their own governance. Democracy took a step backward today."
Zherka agrees with Delegate Norton's warning in a statement yesterday that this insult is only the opening salvo from
Republican leaders. "Given the rhetoric among members in the new majority, DC residents can expect more congressional efforts
to undermine DC's local democracy," Zherka said. " Washingtonians must prepare for that fight. We are buoyed by our new
Mayor, Vincent Gray, whose is passionately committed to this cause. We are also heartened by our warrior on the Hill,
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who today demonstrated her willingness to fight by offering a resolution to refer the delegate
vote issue to a special committee." Unfortunately, that resolution was tabled in the first vote of the 112th Congress by a
motion from Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA).
DC Vote and the DC Voting Rights Coalition will continue to defend the rights of District residents, while promoting full democracy and equality.
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