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Gray Blasts House Stripping of Committee of the Whole Vote
Pledges to Keep Fighting until the People of the District of Columbia have Full Membership in the “People’s House”
For more information contact: James Jones, Communications Director
202.462.6000 x12 office / 202.557.4864 mobile / jjones@dcvote.org
January 5, 2011
Washington, DC – District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray commented on today’s House action revoking the right of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and other delegates to vote in the Committee of the Whole on the House floor:
“I am extremely disappointed that the House majority in the 112th Congress started off on the wrong foot by adopting rules that silenced the small voice District of Columbia taxpayers had during the past two Congresses. House leadership today stood and called the House of Representatives the ‘People’s House,’ but then went on to shut the door to the people who live in the nation’s capital.
“This is a vote the federal courts have upheld as constitutional. Therefore, the argument that the delegate vote is unconstitutional just does not square with the law. The people who live in the capital of democracy should not be forced to suffer the consequences of changes in political parties and partisan whims.
“I applaud Congresswoman Norton, our Maryland neighbor, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, and other friends in Congress who spoke out today to try to save this vote. It’s the bare minimum of the full representation our citizens are entitled.
“I appreciate that they will join me, D.C. residents, and voting rights and statehood advocates in continuing to fight for the independence and autonomy the people living in the District of Columbia certainly deserve.”
Contact:Doxie A. McCoy
Senior Communications Manager
Executive Office of
Mayor Vincent C. Gray
(202) 727-9691
(202) 664-9862 - cell
doxie.mccoy@dc.gov
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