Norton Predicts Clean Sweep for Voting Rights and Self-Government Bills with Obama and a Democratic Congress

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) today released the following statement on the historic victory of President-elect Barack Obama and the meaning for the District of the new larger majority in the House and Senate:

"Barack Obama's victory tonight has both unprecedented and historic meaning for the American people, but perhaps for none as much as for the residents of the nation's capital. After 209 years, District residents will have not only a president who has already changed America, and the president that our residents most wanted. They will have a Democratic president, who, as senator, co-sponsored the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act, and has told me he will sign our bill. (George W. Bush never said he would veto the bill, but his advisors said publicly they would advise a veto, and most Republican members of the House and Senate voted against the bill.) Moreover, after two centuries, residents will have a Democratic House and Senate that will pass the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act and send it to President Obama. Our bill had seven Senate Republicans, only two of whom were up for re-election this year (Susan Collin, R-ME, and Norm Coleman, R-M). In addition, some of the "most endangered" Republicans voted against the bill and are likely to be replaced by Democrats. If so, the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act could conceivably have more than the necessary 60 votes.

Nor can we forget that there is a great deal more that the prospect of a Democratic president, House and Senate could mean for the District. The coming year carries great promise for completing the home rule that Congress began when it enacted the Home Rule Act of 1973. Much of the District's self government remains with the Congress, beginning with our budget and legislation, but including much more, where the Congress, not the residents of the District of Columbia, is the final authority.

Until this session, for only four years while I have served in the Congress have we had a Democratic majority and a Democratic president. We used those first four years to maximum effect. In my second term, we got a historic House vote on statehood, winning almost two-thirds of the Democrats. With statehood no longer possible until the District once again pays for all state functions, we have pursued congressional voting rights ever since.

President Barack Obama's first year in office is the first time while I have served the District that we have a fair chance to get the House vote. Against great odds, our residents, District elected officials, D.C. Vote, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and a strong coalition of organizations have carried our banner here and nationwide. The change in the national government can open the path to a true democratic transformation in the District of Columbia. Our goal should be to go the full way to complete democracy for the 600,000 Americans who live in our nation's capital. We can make 2009 the year of the clean sweep for democracy in hometown D.C. - for D.C. voting rights and full self-government, too, after centuries of unceasing and hard work.

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