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July 1, 2005: NORTON NEGOTIATES ANOTHER RIDER OFF D.C. APPROPRIARTIONS

January 10, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2005

NORTON NEGOTIATES ANOTHER RIDER OFF D.C. APPROPRIARTIONS

Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) negotiated her way out of a last minute amendment to overturn the D.C. Individuals with Disabilities Parking Reform Amendment Act of 2000 by Rep. Charles W. “Chip” Pickering (R-MS). After a colloquy on the floor, the amendment was withdrawn. Norton asked House members “to follow Rep. Pickering’s example to negotiate rather than attach riders.” Although Pickering had communicated with some District staff, no one had told Norton that Mr. Pickering had called D.C. and had tried to find the reason why out of town disabled visitors were denied free parking unlike D.C. residents with disabilities. Norton phoned Council Chair Linda Cropp, Public Works and the Environment Committee Chair Carol Schwartz, and Administrator Robert Bobb, and got letters from them stating that the city had never intended to discriminate against tourists with disabilities and would take appropriate action. Councilmember Schwartz, who spoke with Rep. Pickering, sought to halt wholesale abuse by motorists with handicap placards, used to park at short-term meters, by requiring visitors, like residents, to get handicap placards. The difference, of course, is that residents were allowed two hours of free parking, and then another two free hours if they had a handicap placard, while non-residents were charged a fee unless they went to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Norton said that this is not a practical way for disabled tourists to obtain the premium parking they need, and as soon as the matter was brought to the attention of the Congresswoman and of Carol Schwartz, who played the lead role in helping Norton clear up the matter, the Congresswoman was able to negotiate the withdrawal of the amendment with Rep. Pickering. “I much prefer to negotiate than to fight. I appreciate the reasonable approach Rep. Pickering took,” Norton said.