Norton to the House: No War ‘Without the Consent of the Governed’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak on the House floor this afternoon on "the outrage of going to what is now called ‘war' without giving District of Columbia residents a vote on the matter." The House of Representatives is currently debating an amendment to the short-term continuing resolution that authorizes the arming and training of Syrian rebel groups fighting against ISIL, the group now terrorizing the Middle East and threatening the United States. Members of the Administration and some in Congress are calling it a war. Norton's remarks can be viewed live at https://www.c-span.org/live/.
"District residents pay $12,000 per capita in federal income taxes, more per capita than residents of any state, to support their government in war and peace," Norton said. "Regardless of what is decided, District residents will be there for America, with our money and servicemembers, as they have been in every war our country has fought. The nation, however, should not ask D.C. residents to fight another war without the consent of the governed, including the District of Columbia."