2015 Predictions, 2014 Review Norton is Prepared to Talk About with Press
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has issued a release containing a set of predictions about the upcoming 114th Congress along with a discussion of what happened during the 113th, and is prepared to talk about any of them that might be of interest to you. For example, she is not as concerned about the Republican House and Senate as many residents are. Norton has spent all but 8 of her 25 years in the House with Republicans in charge and often a Republican president too, but has gotten major D.C. bills enacted (e.g., DCTAG, and the $5,000 homebuyer tax credit). However, she predicts rough times ahead and is wary of appropriation riders, as usual, but believes Republicans, especially Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), has urgent priorities of their own to get done before the 2016 election and are not looking for distractions with big fights over District matters--and fights they would get.
Below are some highlights:
- expects significant relaxation of sequester for domestic and defense funds
- chairmen of the two D.C. committees have already publicly come out for home rule, and she does not believe home rule is in danger. She hosted a good meeting in her office with Chairmen Chaffetz and Mayor-elect Bowser
- how she expects to keep statehood alive in a Republican Congress that opposes it after the Senate hearing on statehood
- why D.C. marijuana reform is not dead, apart from the loophole
- how she was able to defeat an amendment to eliminate D.C.'s gun laws, but guns are always a target
- almost got budget autonomy done, but she does expect to be able to keep budget autonomy referendum from being overturned in Congress
- expects to keep D.C. from being shut down, maybe even permanently
- surface transportation bill is due out next year, and as top Democrat on subcommittee, she will play the lead role in one of the largest funding authorizations next year (funds Metro, roads, bridges, etc.)
- believes all her economic development projects are safe and will continue, including the Department of Homeland Security headquarters in Ward 8.
View her full release on these and other 2013-14 issues here. Norton's new Communication Director will not begin until first of the year. Please direct all inquiries to her new chief of staff, Raven Reeder.