First Trial of the 'D.C. 74' Begins as D.C. Appropriations Bill Goes to House Floor
First Trial of the ‘D.C. 74' Begins as D.C. Appropriations Bill Goes to House Floor
July 12, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that the fiscal year 2012 D.C. Appropriations bill will be considered by the House Committee on Rules on Wednesday, July 13 at 3:00 p.m. in room H-313 of the Capitol, with floor action expected to begin later in the week. The committee will consider the bill on the same day as the first trial of a D.C. resident arrested for protesting the fiscal year 2011 budget deal, which imposed two anti-home-rule riders on the District.
The House Appropriations Committee last month approved a D.C. Appropriations bill that would prohibit the District from spending its local funds on abortions for low-income women, but did not add new riders. "It was good news when Republicans did not add riders either at subcommittee or full committee," Norton said. "I believe that the dramatic reactions, beginning with the DC Vote rallies and arrests, and now including a large group of national organizations, have had a positive effect, but the coming floor debate presents another opportunity for riders, for which we must be prepared." The new national coalition of 100 organizations has begun mobilizing its members in every congressional district to warn Members of Congress that their constituents have been alerted to Members whose votes on D.C. home-rule matters signal meddling in the local affairs of another jurisdiction.
At 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, the first trial of one of the 74 D.C. residents arrested at the Capitol and the White House for protesting the fiscal year 2011 budget deal will begin in Courtroom 120 of the D.C. Superior Court. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Keith A. Silver (6C01) pleaded not guilty to charges of Unlawful Assembly-Disorderly Conduct and faces up to a $250 fine and/or up to 90 days in jail.
"Stepping up efforts to preserve the District's home rule has required joint efforts of D.C. residents, D.C. officials and a new national coalition," Norton said. "D.C. residents have an indispensible role to play in highlighting congressional treatment of the District. But, D.C. residents do not have a vote to cast against Members who interfere with our local affairs. By activating Members' constituents, the new coalition is doing what we cannot do for ourselves, which is holding Members accountable for how they vote on local D.C. matters."