Norton Asks Obama to Mention Citizenship Rights for D.C. in Upcoming State of the Union Address

Norton Asks Obama to Mention Citizenship Rights for D.C. in Upcoming State of the Union Address

December 30,2010

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton wrote to President Barack Obama today requesting that, in his upcoming State of the Union address, he "reiterate your support for voting rights and greater democracy for the citizens who live in the nation's capital, in keeping with your co-sponsorship of the bill when you were in the Senate." She suggested that a mention of the city's long struggle for equal citizenship rights could fit well among the issues generally discussed in a State of the Union address. "Mentioning voting rights...would be particularly appropriate this year considering heartbreaking disappointment that a dangerous gun amendment blocked our voting rights bill, although we had more than enough votes to pass the bill in both houses," she wrote. "To add insult to injury, the proposed new rules for the 112th Congress would eliminate the city's vote in the Committee of the Whole, the only vote on the House floor District residents have ever had." She also pointed out other likely attacks, including attempts to reimpose the anti-home rule amendments Norton got removed for the first time during the four years of Democratic control. A mention in the State of the Union address, she wrote, would also help residents "to maintain the terrific momentum we achieved in the voting rights struggle in anticipation of regaining the House and maintaining the Senate in the 2012 elections." Norton cited consistent majority support among Democrats and Republicans for voting rights and said, "We believe that it is important for the nation to hear of your support as well."