Norton Confines Rep. Banks’ Second Anti-D.C. Bill to Dustbin of Anti-Democracy Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today assured her constituents that a bill announced by Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN) that would require protestors in the District of Columbia to pay the District for costs associated with the protest if they are convicted of a crime would go no further. Banks' latest attempt to interfere with self-government in the District comes in response to environmental protestors urging the federal government to address the emergency of climate change. Earlier this year, Banks introduced another anti-home-rule bill that would require the District to create, fund, and administer education savings accounts for tuition and other expenses for D.C. students who have experienced a "safety issue" at school. That bill would have forced the District to switch local funds from its public schools to pay for private school tuition.

"No Member of Congress can infringe upon residents' First Amendment rights and free speech," Norton said. "Because the District is the nation's capital, it will always attract national protestors, and, for that reason, the cost must be borne by the national government. One would think that Congressman Banks had learned his lesson when he faced backlash for attacking local funding for our local schools. I defeated such self-serving, anti-democracy bills from passing even when Democrats were in the minority, and I will do so again in the House majority."