Norton Welcomes Arlen Spector to the Party that Appreciates His Service to the Nation (4/28/09)

Norton Welcomes Sen. Spector to the Party that Appreciates His Service to the Nation

April 28, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) issued the following statement welcoming Sen. Arlen Spector to the Democratic Party:

"Senator Arlen Specter has become a Democrat today, and of course I am happy for the Democrats, but I am especially happy that the Senator has finally found a welcoming home after 30 years of outstanding service to the people of Pennsylvania and the nation. No senator has walked a tougher more principled line to maintain his personal convictions and the principles of the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower.

"I know that the people of the District of Columbia deeply appreciate how often the Senator has chosen his own path and supported the District. Sen. Specter and I have had personal discussions on many District issues throughout my service in the Congress. Most recently, the Senator left the party line and voted for the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act, first as one of eight Republicans in 2007 and again this year. Senator Specter changed parties today only after his own party had made strong efforts to defeat him in its recent party primaries. Consistent with his own principles, I do not anticipate the Senator's moderate voting record will change much now that he is a Democrat. The major difference likely will be that he will stand alone less often."