Norton Writes Republican Presidential Candidate Who Endorses D.C. Voting Rights (9/6/07)
Norton Writes Republican Presidential Candidate Who Endorses D.C. Voting Rights
September 7, 2007
Washington, DC-Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a Republican presidential candidate, applauding his support for D.C. voting rights and expressed optimism for passage this month in light of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's inclusion of S. 1257 on his list of important bills to consider on the floor before the Senate breaks for the Columbus Day recess on October 5th. "Senator Reid knows how hard we worked over the recess and we are pleased that he continues to make D.C. voting rights a priority in the face of a backlog of bills," Norton said. "We are encouraged that the Majority Leader ranks the D.C. voting rights bill along with military spending, transportation/HUD appropriations, the college loan bill, and other legislation that he has on his priority agenda."
Norton released her letter thanking Governor Huckabee for his unsolicited and "courageous statement of support [showing] an instinctive understanding of representation . . . the very basis for our democracy." She wrote that the Governor's support could be helpful in avoiding a filibuster, the primary impediment to Senate consideration. Norton believes that the bill could pass tomorrow with majority support if it came to the Senate floor. She said that a growing number of senators are recognizing the critical message that a civil rights bill must never be filibustered in this country again.
According to press reports, Governor Huckabee acknowledged that his support is unusual for a Republican, but was quoted as saying that it doesn't seem right that D.C. residents, as American citizens who pay taxes and live under our laws would be even partially disenfranchised. Norton has challenged the presidential candidates in both parties to speak out for D.C. rights on the campaign trail and during debates, and has urged all senators who are campaigning for the presidency to join Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Chris Dodd (D-CT), and Barack Obama (D-IL) as cosponsors of S. 1257
Working with Norton and Senate sponsors of the bill, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and national civil rights and local voting rights organizations used the summer months to the full effect in their push for Senate backers. They also have planned a freedom ride trip for later this month to beat back any attempted filibuster. The bill's sponsors, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), along with Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), and Norton met just before recess to strategize and emphasize to their colleagues the implications of a filibuster in the context of the role race and the struggle for civil rights have played in D.C.'s quest for equality, representation and home rule.
Norton's letter to Governor Huckabee follows.
September 6, 2007
The Honorable Mike Huckabee
Little Rock, Arkansas
Dear Governor Huckabee:
I write to thank you and to applaud you for your courageous statement of support for a House vote for the residents of the District of Columbia. Your statement, which I do not believe was solicited by supporters, showed an instinctive understanding for the importance of representation in making laws that compel obedience when enacted, the very basis for our democracy. We agree that your support as a Republican has not been typical but we are pleased that our bill has always been bipartisan; S. 1257 has two Republican sponsors, Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Tom Davis, along with Senator Joe Lieberman and me; and the bill includes a House vote for largely Republican Utah as well. The significant majority for S. 1257 that we already have in the Senate also reflects Republican support. However, your support could prove especially helpful as we seek to make the point that this is not a country where voting rights bills are filibustered any more.
Again, I know I speak for the people I represent in Congress when I extend to you my appreciation for stepping forward to support our rights in the Congress.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton