Norton Statement on Introduction of Anti-Home Rule, Politically Motivated Bill to Remove Registration Requirement for Certain Organizations in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) condemned a bill introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) that would exempt certain organizations doing business in D.C. from registering with the District, the same requirement states regularly enforce. The bill appears to be politically motivated, introduced in response to a reported investigation by the D.C. Attorney General into a conservative legal activist for misusing charitable funds for the activist’s personal benefit.

“The D.C. Attorney General apparently did something Rep. Biggs considers radical: He enforced D.C.’s Nonprofit Corporation Act,” Norton said. “The D.C. Attorney General is reportedly investigating nonprofits affiliated with a conservative legal activist for misusing charitable funds for the activist’s personal benefit.

“In response to D.C.’s Attorney General doing his job, Rep. Biggs reintroduced this anti-home rule bill that violates the District of Columbia’s right to self-government. It would amend a D.C. law to exempt certain business organizations doing business in the District from registering with D.C., even though each state requires business organizations, whether for-profit or nonprofit, doing business in that state to register there. The intent of this bill is to reduce D.C.’s authority to apply its laws to nonprofits that are formed under the laws of another jurisdiction doing business in D.C., and I strongly oppose it.”

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