Wednesday, January 16, 2013
During the presidential inauguration Monday, the presidential limousine will use the license plates to bring attention to DC's lack of voting representation in Congress.
When the presidential limo drives down Pennsylvania Avenue on Inauguration Day, its license plate will bear the motto, "Taxation Without Representation," in a nod to the District of Columbia's lack of voting representation in Congress. Last week the District Council unanimously approved a resolution that President Barack Obama's limousine fleet should use the plates. DC Councilwoman Mary Cheh and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson met with White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs David Agnew Friday to discuss the resolution. “On January 21, President Barack Obama will be inaugurated for his second term. Following the ceremony, he will lead a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue with his motorcade. This parade will be watched by millions …
Sunday, January 6, 2013
District matters had been previously delegated to a subcommittee of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
DC politicians are praising Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, for his decision to move District of Columbia matters to the full committee. The move is seen as a signal that Issa will continue to take an active role in advocating for DC budget autonomy and other rights. "I’m glad that someone who has proven to be a trustworthy partner in respecting our autonomy will be leading congressional handling of affairs that affect our city, and I look forward to working with him on the Height Act, budget autonomy and other efforts during the 113th Congress," Mayor Vincent Gray said in a press release. In the past several Congresses, a subcommittee considered issues or bills pertinent to …
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Do you think it is important that DC is represented in National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol Building?
A small battle has erupted again in the ongoing war for full rights for District residents. A Senate panel approved a bill that would, among other things, allow DC to have a statue of a famous resident housed in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol Building. Each state has two statues of famous citizens on display in the halls of the Capitol building. The Senate bill approved by the panel earlier this month would allow DC to display one statue, namely that of Frederick Douglass. The Douglass statue has sat in waiting at the District's One Judiciary Square building since 2008. Councilman Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) released a statement Monday praising the Senate panel for its vote and asking the House to follow suit. "I am thankful for the work of …
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Statehood effort gets points for public awareness, but a vote in the House is still the way to go.
The idea of a “New Columbia” has been around for nearly 30 years, when the D.C. statehood movement started its fight in Congress. It’s hard to argue against giving D.C. residents the same rights allowed every other state. The problem is, the possibility of turning D.C. into a state still isn’t there. “It is time, frankly, for us to do something different,” said Mayor Vincent Gray during last week’s press conference announcing a new effort toward gaining statehood. In reality, the effort is nothing more than a public awareness campaign, and the mayor is right when he says it’s time to do something different. He ought to be honest with D.C. residents though, and stop pretending there’s any chance in the near future to gain outright statehood…
