www.dcvote.org
First Time in 30 Years that Senate Will Address DC's Denial of Voting Representation
Washington, DC - At 2:15 PM today, the United States Senate is scheduled to begin debate on a procedural vote on the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act (S. 1257). DC voting rights supporters on and off the Hill are confident that the measure will receive the required 60 votes to proceed to the next step of debate and a vote on the bill itself.
A press conference is scheduled immediately following today's procedural vote in Room S-115 in the U.S. Capitol Building.
Yesterday, DC Vote and civil rights leaders from Kentucky and DC met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to urge the Senator to forego efforts to stall the DC Voting Rights Act. McConnell indicated that he would follow the wishes of the Republican Caucus and oppose this historic civil rights bill by using all procedural means to block a vote.
"We are deeply disappointed that Senator McConnell wants to use tactics reminiscent of the days of segregation to thwart this bill," said Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of DC Vote. "This is an opportunity for the Senate to unite Americans around an American ideal, and instead he is choosing to pursue a strategy that takes us back to a time in our history when a small group of Senators worked against the expansion of civil rights."
The DC House Voting Rights Act would give DC residents their first ever voting member of Congress. A DC voting rights bill hasn't been brought to the Senate Floor in nearly 30 years.
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UPDATE:
Strong Vote Sign of Victory to Come
Washington, DC - Today, in a procedural vote on the DC House Voting Rights Act (S. 1257), a small group of Senators blocked the bill from being debated with a vote of 57 yeas - 42 neas. In order to overcome a filibuster, 60 votes are required.
While DC Vote is disappointed that these Senators are standing in the way of democracy for the nearly 600,000 tax-paying Americans living in Washington, DC, we remain encouraged that the Senate will pass this bill during this Congress. Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of DC Vote, released the following statement which may be quoted in part or in full:
"For the first time in 30 years, we secured the vote of a strong majority of Senators in favor of DC voting rights. We are outraged that a minority of Senators, led by Senators Mitch McConnell and Trent Lott, prevented the majority from voting on our bill. McConnell and Lott chose to filibuster a bill extending democracy at home at a time when they are pushing for democracy in the Iraq.
"Shame on them. Shame also on Senators Thad Cochran, John McCain and Gordon Smith, a group of Senators that did not have the courage to stand with us and against the outrageous tactics of their party leaders.
"This is the first filibuster of a voting rights bill since the era of segregation. Their opposition reminds us of a time when a minority of Senators blocked the door to democracy and freedom.
"We have not gotten this far by giving up. We have a majority of Senators who support voting rights for Americans living in Washington, DC. We will prevail in our cause because our cause is just. We will work closely with our allies in the Senate to get this bill up again in this Congress."
