Hundreds Gather To Persuade Lawmakers
By Mary Beth Sheridan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 16, 2007
Hundreds of local residents and politicians wearing "Let DC Vote" buttons descended on Congress yesterday to urge legislators to give the District a full seat in the House of Representatives.
The crowd of amateur lobbyists gathered in an ornate hall in the Cannon House Office Building to push a long-sought bill to give the District voting rights. Nearly 400 people turned out, organizers said, including Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, D.C. Council members and the bill's sponsors, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.).
"We have one simple question: When is the vote going to be on H.R. 328?" demanded Fenty (D).
The event also drew regular folks: retirees, union workers, and students such as Selvon Waldron. The 22-year-old moved to Washington three years ago from Trinidad and Tobago and discovered the city lacked full representation.
"I found it very baffling -- the capital of the free world has no vote in Congress," said Waldron, a senior at the University of the District of Columbia.
The highlight of the advocacy blitz was a meeting that Fenty and Norton had scheduled with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Pelosi's office later said that she hopes to have a floor vote "as soon as possible" on the measure.
Norton was busy on two fronts: She also raised the issue with President Bush during a meeting he had with the Congressional Black Caucus. He made no commitments.
The bill would expand the House by two seats -- one for the heavily Democratic District, the other for Utah, which leans Republican.
In the last Congress, the measure attracted dozens of co-sponsors from both parties. But, as the D.C. vote activists discovered yesterday, support for it is hardly universal.
Rep. Roy Blunt (Mo.), who holds the No. 2 leadership position among House Republicans, came out of a 10-minute meeting with Fenty with a tepid comment: "We had a good start to that discussion."
Acknowledged the mayor: "It would be inaccurate to say he was a supporter."
Council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) said some legislators she visited were confused about the consequences of giving the city a vote. "A lot think, if they do it for us, will they have to do it for Guam and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands?" she said.
If it was tough to line up commitments, it was even tougher to find actual House members. Some were debating Iraq; others were at the funeral of Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.), who died of cancer. And many of the D.C. activists' visits were "drop-bys" -- a nice way of saying they had no appointment.
Waldron, the UDC student, donned a black suit and maroon tie for his day in Congress. Consulting a map of the House buildings, he set out with Veronica Cummings, a California student doing an internship in the District. Organizers had assigned them five offices to visit.
"This is a big deal for me, because I'm a political science major," Waldron noted, saying he hoped to buttonhole the members or at least their "LDs" -- legislative directors.
He quickly discovered how hard that would be.
"We are here from DC Vote," Waldron said politely at his first stop, the office of Lois Capps (D-Calif.). "Is it possible we can speak to the congresswoman?"
"The congresswoman is not here," said Amy Fisher, her health care liaison. "But she fully supports you guys."
Waldron wrote on his sheet: "L.D. spoke on its behalf."
Next was the office of Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.).
"Do you have a meeting?" asked the receptionist.
No, said Waldron. "Is it possible to have a few minutes with him?"
He and the legislative director were out, the receptionist said. Ditto for Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.).
Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) was on the House floor. But her senior policy adviser, Susan Mayer, was in the foyer when Waldron walked into her office. He eagerly began his pitch.
The adviser said she had some material on the bill. "I will pass it on. It's in her yes-pile. Meaning, it didn't get tossed," she said, smiling.
Waldron then moved to the next level: Could she be a co-sponsor?
"If she approves of it," Mayer said.
Leaving the office, Waldron acknowledged his frustration.
"It's like a salesperson," he said. "Selling democracy."
And so few seemed to be buying.
At least he had one scheduled appointment, in the office of Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.).
"11:15 today?" said the aide at the front desk. She checked a computer. "I have it on the calendar for next week."
Waldron was 0 for 5 with the legislators. But it was worth the effort, he said.
"It's important D.C. has a vote in Congress," Waldron said.
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