[WardFive] FW: Councilmember Orange's DC Statehood Press Release

Well done, Councilmember Orange.  Funding is crucial for the fine job our DC Shadow Congressional Delegation is doing to continue the fight for freedom in the Nation's Capital.  The next piece is to get an army of DC residents more interested and join the call for DEMOCRACY FOR WASHINGTON DC.  Please email your Councilmember (see "To:" section for email address), and let them know you would like a speedy passage of this important bill.   

 

Thank you. 

Franklin Garcia

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/franklin-garcia/dc-statehood_b_2641358.html

 

From: Payton, Douglas (Council) [mailto:dpayton@DCCOUNCIL.US]
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 4:13 PM
To: Orange, Vincent B. (Council)
Subject: Councilmember Orange's DC Statehood Press Release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      Contact: James D. Brown

February 28, 2013                                                                               202-724-8174

jbrown@D.C.council.us

 

 

ORANGE TO INTRODUCE D.C. STATEHOOD ADVOCACY LEGISLATION

Bill Provides Funding to Support the City's Quest for Statehood, Budget Autonomy and Voting Rights

 

(Washington, D.C.) – Councilmember Vincent Orange (D–At-Large) will introduce at tomorrow's legislation session a bill to establish a District of Columbia Statehood Delegation fund to further the goals of promoting statehood and voting rights for the District of Columbia. "Full statehood is important to this city," Councilmember Orange said. "The 618,000 citizens of D.C. deserve to enjoy the same full voting rights as every American citizen."

 

Councilmember Orange's bill, the "District of Columbia Statehood Advocacy Act of 2013," provides compensation to the District's shadow senators, representative, and staff. Funding for programs, an annual conference and the development of a website dedicated to promoting statehood and voting rights for the citizens of the District of Columbia is provided for. The D.C. Council would also appropriate funds to retain the services of a Congressional Affairs firm to lobby Congress on the issue of D.C. statehood and for the execution of a media campaign to further increase the awareness of D.C. statehood issues. "This bill is about really supporting the efforts for statehood, budget autonomy, and voting rights," Councilmember Orange said. "Words are fine, but actions are better."

 

In January, a group of U.S. senators re-introduced a bill that would grant the District of Columbia full statehood and congressional representation entitled the "New Columbia Admissions Act." President Barack Obama has also voiced his support for granting the District voting rights, and his presidential limousines will feature standard D.C. license plates, which read "Taxation without Representation."

 

"The citizens of D.C. have been disenfranchised much too long," Councilmember Orange said. "Our voice deserves to be heard."

 

The bill provides for a sum of $35,000 per annum for each senator and the representative. Each elected official will be provided $75,000 for staffing and $75,000 for programming. The Council of the District of Columbia will be provided $550,000 for a lobbying and media campaign.