Sens. Obama and Clinton Support DC Voting Rights

by KCinDC, Fri May 04, 2007 at 03:37:01 PM EST

This week Joe Lieberman introduced S. 1257, the Senate version of the DC voting rights bill (the House version, H.R. 1905, passed last month). So far he's got seven cosponsors, and it's good to see that they include two of the Democratic presidential candidates, along with other Democrats from across the political spectrum, and the two senators from Utah (both Republican):

  • Robert Bennett (R-UT)
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
  • Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
  • Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
  • Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
  • Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
  • Barack Obama (D-IL)

I'm hoping that Lieberman will be able to reach out to more Republicans to increase support and avoid a filibuster. Of course even if the bill passes the Senate it may still be vetoed by the president, but I'm hoping that if enough Republicans go along Bush won't feel obliged to use one of his rare vetoes to stand in the way of bringing partial democracy to the residents of the nation's capital.

If you're one of those Americans who's fortunate enough to have senators, please contact them and ask them to support S. 1257. You can use Mike Panetta's Free and Equal DC site to send a message (and DC residents can use it to send messages to their state-dwelling friends).

(Also posted at DCDL)




Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joseph Lieberman, DC, DC voting rights, House, Utah (all tags)

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Re: Sens. Obama and Clinton (none / 0)

It's a great start!  And to kickoff our campaign for DC voting rights in the Senate, DC for Democracy is joining the DC Democratic State Committee and DCVote in lobbying the State Democratic Chairs this weekend in Annapolis, MD at the ASDC convention.

Armed with information about DC voting rights and letters from DFA groups in their states, we'll do our best to get these State Chairs to lobby for our cause, especially with Democratic Senators who are not yet committed.


by keshini on Fri May 04, 2007 at 03:45:38 PM EST

Support DC Voting Rights (none / 0)

This is encouraging!  Thanks for the update.  Any idea when they are going to vote on it?  I'm sure McConnel is going to lead the charge against this, but as you said, I'm hoping Liebermann, Hatch, and Bennett can bring enough people to the table to beat the fillibuster.  


by JeremiahTheMessiah on Fri May 04, 2007 at 03:46:32 PM EST

Wonderful News! (none / 0)

Hard to say, but I think DC has Joementum!


by optimusprime on Fri May 04, 2007 at 10:14:52 PM EST

Re: Wonderful News! (3.00 / 1)

Yes, it was a strange experience to applaud Lieberman at the reception he held after the voting rights march last month, but on this particular issue he's one of the good guys, and his popularity with Republicans (to the extent that it really exists) is exactly what we need with this bill.

DC Drinking Liberally • DC for Democracy

by KCinDC on Fri May 04, 2007 at 10:49:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sens. Obama and Clinton Support (none / 0)

Well, it's the right thing to do


by rikyrah on Sat May 05, 2007 at 12:23:08 AM EST


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