D.C. Political Roundup By James Wright WI Staff Writer
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Norton to Fight Anti-Abortion Bill – Again D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) is once again engaged in a battle with a member of the U.S. House of Representatives who appears determined to restrict the reproductive rights of women who live in the District. U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) has re-introduced a bill that would ban all abortions in the District after 20 weeks, with few exceptions. Franks, 55, introduced this measure without consulting Norton, 75, and she’s livid. “When the far right comes forward with extreme proposals to infringe on the rights of women, like Congressman Franks’ proposal to single D.C. out with a 20-week abortion ban, end up fighting among themselves, fragmented and in disarray throughout the country,” Norton said. “The pro-choice movement, in contrast, is unified, and with them, we will combat the insatiable Republican obsession with interfering with the rights of women in our city, as we have successfully done before.” Franks is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution. Last year, he refused to allow Norton to testify on the D.C. anti-abortion bill, breaking a longstanding tradition in the House that allows members to testify on bills that affect their districts. Franks’ bill made it to the House floor but died. His office had not commented by Informer press time. Norton said that the pro-choice lobby is gearing up to defeat Franks’ bill again.
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Perry Takes the Helm at DC Vote The new executive director of DC Vote, a Northwest-based advocacy organization whose mission is to secure voting rights and ultimately statehood for District residents, is outraged that fellow residents are treated as “second-class citizens.” Kimberly Perry, who lives in Northwest, was selected by DC Vote’s board of directors on March 5 as its new leader. She started work on April 10. Perry said she’s ready to fight for District residents’ right for fair representation. “As a D.C. resident and longtime supporter for D.C. voting rights, I am thrilled to bring my passion and experience in engaging constituents to build power and overcome injustices to the movement for full democracy in D.C.,” said Perry, 42. “For far too long, our second-class status has been a defining feature of the District of Columbia. I am fortunate to enter this fight with the strong foundation built by so many Washingtonians who have been fully engaged for so many years.” Perry replaces Ilir Zherka as the executive director, who left the organization in late 2012. She is the first black female to lead DC Vote. As the executive director, her duties include managing a small staff of employees and volunteers, meeting with individuals, non-profits and companies interested in the work of DC Vote, raising money for the organization and serving as the spokesperson for the non-profit. Perry was the founding director of D.C. Hunger Solutions in Northwest. While there, she worked on projects such as improving the youth summer meals program, started a free school breakfast program and lobbied the D.C. Council to pass legislation to remove junk foods from vending machines. She also has led the effort to end childhood hunger in the District and remains an internationally-known advocate for improving the lives of children and families in distress. Jon Buker, DC Vote’s chairman, said he’s impressed with Perry’s track record. “Kim’s experience in leading successful national campaigns have included engaging everyone from individuals and state-level
advocates to Congress and the White House and that makes her well suited to advance DC Vote’s mission.” Perry said that her credentials will help DC Vote move forward. “I am a professional advocate and have been so for 13 years,” she said. “I feel that many of the problems that the city has would be eliminated if we had statehood. I also feel a bit hypocritical because I have been to other countries and talked about human and civil rights in those places and I am in the same predicament in my own backyard.” She said that she will build on the momentum of public support that was fostered by the campaign for the budget autonomy referendum and “educate people about our organization across the city to help District residents achieve full citizenship.”
around the region
D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton has been a member of the U.S. Congress since January 1991. /Courtesy Photo
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Denise Rolark Barnes Kimberly Perry is the new executive director of DC Vote. /Courtesy photo provided by Kimberly Perry
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U.S. Rep. Trent Franks is a Republican who represents Arizona’s 8th congressional district. /Courtesy Photo
‡ Please set all copy in upper and lowercase, flush left as indicated on artwork at these point sizes: Consultant name in 11-point Helvetica Neue Bo “The process ofConsultant defeating the Helvetica Neue Light; Web site or e-mail address in 9-point Helvetica Neue Light; phone number in 9-point Helvetica Beauty in 9-point the Independent Beauty Consultant: Only Company-approved Web sites obtained through the Mary Kay® Personal Web Site program may bill last year Tosignificantly mobilized and strengthened the prochoice movement and was felt in [the] November [elections],” she said. wi
The Washington Informer
Apr. 25, 2013 - May 1, 2013
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