Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton
Press release opposing House of Representatives vote approving voucher plan for DC
September 5, 2003

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NORTON SAYS A CLOSE VOTE ON D.C. VOUCHERS WAS PREDICTABLE

Washington, DC-The District's 2004 appropriation was pulled this afternoon after Republicans feared they would lose votes on the D.C. appropriation. The unusual decision to pull the bill from the floor came after Republican leaders were forced to hold votes open for lengthy periods twice in order to pass the Tom Davis (R-VA) amendment to add private school vouchers to the D.C. appropriation 205 to 203, and after an amendment by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) to strike voucher funds from the appropriation resulted in a 203 to 203 tie. Norton said that just before final passage when Democratic leaders were prepared to ask for a second vote on the Davis amendment, Republicans pulled the entire bill.

The Congresswoman said, "Whatever happens on vouchers, my intention always has been to seek more funding for our schools." Last year she got $17 million in additional money for charter schools. "It is difficult to get funds by attaching any request to a controversial issue, and no issue has been more controversial in Congress than vouchers. Democrats were unlikely to switch their votes, particularly when almost two-thirds of the American public is against vouchers and Republicans knew that Members are always in trouble if they flip flop from positions they have had on prior votes." Many Republicans have voted against vouchers in the past, including refusing vouchers on the President's signature bill, No Child Left Behind.

Norton said that there are no guarantees about the final outcome. "House Republicans generally hold votes open until they can twist enough arms. It didn't work today, it may work in the future, but one thing is sure, the fight in the Senate is likely to be at least as fierce," she said.

A revote on the Davis amendment and a vote on the D.C. appropriation are scheduled for Tuesday.