Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4387, introduced by my colleague, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), waives the 35-day congressional review period on the upcoming June 27 referendum. It will allow the results of that referendum to be enacted immediately. If the referendum is successful, the District of Columbia may move forward with the creation of a hybrid school board. This waiver will allow candidates for the new school board to be on the ballot for the November 7 election. H.R. 4387 will allow the choice that District residents make on June 27 to go forward without the delay it would otherwise face due to our own shortened legislative calendar. The mayor and the D. C. Council have come together to craft this compromise referendum that will return accountability to the D.C. school board and to the District of Columbia schools. The new school board will be comprised of five elected and four mayoral-appointed members. I believe this reasonable compromise will remove much of the politics that has characterized the D.C. school boards in the past. Most of all, this was not crafted from Congress, this was crafted from the city itself and the city leaders working together. I think if we want to continue to have democracy to be successful in the city, we have to allow them this flexibility.”