Norton Sees Voting Rights Breakthrough on the Horizon
September 26, 2006

Washington, DC--Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that there has been wonderful progress on the D.C. voting rights bill following negotiations on an ironclad approach to replace the at-large Utah seat to which the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), objected two weeks ago.  Norton began negotiating with Utah officials and representatives and House Democrats after Chairman Sensenbrenner said he thought that redistricting should occur.  Norton said that Utah Governor Jon Huntsman (R), whom Norton asked to be called as a witness in support of D.C. at the Judiciary hearing a week ago, has been "enormously helpful."  She said that Utah's cooperation demonstrates that both jurisdictions will "win or lose equally if the bill passes or fails."  Norton said she could not spell out the new approach as yet because the details are being put in place.  However, she said, "We've got an approach that fully works for Democrats and Republicans, and that is all that anyone should ask of Utah or the District."  She said that the goal remains passage this year.