By Duffy Dyer, V.P. & General Manager - bio | email
WASHINGTON -
Back on May 17, a hearing was held by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, chaired by Representative Trent Franks of Arizona, on a bill that would ban abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks, except to save the life of the mother.
Regardless of where you live in this country, the issue of abortion rights can always be counted on to generate a deeply emotional outpouring of rhetoric. But, if you live in the District of Columbia, there is much more at stake. Beyond the issue of women's reproductive rights, there is the issue of Congress' desire to dictate to the citizens of the District on social issues. And to do so without consulting with any of the District's elected officials.
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton was denied the opportunity to speak to the issue at this hearing, even though past practice would have allowed it. She was given permission to sit on the dais, but without permission to comment or ask questions of the witnesses. She declined.
A hearing held to collect opinions from both sides on a deeply divisive social issue that won't allow the District's sole representative, dare I say "non-voting" representative, to address the panel rises to the height of hypocrisy. It just doesn't make sense.
Rep. Franks has said that when people make the District of Columbia the issue, they're missing the point.
Of course, it is a mistake to solely focus on the process of passing or not passing this bill, but it is also a big mistake to go out of your way to deny the expression of the points of view of the District's elected officials. They must be given a seat at the table and be allowed to speak. Isn't that what democracy is all about?
If you were wondering if ethics reform in the District is on the right track, rest easy because it seems that it is. Strong indications of that are the actions taken by the nearly year-old D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability.
If you were wondering if ethics reform in the District is on the right track, rest easy because it seems that it is. Strong indications of that are the actions taken by the nearly year-old D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability.
Have you ever felt cheated? Did you ever wait in a long line, hungry and thirsty, only to be told when you got to the head of the line that there was no more food or drink? Well, you might know how the D.C. charter schools feel.
Have you ever felt cheated? Did you ever wait in a long line, hungry and thirsty, only to be told when you got to the head of the line that there was no more food or drink? Well, you might know how the D.C. charter schools feel.
Is this a Redskins town or what? The ‘Skins still own the news cycle days after their devastating defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.
Is this a Redskins town or what? The ‘Skins still own the news cycle days after their devastating defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. Front page articles, stories that lead newscasts, an explosion of comments on Twitter. The inauguration? What inauguration? I exaggerate, but not that much.
It's been one crazy political season. We have, up to now, endured an onslaught of ads from political parties, candidates, PACs and other "for and against" groups.
It's been one crazy political season. We have, up to now, endured an onslaught of ads from political parties, candidates, PACs and other "for and against" groups; we have watched as the candidates have risen or fallen in the polls as the result of debate performances. But then along came Gallaudet University.
What would you do if you had $1 billion? Start your own cable network? Buy a Hawaiian island? Or maybe buy yourself an NFL franchise?
What would you do if you had $1 billion? Start your own cable network? Buy a Hawaiian island? Or maybe buy yourself an NFL franchise? What if you decided to give back to your community, to have a decade's long impact on the quality of life.
If you are truly objective, it would be hard to argue that charter schools haven't been one of the most effective ways to elevate academic achievement.
If you are truly objective and you place the interests of the students of the District above all the politics surrounding public education, it would be hard to argue that charter schools haven't been one of the most effective ways to elevate academic achievement.
The 2012-2013 school year in the District will feature 58 schools, all with populations under 300 students, opening their doors without the compliment of a school library and librarian.
The 2012-2013 school year in the District will feature 58 schools, all with populations under 300 students, opening their doors without the compliment of a school library and librarian. We are talking about schools that serve around 17,000 students.
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