tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89196162201088544472024-03-12T20:44:48.862-07:00G. Lee Aikin for Better GovernmentAs DC Statehood Green Party member I plan to continue developing and promoting ideas that will grow a green state of DC.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-6684982984018879822020-10-12T17:44:00.203-07:002021-01-25T16:31:54.456-08:00Covid-19 -- The HCQ Controversey and Zinc + Azithromycin/Dr. Zelenko<p>The revelations in Bob Woodward's new book, Rage, and subsequent broadcast of the actual taped comments by President Trump are deeply disturbing. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-woodward-virus-outbreak-donald-trump-archive-united-states-6d3932070522339fa91b8b3d3fc046fa">He admitted to Mr. Woodward,</a> that Covid was worse than the <b>severe </b>flu, and that spread was also <b>airborne</b>. His claim that he did not want to alarm the public is hard to swallow. Surely all the people who value their freedom so much would want the freedom to make decisions based on the best available information.</p><p> Jan. 24, 21 - In a<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/24/im-not-looking-to-be-vindicated-deborah-birx-says-in-televised-interview/"> TV interview, Dr. Deborah Birx,</a> who along with Dr. Fauci was connected to the White House effort on Covid, said she often felt as if there was a parallel WH Covid program she was NOT a part of. She feels she will be fired soon. The following link has many added links to information about independent efforts to treat early Covid illness, and lists many links that appear to have been censored from Youtube and other media. <a href="https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/index.html">https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/index.html</a> Getting low cost effective treatment info out to the public has not been treated kindly. This could certainly help Bid Pharma, but with how much harm to the rest of the economy and people's lives? <br /></p><p> President Trump has displayed his unfitness for his job by not only
denying the public key information to help them make their own safety
decisions, but also by denying them possibly life saving medical
information. </p><p> On at least 3 occasions in late March and early April, a
NY doctor, Vladimir Zelenko, attempted to contact President Trump and
alert him to a very low cost and comparatively helpful early,
out-patient treatment for Covid-19. See this March 23, 2020 letter to
medical professionals with cc to Trump and Mark Meadows, Chief of Staff:
<a href="https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/Vladimir-Zelenko-treatment.pdf">https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/Vladimir-Zelenko-treatment.pdf</a>.** Dr. Z has since recommended using Quercetin* (which does not need a doctors prescription in place of HCQ), as a prophylactic and for early Covid treatment. Doxycycline is a safer antibiotic for some. Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) has developed a 2 page treatment protocol for all phases of Covid treatment, out-patient and in hospital. Good to show to your doctor.***<br /></p><p> * August revised prophylaxis protocol: <a href="https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/Zelenko-memo-August-prophylaxis.pdf">https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/Zelenko-memo-August-prophylaxis.pdf </a></p><p>** November revised treatment protocol: <a href="https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/Zelenko-memo-November-updated-protocol.pdf">https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/Zelenko-memo-November-updated-protocol.pdf</a></p><p> *** Nov. 30, 2020 update by Dr. Marik (note, BID means 2wice a day): <a href="https://www.evms.edu/media/evms_public/departments/internal_medicine/Marik-Covid-Protocol-Summary.pdf">https://www.evms.edu/media/evms_public/departments/internal_medicine/Marik-Covid-Protocol-Summary.pdf</a><br /></p><p> Dr/ Ze;enko's March 23 letter clearly states the 3 parts of his protocol, dosages, and
reasons for using each part. His $20 treatment uses ZINC to enter
infected cells to kill/stop virus reproduction, Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)
to electrically alter zinc's ion charge to help it get into infected
cells, and the antibiotic Azithromycin to kill bacteria that might
attack the lungs. For some reason President Trump has only stressed the
HCQ, which helps the zinc get into the infected cells where zinc can
stop virus reproduction. They work together. HCQ is what is known as
an "ionophore". It is not the only ionophore that can help zinc.
Readily available Quercetin also works, as does Ivermectin and several
others. Zinc is not the only antiviral, the S. Koreans have used the
HIV antiviral Kaletra. To protect the lungs, Azithromycin and Doxycycline.<br /></p><p> The key to this effective early kind of treatment is, (a) an ionophore,
(b) an antiviral, and (c) protection against lung infection. I would
say Vitamins C and D3 are also important, but not part of the Trump issue. That
issue is a question of why the President left out a key part of Dr. Z's
treatment, the<b> zinc</b>. Did he never read the letter(s)? Did he not
understand what he read? Was he told to ignore the zinc, by people with
other agendas? Both he and Dr. Fauci mentioned HCQ and zinc once or
twice in March, but after that, only the HCQ. Was Dr. Fauci also silenced? Then a number of
governors forbade the use of HCQ in their states for Covid treatment, and the media
started saying it was terribly dangerous and could kill you. </p><p> On April 7, 2020, Dr. Zelenko sent this message and plan to President Trump: <a href="https://internetprotocol.co/hype-news/2020/04/07/how-to-cure-coronavirus-an-exclusive-letter-to-donald-trump/">https://internetprotocol.co/hype-news/2020/04/07/how-to-cure-coronavirus-an-exclusive-letter-to-donald-trump/ </a> This 11 part call to action urges President Trump to immediately amass the 3 materials of his protocol to launch a nationwide war against the virus. <b>President Biden should look at this!</b> It would have been easy to test a few thousand volunteer patients with early Covid to see if Dr. Zelenko's initial reports were promising. Instead, everything was done to misidentify and confuse his information and <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.16.20065920v2">quickly misuse only parts on unsuitable VA hospital guinea pigs </a>(our brave sick veterans), and then use the bad results to prevent any useful action. Some of our veterans even died using this MIStreatment. How many died between the time the White House received copies of the March 23 letter and when VA stopped including data up to April 11, 2020? Was this a crime?? Was the President duped, or simply heartless? Who had the March 23 information and failed to pass it on.<br /></p><p><b>PLEASE GET THIS INFORMATION TO THE BIDEN/HARRIS CAMPAIGN.</b> Joe Biden says he has a plan. He should see and be able to talk about the plan President Trump was given on April 7th, and never shared or used.<br /></p><p> When speaking of his recent illness (Oct. 2020) President Trump finally mentioned that he was taking zinc and Vitamin D. He did NOT mention taking HCQ this time, and he took so many other things, we have no way of knowing which elements might have caused what for the moment appears to be a rapid recovery. Since he has been eagerly telling voters NOT to worry about Covid, and he is also involved in trying to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, I have a question. How much did the President's recent medical care cost the taxpayers? I suspect it is many thousands of dollars. Try telling voters not to worry about their medical bills when they have no more ACA, or his "free" care.<br /></p><p> In fact HCQ has a 65 year history of relative safety, even at much higher doses
and longer than Dr. Z's 5 day protocol. In addition <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.16.20065920v2">an early study of seriously ill veterans in VA hospitals using ONLY HCQ</a>, and a now
withdrawn article in respected publication Lancet were also used to
debunk HCQ. To what extent have the efforts to prove effectiveness of
expensive and very profitable Remdesivir, and vaccines which may need annual reuse, been
used to influence President Trump and the rest of us?</p><p><span><span class="e9vueds3"></span></span></p><div class="ecm0bbzt e5nlhep0 a8c37x1j"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> We
now know from Woodward that Trump hid the seriousness of Covid from us.
What is not generally know in Democrat and progressive circles is that 4 times a seriously
religious Jewish doctor tried to make Trump and also Mark Meadows aware
of his apparently successful treatment of 500+ very early Covid
patients with NO deaths, hospitalizations, or intubations. He has since
treated over 1000 patients with 1 death and a few hospitalizations.
Trump kept talking about one or another part of this doctor's 3 part
protocol, but never stressed the most important component, virus killer
<b>zinc</b>. And Trump NEVER explains how the 3 parts work together.<br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> Do Trump's failures to inform us about this apparently successful $20
treatment amount to criminal negligence? Do the efforts to treat VA
hospital patients, some of whom died, with only part of this protocol to
prove it was useless deserve prosecution of someone? And why wasn't the VA system told about ZINC after March 23rd? Did some of
Trump's medical advisors shut him down to aid development of a $3,000 a treatment cure? Please read the following link, and then share it with
anyone who can use it to defeat this lying, killing(?) president. <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/Vladimir-Zelenko-treatment.pdf?fbclid=IwAR03GxEfDZKDkaI7Ma7XEZaIFXNELsozQKT5R3_4xIlHvXEvaUwdjtM--cI" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://faculty.utrgv.edu/.../Vladimir-Zelenko-treatment.pdf</a>
</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> A month or 2 after his March 23 letter, two European doctors/scientists collaborated
with Dr. Zelenko to develop a retrospective follow-up study of people he had
treated, compared with people with Covid who had been treated by others
not using his protocol. Below is the link for results of this study
(showing 5 times the deaths for OTHER patients, not his), as explained in
the Abstract. There are many interesting comments.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> For serious study
and more details click the box saying "Download PDF" below the Abstract.
<a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202007.0025/v1?fbclid=IwAR2C0XJFVUYdm2C70h2ok9DhGuU5rKeAhMdEIN7a5vCjyHu1KTcM_58zQfQ" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202007.0025/v1</a>
We must do everything we can to inform the voters about this lying
president and his disregard or gullibility regarding Covid treatment.
One of the comments in the above link reports Trump sent Brazil's
Bolsinaro 2 million items of the treatment protocol, I'm not clear which
one(s).</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> - - - - - - - - - -<br /></div></div></span></div><p> Please see my detailed blog post which includes a number of useful
links.<br /><a href="https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2020/05/covid-19-what-treatments-are-working.html">https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2020/05/covid-19-what-treatments-are-working.html</a></p><p> We are getting into flu and flu vaccination season. There have been some concerns expressed that a flu vaccine might make you more susceptible to catching Covid, but that has been pretty well ruled out. <a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2020/04/no-evidence-that-flu-shot-increases-risk-of-covid-19/">https://www.factcheck.org/2020/04/no-evidence-that-flu-shot-increases-risk-of-covid-19/ </a> </p><p> Personally, I think any vaccine has the potential to slightly weaken the immune system. I always encourage new parents to limit vaccines for their babies or toddlers to no more than 3 at one time, and not if they are already unwell or run down. See my recommendations for health and immune maintenance at my blog post 2 paragraphs above "covid-19-what-treatments-are-working.html"</p><p> I wonder if scientists have every done studies where they checked the levels of important nutrients like Vitamins C and D3, and minerals like zinc and iron before and after administering vaccines including flu. This would also be interesting to do with people before, during, and after they have had Covid, as it seems some of these items like zinc to kill/stop virus reproduction, and Vitamin D3 are especially important for people or children who don't get enough sun, or have dark skin the makes it hard for D3 to absorb into the body after being produced by sun on skin oils. - - - - - - - - - -<br /></p><p>There has been censorship
of some comments I attempted to post at AOL articles and other places. I
was only writing medical information, not the kind of nasty insults
that were being exchanged at the same site by others without AOL
comment. Others have reported similar censorship of efforts to convey information about the importance of ZINC use WITH HCQ on major media. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-21938502095661778182020-05-27T23:30:00.110-07:002021-01-25T17:24:39.018-08:00Covid-19. What Treatments Are Working, What Others Might Help<p><b>TARGETED NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTION COULD SAVE LIVES </b><br /></p><p>One should check all supplement recommendations with a competent medical professional, <b>especially if you are on medication </b>or have chronic conditions. Unfortunately, many doctors are like my gynocologist. When I first became interested in super-nutrition (1970) he said, "I don't know much about this, but you seem in good health, and so long as you are coming in regularly, it's probably OK to keep on doing what you are doing." This was 50 years ago, and at 82, I am still doing OK. Recommendations here are oriented to those who may be in less than ideal health although not diagnosed with illness, or who may suddenly be struck by Covid-19.</p><p>There has been tremendous controversy over the well studied drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a possible treatment for Covid-19. There also appears to have been a concerted effort to prevent studies or public knowledge of information given to former President Trump. He was told HCQ should be used with ZINC, and that it should be used on people as soon as they showed any Covid type symptoms even before tests confirmed the infection. The following link has many other links which provide possible treatment protocols (often low cost), and information which has been censored by youtube and other censorship action. <a href="https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/index.html">https://faculty.utrgv.edu/eleftherios.gkioulekas/zelenko/index.html</a> Censored items have been moved to secure sites. I myself have been censored at AOL articles' comments for attempting to post scientific information and facts, because I was "violating community standards." This when other comments had been posted saying nasty, insulting, and dirty comments about various political figures.<br />
<br />
A century ago there was a battle between <i>allopaths</i>, doctors who used chemical medicine and surgery, and <i>naturopaths</i>, <a href="http://www.pentictonherald.ca/life/article_898423cc-483c-11ea-a677-d3eba08aa757.html" target="_blank">doctors who used natural medicines and nutrients</a>. The allopaths won, but given all the chronic diseases not being treated successfully by drugs and surgery, perhaps it is the time to shift back to more of the natural approach. However, since that kind of treatment is usually much cheaper, it is not so popular among drug and hospital equipment companies.<br />
<br />
Since March 2020, I have been reading everything I could find on Covid-19. How the illness develops and successful and unsuccessful attempts to treat or prevent it. Here are some of my conclusions and science links:<br />
A number of <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/covid_19_supplements/article.htm" target="_blank">nutrients have been proposed as being helpful in treating the disease</a>, or enhancing your immunity to infection. These include zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, multivitamin/mineral supplements, and various herbal supplements. When sick people are tested for these nutrients they usually have very low levels or none of the tested nutrients in their body. I believe many of us are in a state of chronic sub-clinical deficiency of one or more key nutrients to protect from and heal Covid-19. <b>To build up our reserves during this crisis,</b> I recommend taking the following until a state of full vibrant health is felt. Then cut back a little:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html" target="_blank">Vitamin C</a>, 500 or 1000 mg., morning and evening<br />
<a href="https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20110606/new-guidelines-suggest-higher-doses-of-vitamin-d#1" target="_blank">Vitamin D</a>, 3000 to 5000 IU or 125 mg. a day (more in winter or no sunshine)<br />
A one daily type multi-vitamin/mineral tablet, morning and evening<br />
<a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/zinc-supplements#benefits" target="_blank"> Zinc (picolinate or sulfate)</a>, 2 or 3 calcium/magnesium/zinc tablets a day<br />
<a href="http://www.artofwellbeing.com/2015/07/21/supplementing1/" target="_blank">Other supplements </a>you may already be taking, or find through research regarding specific health issue of yourself or your family<br />
Dr. Zelenko recommends taking Quercetin, 100 mg. or more. See my next Covid blog post and/or the first link in this post.<br />
<br />
The patients most often mentioned as vulnerable to Covid-19--those with diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity--often have very low levels of zinc. One third the world is zinc deficient.<br />
The recently reported higher death rate for blacks and Latinos may relate to the reduced
capacity to absorb Vitamin D through darker skin. Also lactose
intolerance would reduce use of D fortified milk. <br />
I also learned Vitamin C
and other antioxidants are found in the lining of the lung, so extra C
might help the lining as well as killing viruses at high enough levels.
Then there is zinc and its use with HCQ. It is an elaborate
orchestration the body requires, and hard to develop into clinical trials
since we all have individual needs for all these nutrients.<br />
In severe virus or toxic illness the <a href="http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html" target="_blank">C especially needs to be titrated to the level close to bowel tolerance </a>
which can vary greatly based on the individual and the amount and type
of toxin/virus. I have used 24 grams in a day with flu and gave 50 grams
to a women with anaphylactic shock from 3 neck stings over 8 hours and neither
of us had bowel symptoms. The Chinese clinical trials were saying 24
grams a day IV, and I think NY was trying 8 grams. Probably not enough
in either case.<br />
_ _ _ _ _<br />
</p><p>January 2021 - Now that people are getting Covid vaccine there is some concern about allergic or other bad reactions. A friend with the heredity gene called Factor V Lieden had a bad reaction to their first Covid vaccine shot. This gene can cause blood problems. Three to 8% of European type people have one of these FVL genes. About 1 in 5,000 have two HVL genes. African-Americans have a genetic blood anomaly called Sickle Cell. Those with only one SC gene don't have many problems, but those with 2 genes can get quite ill. In US states, African-Americans were found to have from under 1% to 3% of the one cell trait. People who think they do or might have this kind of genetic issue should discuss it with their doctor before getting vaccinated. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ <br /></p><p>On at least 3 occasions a NY doctor, Vladimir Zelenko, has attempted to contact
President Trump and alert him to a very low cost and comparatively
helpful early, out-patient treatment for Covid. If confirmed
scientifically it could form a valid basis for opening up the country a
lot faster and more safely. We do not know at this point how soon we will all be able to get the vaccine, nor how frequently it will need to be
administered. It makes sense to use a low cost effective treatment at the first sign of possible Covid illness if it will greatly reducer the danger of Covid illness. If this makes it safer to open up the economy more than it is now (Jan. 2021) then we need to try it. <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/04/30/coronavirus-treatment-drug-remdesivir-what-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank"> Dr. Fauci’s favored drug, Remdesivir from Gilead Sciences </a>has not performed as well as hoped. Other researchers are <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.02.20080036v1" target="_blank">comparing HCQ with or without Zinc.<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> </span>This link has excellent comments.</span></a><br />
<br />
On April 12, Dr. Zelenko sent the letter which is included in this link, which also has some follow up dated April 16th. <a href="https://internetprotocol.co/hype-news/2020/04/14/a-detailed-coronavirus-treatment-plan-from-dr-zelenko/">https://internetprotocol.co/hype-news/2020/04/14/a-detailed-coronavirus-treatment-plan-from-dr-zelenko/</a><br />
This site did not allow me to copy text, so I am rewriting from a copy I
printed. First he lists his criteria for out-patient treatment. Next he
lists his 3 part outpatient treatment regimen, at which I am changing
the order of the 3 items:<br />
<br />
“1. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 200 mg. twice a day for 5 days<br />
3. Zinc sulfate 220 mg. once a day for 5 days<br />
2. Azithromycin 500 mg. once a day for 5 days”<br />
<br />
In a recent interview on You-Tube, Dr. Zelenko said that in the absence of HCQ (since you have to get it from a doctor) you could use the ionophore <i>Quercetin</i>, 500 mg twice a day. This is sold as a supplement at stores and on line. Dr. Z's 3 part treatment costs $20. Remdesivir may cost $1000 a dose or more to some buyers.<br />
<br />
Then he adds: “The rationale for my treatment plan is as follows, I
combined the data available from China and S. Korea* with the recent
study published from France (sites available on request, <i>may refer to work by Dr. Didier Raoult</i>). We know that HCQ acts as an ionophore to help Zinc enter the cell. We know that Zinc slows viral replication within the cell.<br />
Regarding the use of Azithromycin, I postulate it prevents secondary bacterial infections.**<br />
These 3 drugs are well known and usually well tolerated [me: <i>especially
for short term use</i>] hence the risk to the patient is low.”<br />
As a person who has lost one lung, Dr. Zelenko is very motivated to
prevent the deadly Covid pneumonia. The letter continues with details on
patients treated and outcomes. The April 16th addition has
modifications in the HCQ aspect of dosing.<br />
On April 7, 2020, a separate communication was reportedly sent to
President Trump by Dr. Zelenko urging widespread treatment with his
regimen. <a href="https://internetprotocol.co/hype-news/2020/04/07/how-to-cure-coronavirus-an-exclusive-letter-to-donald-trump/">https://internetprotocol.co/hype-news/2020/04/07/how-to-cure-coronavirus-an-exclusive-letter-to-donald-trump/</a><br />
His 11 point statement includes some of these recommendations:<br />
“4. This is World War III (virus vs humanity). We don’t have time to
wait for the results of a long study. Millions will die while we wait.
We need to initiate immediate treatment of high risk patients in the
outpatient setting.”<br />
“7. We need an immediate supply of 1.5 billion pills of HCQ 200mg, 500
million pills of Azithromycin 500mg, 500 million pills of zinc sulfate
220mg (or its equivalent - we need 50mg <i>elemental zinc)</i>.” He then goes
on to 8. with the 3 drug regimen I listed above.<br />
“5. Any obstruction to life saving medication (HCQ) should be viewed as
crimes against humanity.” [He keeps missing the ball by not stressing
that Zinc is co-equal with the HCQ.] This has been frequently missed by
others so that people keep saying to use the HCQ (send the police to
open the door), but then failing to say use the Zinc (to clean up the
crooks inside). Then he says:<br />
“9. I suggest the following prophylactic regimen for very high risk patients: [me: here he may mean President Trump]<br />
HCQ 200mg once a day for 5 days, and then 1 pill a week until immunity can be shown or a vaccine becomes available.<br />
Zinc Sulfate 220mg once a day for 5 days, and then 1 pill a week until immunity can be shown or a vaccine becomes available.” #<br />
The remaining recommendations will not really be feasible until item 7.
is being advanced aggressively. Same problem as not enough ventilators a
month ago. President Trump, Dr. Fauci and others need to stop treating low-cost Zinc as a Cinderella stepchild, and acknowledge it’s true
importance for the Zelenko regimen to work well.<br />
<br />
* S. Korea which now is in good shape experimented with a number of
already available drugs. One was a combination of HCQ and the HIV
antiviral, Kaletra. Same concept—open the door with HCQ, send in Kaletra
(or Zinc) to deal with the evil ones inside. They also heavily used
contact tracing, masks and social distance to stop Covid completely.<br />
** I read in late March or early April that one Washington, DC hospital
was finding 40% of its lung emergency admissions were actually suffering
from MRSA, a bacteria which responds to Azithromycin. It would be
interesting to see how common this is in other areas.<br />
# For a few days Trump was talking about taking the HCQ & ZINC. Then
he stopped including the Zinc, and then there was a whole lot of media
attention to “how dangerous it was to the heart to take HCQ,” even though it has many years of use with low toxicity. I plan to
do more research, but it appears the new drug and vaccine boys really
don’t want a low cost early treatment to interfere with their money
making. On the other hand, a lot of other “big” interests would really
like to get the economy moving again by opening up the states. WHO WILL
WIN???<br />
<br />
I just found this detailed rather technical article with scientific references regarding HCQ and use with Zinc among other things. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7202847/" target="_blank"> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7202847/ </a><br />
It is from the National Institute of Health's National Library of Medicine. The writers are very interested but would also like to see more combined studies.<br />
_ _ _ _ _<br />
<br />
HCQ is recommended by Dr. Zelenko for 5 days. In the doses and time amount he recommends the risks should be low for previously healthy individuals with early Covid symptoms. Nevertheless it is advisable to be working with your doctor if you suspect Covid. Also it is hard to get HCQ without a doctor's help. Most common dangers are to<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/hydroxychloroquine-oral-tablet" target="_blank"> heart, and blood sugar levels.</a><br />
The preceding link lists many other issues of concern that can help you decide to use HCQ should a doctor be unavailable. A small number of pills can be deadly to children.<br />
<br />
Chloroquine, which Trump talked about at first, has more
negative side effects than Hydroxychloroquine. Secondly, the point of
using HCQ is to open cells to admit zinc which prevents virus copying in
cells,. Since most Covid victims are likely to already be deficient in
zinc, it is essential to include zinc with the HCQ. Using common substances he says cost $20, <a href="https://techstartups.com/2020/04/05/new-updates-dr-vladimir-zelenko-cocktail-hydroxychloroquine-zinc-sulfate-azithromycin-showing-phenomenon-results-900-coronavirus-patients-treated-must-watch-video/" target="_blank">Dr. Vladimir Zelenko</a> in NYC has successfully treated over 900 Covid outpatients with
the low cost regimen below:<br />
1) HCQ, 200 mg., twice a day for 5 days (opens cells to zinc)<br />
2) Zinc sulfate, 220 mg. once a day for 5 days (slows viral copying inside cells)<br />
3) Azithromycin, 500 mg. once a day for 5 days (prevents bacterial lung infection)<br />
Dr. Zelenko doesn't say so, but I read elsewhere that Azithromycin is
also anti-inflammatory, which is one reason I recommend Vitamin C in
large doses. Now that a new symptom of strokes, and capillary bleeding
has been added I believe high C is even more important. Breakdown of
connective tissue is a sign of acute scurvy. Brain bleeds, deep vein
thrombosis (a leg being amputated recently) and bruising under skin, and
pink toothbrush are all signs. So check out this detailed report on ways to administer high Vitamin C use:<a href="http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html" target="_blank"> http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html</a><br />
_ _ _ _ _<br />
<br />
A recent trial with severely ill VA Hospital veterans is being reported by media to prove that treating with HCQ does not work. However, it appears they neglected the essential element of using zinc along with the HCQ. After all what does it help to use HCQ to open up the cells if you don't have enough zinc to enter the cells and slow down virus production. It has been reported that one of the early symptoms of Covid-19 is loss of taste and smell. This is also a sign of zinc deficiency. So it appears the virus quickly causes zinc to be used up, then there is no more left to work cooperatively with HCQ in treatment, especially in advanced serious cases. <br />
<br />
WHO believes <a href="https://bigleaguepolitics.com/w-h-o-claims-no-evidence-antibodies-will-stop-covid-re-infections-pushes-for-widespread-vaccination-campaign/" target="_blank">antibodies will not protect us from Covid-19, that Vaccine is the way to go</a>. "WHO leaders are telling governments worldwide not to rely on
tests that indicate whether or not an individual has contracted
coronavirus at some point because they believe theses people could be
reinfected even after they had the virus previously." Their big push is to develop vaccine. We also don't know if vaccine will last a while or have to be repeated every year like flu vaccine. Currently Bill Gates is making large contributions to vaccine development.<br />
<br />
So why did NIH release this flawed study at a crucial time in the HCQ
debate when it hurts HCQ? Two items of interest: Another site included
the comment I have not researched that Trump holds ownership in the
French company Sanofi that produces HCQ. On the other hand WHO, which
receives a lot of support from Bill Gates, has downplayed HCQ and
Vitamin C. Bill Gates has financial involvement in Vaccine
research/production. So, war of the billionaires? and Big Pharma.<br />
Meanwhile, I will continue to press for the use of readily available
biologicals like Vitamins C, D3, and zinc to raise us all to a level
above subclinical deficiency so we don’t get sick easily, and in higher doses
once we are sick to keep our bodies saturated in necessary
nutriceuticals. Plus the judicious addition of known pharmaceuticals
like HCQ and Azithromycin with possible addition of plasma for immune
factors and whole blood to provide oxygen carrying red blood cells until
the mending patient can produce more of their own. Also, early
treatment whenever possible.<br />
_ _ _ _ _<br />
<br />
I first became aware of issues with WHO in March when my son (who is in Special Forces) and I were discussing nutrition and Covid-19. When I mentioned high dose Vitamin C, he told me that WHO was pressuring Google and Facebook to remove You-Tube videos regarding C in China from the internet.<br />
<br />
I am borrowing this commentary from an anonymous source. <br />
"WHO’s leadership has totally discredited WHO.<br />
They are no more “expert” on any subject in their mission than tons
of better experts all over the world. There is no logical or rationale
reason to think they of all organizations know better than everyone
else.<br />
They could regain some stature, if their whole organization was
changed. They would have to no longer be comprise of a staff of their
own set of experts. They would have to no longer be independent of their
member organizations. Their committees would not be WHO employees. They
should be representatives of the CDC type agencies in their member countries.
All pronouncements of the WHO would be only by consensus of those
representatives. ALL WHO activities around the world would only be by
consensus of those representatives and those activities would be
coordinating contributing activities agreed on by consensus of the
member states, not independent WHO activities.<br />
Instead of WHO sitting on top of all its members, it would only carry
out that which its members agree to by consensus and any WHO opinions
would be a consensus opinion from the opinions contributed, not
internally by WHO itself, but from its members."<br />
<br />
<br />
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) CONTROVERSY<br />
<br />
At a discussion forum we were discussing various Covid issues and I
wondered what we could learn from Ebola virus issues. To my SPECIFIC
question at Google on use of high Vitamin C for Ebola, the link below
was the first link provided. There were others that referred to C, but
this was first and I am listing it because of it’s references to WHO and
prevailing attitudes toward all nutrition interventions. My own thought
was that Ebola symptoms sounded like acute rampant Scurvy and would
profit from very high C.<br />
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6924885/"> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6924885/</a>
“Despite the initially large number of papers with the key search term
“nutrition” related to EVD case management, few explicitly described the
details of the delivered nutritional support. Most clinical management
papers delineated supportive care for dehydration and electrolytes
through oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or intravenous fluid
administration and did not refer to nutrition.”<br />
<b>“Perception of Nutrition Response</b> - One descriptive qualitative study of
key informants analyzed community perceptions of the nutrition-related
response in Guinea (21). That study had 2 main objectives: the first was
to determine how the Ebola outbreak affected infant and child nutrition
on a community level, and the second was to gauge stakeholders’
perception on the acceptability and effectiveness of the nutrition
response, including the WHO/UNICEF/WFP 2014 interim guidelines for
nutritional care."<br />
"A consistent theme across informants was the <b>lack of
emphasis on nutrition</b> by health professionals and community members
during the Ebola outbreak. Key informants also noted limitations around
the use of the WHO/UNICEF/WFP interim guidelines; some informants were
unaware of the guidelines or questioned their usefulness, and some
reported finding the guidelines useful but difficult to implement. The
authors recommended that nutrition be a core component of response and
integrated into all aspects of care, treatment, and recovery.”<br />
My takeaway from reading this is that WHO is going through the motions
and has no real interest in improving the life of Africans. So who is
formulating this negligent and shameful attitude—drug companies?? “<b>WHO
recommends that EVD (Ebola) patients should be provided with a minimum
recommended daily allowance (RDA) of nutrients </b>through normal
traditional or fortified foods (1,16) or micronutrient powders (28). It
also states that, until further evidence is available, excess use of any
micronutrient for EVD patients is not recommended, unless correcting
for a specific micronutrient loss (e.g., treating hypokalemia). However,
in many EVD-affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa, malnutrition,
including micronutrient deficiencies, is widely prevalent (29,30), and 1
RDA of, for example, vitamins would not sufficiently address existing
suboptimal levels in EVD patients.” <b>MINIMUM RDA—for shame!! </b><br />
A further thought I had at that time was, Why the heck doesn't someone teach these people how to grow high vitamin C Acerola Cherries. <br />
<br />
This post is incomplete as I plan to add material on the following issues among others.<br />
<br />
*The occurrence of new serious symptoms in people who seem to have recovered. <br />
<br />
*The disappearance of heme from red blood cells and 2 patterns of respiratory distress.<br />
<br />
*The new Kawasaki type symptoms suffered by young children who have had Covid.<br />
<br />
*Questions people might raise in the Comments section.<br />
<br />
*Technical/scientific articles I have studied to form my opinions/suggestions. <br />
<br />
<br /></p>G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-10732284099014172402019-07-02T18:45:00.000-07:002020-03-28T22:26:26.997-07:00The Iran Crises and my witness to Frank Shaffer-Corona's quixotic hostage rescue efforts in 1980<br />
These days, Iran is once again in the news thanks to the unusual efforts of our current President and his aggressive top staff. I asked Google, <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/feature/trump-really-headed-war-iran-here-what-two-experts-think-64191" target="_blank">Will Trump start a war in Iran? This link</a> covers pros and cons of this question and has lively comments by readers. These current events have reminded me of an interesting period of my earlier life.<br />
<br />
The Washington Post article below describes activities by my boss, Frank Shaffer-Corona, at the DC Board of Education. This unusual sequence of events was triggered when Iranian activists invaded the US Embassy in Iran and took 66 hostages. When Frank discovered there were 3 Latino hostages he decided to act. I have edited the Washington Post article below to outline BOE opinions of Frank's activities. I then follow with what actually happened in our own BOE office in early 1980.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/02/07/shaffer-corona-phones-iran-bills-school-board/00d6de34-56a0-496f-a3cd-d40c411d9184/?utm_term=.e3106ce9c1d6">https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/02/07/shaffer-corona-phones-iran-bills-school-board/00d6de34-56a0-496f-a3cd-d40c411d9184/?utm_term=.e3106ce9c1d6</a><br />
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shaffer-Corona Phones Iran, Bills School Board</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judith Valente, </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">February 7, 1980 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> *D.C. school board member Frank Shaffer-Corona has been making telephone calls at </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Board expense to the Iranians holding American hostages in Tehran in an apparent effort</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to mediate the standoff personally, board President R. Calvin Lockridge disclosed last</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> night. Lockridge and other board members said they are not only angered that the calls</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> are being billed to the school board, but greatly concerned that Shaffer-Corona's attempts</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> at long distance diplomacy might be jeopardizing U.S. attempts to negotiate the hostages'</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> release. His efforts were also of concern *Accor</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to board member Carol L. Schwartz, she and other members confronted Shaffer-Corona two weeks ago about the Tehran calls, and he acknowledged at that time that he had made them. </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I think it's appalling," Schwartz said last night of the calls. She said she told Shaffer-Corona: "your politics are your business . . . I just don't think that we should be paying for it. "Your poli[TEXT OMITTED FROM SOURCE] pear to be concentrated on trying to win the release of only two Chicanos and an American Indian being held at the embassy. Shaffer-Corona, who is of part-Mexican ancestry, refers to himself here as a leader of the Latino community and commonly identifies himself in official correspondence as "the first Chicano elected to statewide office on the East Coast."In a letter addressed to the Ayatollah Khomeini that he delivered to the Iranian Embassy here last December, Shaffer-Corona says that "Chicanos have lived under the yoke of U.S. imperialism," and Iranians and Chicanos "as fellow victims of U.S. greed and racism . . . must stand together." </span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> *</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Board members said they became aware that Shaffer-Corona was making the calls when a phone company telephone operator called [BOE] Superintendent Vincent Reed to ask if it were permissible for Shaffer-Corona to be calling Tehran. Reed told the operator that he had no power to stop board members from telephoning wherever they wish. *Board sources said Shaffer-Corona has telephoned the embassy in Tehran at least three times in the last two weeks and each time spoken for about 30 minutes. One source said that Shaffer-Corona allowed him to listen to a tape recording of one of the calls during which Shaffer-Corona told the Iranians that the hostage-taking incident is much like a "backgammon game." The Iranian on the other end of the line merely replied, "We want the shah! We want the shah!" the source said. *</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a memo to Schwartz, board counsel James E. Brown advised that while Shaffer-Corona's calls to Tehran do not "rise to the level of criminal culpability," the board could instruct the telephone company that it will not pay for certain calls, or it could initiate civil action to "recover funds allegedly expended in an improper manner." </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">*A State Department spokesman said last night that he personally had helped Shaffer-Corona telephone Tehran "five or six times" after [State] department officials had given the board member permission to try to contact the embassy there shortly before Christmas. Recently, the spokesman said, the State Department has asked Shaffer-Corona to stop placing calls to the embassy, "because it is getting to be a rather sensitive time." The spokesman said he did not think the State Department would be willing to pay for the calls.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My 3 years spent working for At Large DC Board of Education member, Frank Shaffer-Corona was one of the more interesting experiences in my life. Interesting in the sense of the Chinese curse, "May you be born in interesting times." For a few weeks I had been doing volunteer work in his office using my Spanish language skills. Then his current Administrative Assistant quit, the third AA to quit that year. He offered me the job and I signed up for what would be 3 difficult and fascinating years. This post covers his efforts to influence the </span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Iran-hostage-crisis" style="font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-81</a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> in a positive direction. I was basically a worried bystander hoping that his actions made sense and might do some good.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frank was the oldest of 8 children born in a spread of 11 years. Being the oldest son with that many children not much younger than himself had sharpened his skills of domination and control. It had not done so much to grow his diplomatic skill. His father was a Spanish teacher at West Point and his mother was a Mexican citizen. He had strongly expressed feelings about injustice to Mexican Americans (Chicanos), Mexicans, African Americans, other persons of color, and the poor and dispossessed. He was not shy or diplomatic about expressing these feelings publicly or in correspondence. Nor expressing his feelings toward people who did not possess these enlightened views.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Nov. 4, 1979, the 444 day ordeal of the American Embassy personnel in Tehran began when several thousand angry Iranians invaded our Embassy and took 66 people hostage. <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/20/64-years-later-cia-finally-releases-details-of-iranian-coup-iran-tehran-oil/" target="_blank">Iranian anger had been growing since 1953 when our CIA and British intelligence </a>had overthrown Iran's elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh. In 1951 the PM had nationalized the US and British oil interests in Iran. The Shah who took Mossadegh's place was most cooperative on oil matters, but developed a very nasty secret police, SAVAK. He also made our military companies richer by spending large amounts of Iranian money on weapons rather than the people's needs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In July 1979, <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/iran-hostage-crisis" target="_blank">revolutionaries forced the Shah out of his government</a> and he fled to Egypt. Ayatollah Khomeini installed a militant Islamist government. The Shah developed deadly cancer and President Carter admitted him to the US for advanced medical treatment on humanitarian grounds. This infuriated the Iranians, and an important demand by the hostage holders was return of the Shah to Iran for trial.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Nov. 17, 1979, 13 hostages were released. They were mostly women, African-Americans and non-US citizens. Khomeini argued they were already subject to "the oppression of American society." In midsummer 1980 a very sick hostage was also sent home leaving 52 hostages to suffer miserable conditions, rough treatment, and death threats. When President Reagan was inaugurated on Jan. 21, 1981, the hostages were released hours later.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Upon hearing that our African Americans were being released Frank immediately became involved in efforts to also have any Chicanos or other Latinos released. He considered that their oppression was similar to what Khomeini had argued. He told me his theory that Backgammon was Iran's national game, and Frank as a skilled player of that game could develop a successful negotiating strategy. I don't know that game, but Frank said releasing the African Americans was like a certain game move. He believed that getting the Ayatollah to release the Latino hostages (there were 3) would be another positive move. Then other potential "victims" of US injustice could be identified and released, slowly but steadily removing hostages from captivity. The treatment of Chinese and Irish immigrants comes to mind</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Dec. 12, 1979 he released a Press Release on his visit to the Iranian Embassy. The same day he also wrote a letter to Ayatollah Khomeini. This and documentation of Chicano mistreatment in the US were to be forwarded by the Iranian Embassy to Iran. These items are the </span><a href="https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb9660077x/_1.pdf" style="font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">second and third exhibits at this site.</a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Other items further down also refer to this period. There are also various newspaper clippings referring to his activities during this period--a total of 34 pages.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Press Release points out that "Mr . Shaffer-Corona serves as the Washington Representative and spokesperson of La Raza Unida Party, whose National Chairman is Juan Jose Pena of New Mexico, and whose Secretary of International Relations is Jose Angel Gutierrez of Texas. He serves that same role for the Alianza de Pueblos Libres headed by Reies Lopez Tijerina." Given the Ayatollah's reasoning for releasing blacks and women, he presented the Embassy with information and documents showing that Latinos have suffered similar discrimination and mistreatment. Mr. Juan Jose Pena had initiated a similar request to the Iranians some three weeks earlier.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frank must have typed the Press Release and Ayatollah letter on his old typewriter at home. This is the first time I have seen them, and I was unaware they existed before researching this article. However, once the State Department gave him permission to talk directly with the hostage holders in the American Embassy in Iran I did listen to his side of several conversations at the office. I was struck then with the historic significance of what I was hearing. Soon other Board of Education members complained that he was using BOE phones to make expensive long distance calls. His rationale was that this mess could precipitate a war with Iran. Anything he could do to prevent such a war would save the lives of graduating DC students, and prevent money being wasted on warfare that could better be used to fund education.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were surprised and disappointed when after a few weeks the State Department cut off the phone link with the US Embassy in Iran and the hostage holders. It had taken a while for the packet of information regarding grievances of Latinos to reach the hostage holders and they were just beginning to consider Frank's requests. Shortly after that, President Carter at an election campaign speech in the middle west announced significant results pending thanks to his administration's efforts. Frank told me that based on his most recent conversations with hostage holders this was simply NOT true. And certainly nothing significant was reported after that speech.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On April 24, 1980, </span><a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/23/iranian-rescue-mission-ends-in-debacle-april-24-1980-237422" style="font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">a daring rescue was attempted and aborted.</a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I and others speculated that such a spectacular failure must have been planned to look as if something was being done. An alternate theory was sabotage by people hoping for a Ronald Reagan win in the coming election. Eight rescue helicopters were to rendezvous at a desert staging area. Their engines were not provided with sand filters, 2 did not make it to the first staging area, a third failed at that site and the decision was made to abort. During withdrawal a 4th helicopter hit a support aircraft. Eight service members were killed. What a tragedy, and what a crime if someone deliberately planned for failure of the mission.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">July 27, 1980, the Shah died of cancer in the US. Still the hostages were not returned. In mid August, Iran had a new government, and on Sept. 22nd </span><a href="https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/iran-iraq-war" style="font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">Iraq invaded Iran and began an eight year war</a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that caused several million casualties. The hostages were released the day Reagan took office. In 1986 Reagan received help from Iran to assist obtaining release of 7 hostages in Lebanon from terrorists. This despite US policy to not negotiate with terrorists. Then we sold Iran 1,500 missiles for $30 million. Subsequently more than half of this payment to us could not be found and this whole business morphed into </span><a href="https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/iran-contra-affair" style="font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">the Iran Contra scandal</a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. I was happy to not be involved with that event.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frank was not reelected to the BOE, and I lost my job. However, I had learned a lot which came in handy during my future political life. I was recently told that Frank died a few years ago. He was six years younger than myself.</span></div>
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</section>G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-6927618008103000752018-11-20T16:35:00.001-08:002019-07-01T14:59:36.695-07:00California Wildfires and Straw Bale Construction - Some Useful IdeasNo one with a heart can view the terrible destruction and mounting death toll of the latest California wildfires without wondering how this can be fixed. My interest in straw bale construction was initially focused on the energy saving and tree saving potential of this kind of building. This can be seen in <a href="https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/04/straw-bale-buildings-solar-for.html" target="_blank">my previous blog post.</a> Five years later the drought-enhanced fires and insect infestation mentioned in that post have only gotten worse as comments below will show. I hope this blog post offers some helpful fire oriented solutions both on a personal level and on a political level.<br />
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These runaway wildfires are a stark illustration of tragedy that can result from poor or misguided stewardship of our land. Whether or not climate change is primarily responsible for creating such fire conditions, it is certain that man has not kept up with practical countermeasures. As population grows, more and more people are moving into vulnerable areas. Many are basing their home construction and land management on past conditions, not building or maintaining based on the new, more dangerous reality. <b>The bottom line appears to be change, get out, or die!</b><br />
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Below you will find information on possible causes, and general solutions, as well as the contribution straw bale construction can make in this fire danger situation. As I continue to follow this issue I will be adding links and updated facts and information, so please check again.<br />
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11/26/18 - <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/relentless-california-wildfires-leave-87-dead-600-unaccounted/story?id=59262994" target="_blank">The current death toll is 8</a>8. This includes 85 for the Camp/Paradise and 3 elsewhere with almost 300 still unaccounted for. The article here has links to aerial photographs of the damage to assist emergency personnel in their search for victims.<br />
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<a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3705385/posts?q=1&;page=1">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3705385/posts?q=1&;page=1</a><br />
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This site has some interesting comments on saving lives and the management of forests to prevent these wildfires.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For example, this comment on safe evacuation policies: </span><br />
"<span style="background-color: white;">There are 4 roads out of Paradise, one was covered in fire (Pentz), one had officers turning people around at the north side of town (Skyway) to join the long line of people trying to get out (rather than letting them go through Magalia up to the 32), Skyway which is a two lane road through the narrow gap at the south side of town (designed for 1,000 cars an hour, not the 8,000+ who were all trying to use it at once) and Clark Rd which out of the area LEOs were trying to prevent people from using, incorrectly identifying it as being dangerous.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
Adding to it was people north of Paradise also evacuating along Skyway heading south.</div>
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A lot of areas of Paradise are long dead end roads that dump into ‘main roads’ like Pearson which should have been turned into a one way only (west) street for evacuation and dumped down Clark (south) as a one way out.</div>
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These are the types of things that town and county OES departments are SUPPOSED to figure out AND practice.</div>
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Adding to the situation was the 2006 fire which threatened the town with a long evacuation and little damage - many figured they’d be just fine and authorities were overstating the danger, or they’d be safe again."<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This comment from someone fighting the fires: </span><br />
"I feel a little guilty on two fronts; one is making a tidy sum working some of these fires (I earn it), and two, looking at these areas afterwards (Not the homes, but the wild land) and thinking how much better it looks (I do remember finding animals who tried to bury their heads in the ground to escape. Those things are heartbreaking, to think of the terror level they experienced. It is even more heartbreaking to think of the people who suffer a similar fate.).<br />
Some of these areas, heck, most of these areas are so insanely overgrown they are disasters waiting to happen. We had a heck of a fight here on the Nuns Fire. It started close to us and we had no time to even consider fleeing. We had prepared, clearing much vegetation and having a plan. We were in a defensible area. Sadly, most of these homes are in disastrous locations with wooden decks and siding, woodchip landscaping, plants against the house, wood piles nearby, palm tree, conifers, etc.. They are a recipe for disaster and in one of these wild situations (The Camp Fire was burning at 80 football fields a minute, at its peak.), crews have no choice but to bypass these death traps.<br />
<b> Sadly, I see people rebuilding the same way.</b> A wooden fence is nothing but a fuse to your house. The radiant heat from your lawn in one of these is so great that it can ignite your curtains through the sealed, closed glass window. Wild stuff. And once they are going, they create their own wind storms."<br />
[In addition, another person suggested that a lot of brush and trees needs to be cut well back from these escape routes so they don't become tunnels of fire.]<br />
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[In one of the number of books you can find at Google, "straw bale construction methods," I saw a wall (used as a fence) made by stacking straw bales several courses high and then covering completely with plaster/stucco/cement. These have completely survived wildfires.]<br />
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[There were several interesting and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">useful comments regarding government regulations and forest management. </span> It appears that many more prescribed burns are needed to clear out the brush, and that smoke and air quality concerns mean that they are only being done with light breezes which can get strong and start an uncontrolled burn. Much more could be burned off if it could be down in calm air conditions. Of course then smoke would be more of an issue, but <b>look what they have now,</b> way, way worse.]<br />
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"The hills all around us burnt as well as 30-40 houses all due to this Woolsey fire (Simi Valley to Malibu). This year we had a very hot summer and the previous year there was lots of rain and created a "superbloom", things grew like crazy.<br />
Lots of that brush was dry and perfect for burning. I'm not sure how realistic it would have been to do a controlled burn of most of the open spaces. The risk of a controlled burn turning into a real fire seems very high. Even clearing the brush by hand probably increases the chance of somebody accidentally sparking a fire.<br />
The county or whoever does it seem to do a good job of maintaining the roads and trails so that the fire fighters can get back there quickly.<br />
I go for walks all the time in these areas that burnt and have been concerned that this was bound to happen. Its just so frickin dry here for most of the year.<br />
There most certainly are some aspects of this issue that have to do with political priorities ($7 billion for a train to no where - no super tanker airplanes California owns). A lot of the problem seems like we live in an area that is very prone to this happening.<br />
Building codes probably need to be strengthen to make the houses more fire resistant. Those canter-levered houses on the sides of very steep hills in Malibu need to be forbidden regardless of how rich the person is. I have heard many of those types of homes were destroyed as its easy for the fire to get up underneath them.<br />
There seems to be also a bit of a fatalist streak to it all - at some point its going to be your turn in the barrel."<br />
<div class="b2" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;">
"There's very little risk when the fires are started in low mixing weather. The problem is that CARB disallows burning in low mixing weather because someone might cough from the smoke. The regulations are absolutely insane, only allowing controlled burning (natural and prescribed) when it is unsafe i.e. windy. By then it is much too late.<br />
Furthermore CalFire wasted money putting out minor fires where it was still safe, instead of starting more controlled fires in high risk areas. They are completely incompetent. CARB has blood on their hands. Likewise Butte county which took already bad CARB regulations and made them more onerous, only allowing 6,000 acres to be burned in controlled fires (out of more than a million). That was woefully inadequate.<br />
You are correct that the super El Nino created a huge amount of fuel. That was the source of the problem and the only solution was fire, either sooner or later. California chose later. They chose badly."<br />
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"CARB regulations: <a href="https://www.arb.ca.gov/smp/regs/RevFinRegwTOC.pdf" style="color: #e00040;">https://www.arb.ca.gov/smp/regs/RevFinRegwTOC.pdf</a><br />
Butte County's implementation of the regs, including their insane 6,000 acre limit: <a href="https://www.arb.ca.gov/drdb/but/curhtml/r300.pdf" style="color: #e00040;">https://www.arb.ca.gov/drdb/but/curhtml/r300.pdf</a> There are a very limited number of days mainly in spring where CARB allows the fire (windy enough) but while it is still safe (not too windy or unpredictable), and there are more than a million acres that might need burning.<br />
The results of the policy: <a href="https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3798" style="color: #e00040;">https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3798</a> This report greatly softpeddles the problem which is insane "air quality" regulations. They say <i>"The VMP treated 17,500 acres with prescribed burns in 2017, somewhat more than the average of approximately 13,000 acres treated per year since 1999. This represents a decrease from about 30,000 acres treated per year from 1982 through 1998. This decrease is due to several factors, including (1) an increase in the amount of planning and documentation required for prescribed burns due to stricter air quality regulations..."</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some people blamed excessive efforts to save the endangered spotted owl: </span><br />
"I think you all have a fundamental lack of understanding when it comes to logging. Undergrowth is removed and if possible chipped for use in co-gen plants which provides energy to run the sawmill and many times supplement the energy use of neighboring towns.Unless the section of forest [is] diseased, only some trees are harvested, leaving most of the big trees behind. This clears the undergrowth which allows the bigger trees more access to nutrients. While I may give you the fact that Malibu did not suffer from the spotted owl, to think Paradise and neighboring areas did not is simply untrue. Many sawmills near Paradise have been shut down during my lifetime.<br />
And to think that logging is not fundamental in forest stewardship...well again just a fundamental lack of understanding. Wood is a valuable resource, and it will come out of an overgrown forest, either on a bed of a logging truck or through fire."<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And: </span> "Forgot to add that we all know that the drought here in CA a few years back really helped the beetles tear up a lot of our trees. These dead trees were obviously a fire hazard so work began to remove them.<br />
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Of course, due to CA laws and the destruction of our logging industry, there were not enough sawmills left to handle them all. Many sawmills, who were hanging by an thread and were downsized to survive, were now having to turn away logs. Many were sent to be chipped or cut into firewood. Perfectly useable board foot down the drain due to years of CA regulations purposely designed to kill the logging/lumber industry.</div>
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I have always though the best place to ask about these forest fires is forestry guys. Go find some, talk with them, and you may just find that forest stewardship relies fairly heavy on the logging/lumber industry."</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course</span>: "The last thing you would do in your timber stands is allow ladder fuels to grow and die in a wet/dry season like they have out west. After the first year of growth (2016) you would light up all the growth to remove it. By 2017 it would have been a bit late, but still doable in low wind conditions (when CARB bans any kind of prescriptive or natural fire due to "pollution"). By this year the 2016 growth would start to put your trees at risk.</div>
Instead of properly managing the extra 2016 fuel growth, California maintained their insane "air quality" regulations. I see no evidence that they have learned anything from the Napa [fire] disaster last fall."<br />
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Was the spotted owl issue related to <b>clear cutting of forests or selective cutting</b> related to managing a producing forest? Some of my thoughts on this question.<br />
After inheriting 20 acres of southern Illinois forest, my husband and I spent 4 hours with a forester. He explained how a forest could be managed by clearing out small trees like 5” or less in diameter a certain number of feet from the straightest target tree so it could grow. Also selecting straight large trees and how many board feet might be harvested, but leaving crooked trees to continue to seed the forest, and feed and house wildlife. He identified productive trees to keep like walnut and hickory and even pawpaw. That is very different from clear cutting. Small logging mills can handle that work, but I suspect the clear cut guys are bigger and just as happy to put the small timers out of business. After taking notes while being educated by the forester I went to two sawmills to find out what the different trees identified might be worth if cut. [There they said I could mark the specific trees I wanted them to cut.] I also determined that one of the owners would probably be much more careful pulling out the downed trees than the other one, by pulling them out by a better route and not destroying so much undergrowth like berry bushes and small trees we might want to keep."<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And a final word at this link: </span> "I would advise "All" if they have not done so already to get on their favorite satellite viewing app or site, with street level viewing included, and examine "Paradise" while <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/relentless-california-wildfires-leave-84-dead-800-unaccounted/story?id=59262994" target="_blank">views showing the pre-fire condition</a> still exist. [This link has a pre and post fire view.] Include some outlying areas too.<br />
Add in the lack of proper forest and land management (grass and scrub lands need to be included).<br />
Then think hot, dry, windy (happens a lot in much of CA), and "spark upwind".<br />
The entire bullet train budget [a multi billion project for a high speed train between 2 california cities] could be added to current CA fire<u>fighting</u> expenditures, and, while more could be caught "in time", disastrous fires would still occur. An awful lot of prevention needs to be done, and <b>many people would not like to live in remade "safe" places.</b> "<br />
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<a href="https://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-fire-resistant-southern-california/" style="background-color: transparent;">https://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-fire-resistant-southern-california/</a></div>
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Although written in 2007 this article on <b>fire resistance of straw bale housing</b> makes a number of interesting points, and has a lot of constructive comments. In the comment quoted below this person whose straw bale home was destroyed by wildfire, points out that had it been treated after the wildfire had moved on it probably could have been saved.<br />
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"<span style="background-color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.02); color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">My wife and I recently (April, 2007) completed our straw bale home south of Hot Springs, S.D. We live in Wyoming, so it was really just a get away place for us, and several of our friends. On July 7th there was a lightening strike in the canyon to the southwest of our property. The local firefighters were unable to fight the original fire because of its location, and opted to wait until it came up out of the canyon and try to contain it. When the fire erupted out of the canyon several hours later it was a virtual tornado of fiery destruction. The path it took over the next 24 hours was more typical of a tornado than a conventional fire. It spared some homes, and completely destroyed others within minutes. Eyewitness accounts tell of the approaching flames spontaneously combusting houses in their path, leaving only smoking foundations in their wake. No house managed to survive a direct assault by the fire. Most were consumed within moments. While our house was destroyed in the fire, it survived for more than 14 hours. Our stucco exterior was complemented with a steel roof, facias, and sofits. The surrounding trees had been pruned up, all brush had been removed from the site, and all the surrounding trees had been thinned. I have determined that the house burned from the inside out. The furniture, cabinets, interior wood work, post and beam structure, second floor framing, stairs, roof framing, and all the interior partitions burned out….completely, leaving only ash behind. Once the framework burned sufficiently to allow the roof to collapse, the walls came down with it and then the straw smoldered, tho never was burned and consumed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.02); color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I am convinced that had the fire department been able to get to the house, after the flame wall had passed, they could have put out the interior fire, and the house would be standing today.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.02); color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">All in all I was quite proud of the way the house stood up to the fire, and I am in the process of using the insurance money to build another straw bale house here in Wyoming. What a totally awesome technology. I would highly recommend it to anyone.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.02); color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Andrew, keep up your good work. The planet needs it."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.02); color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Retrofitting an existing structure and straw bale building in general</b></span><br />
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Anyone who might wish to consider a straw bale building can find plenty of information on construction and useful books at Google. Many people are attracted by the environmental factors of low energy costs for heating and cooling and the rapid renewability of straw versus trees. For those who have a vulnerable conventional building, a straw bale retrofit can be considered. This is basically covering the exterior with straw bales and covering the bale exterior with stucco, cement, or plaster. In a fire zone, roof, door, window and sofits need specialized attention. The personal experience quoted above refers to using a steel roof, facias, and sofits. Preferably, the building's exterior should be relatively flat and simple, and the windows not too large. Below is an evaluation I did for a friend seeking feasibility advice for doing this to his small house.<br />
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This house look as though it could be easily retrofitted with straw bale superinsulation. The question is whether it is also an economically sound choice relative to cost of retrofitting materials and labor versus savings on heating and cooling expenses over time. [Of course in a fire zone the cost of loosing the whole house and insurance rates would be an important factor.]<br />
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<i>Important questions:</i><br />
* How long does owner expect to use the building?<br />
* How much energy savings are likely?<br />
* How high are future energy costs likely to go?<br />
* What is the state of attic insulation & cost of adding more?<br />
* Is an alternative heating source in place or planned like woodstove or solar?<br />
* What would retrofit do to resale values?<br />
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<i>Costs involved in retrofit can include:</i><br />
* Availability and price of bales and delivery costs.<br />
* Would you do much work yourself, or use volunteer and paid labor?<br />
* Does the perimeter foundation need repair, and expansion under the bales?<br />
* Method selected to tie bales to existing walls.<br />
* Revised door and window openings, [especially in fire zones].<br />
* Exterior covering or coating.<br />
* Extending the roof edges, other insulation and sofit costs.<br />
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There may be additional considerations. These can include the feelings of neighbors, the attitude of the local permitting and inspection authorities, and insurance coverage. As you study more about straw bale construction you will find your own questions.<br />
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This interesting article on California Wildfires: <a href="http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/california-wildfire/#comment-4187" target="_blank">What Will it Take to Prevent the Next Disaster </a>was shown at the Public Policy site for Wharton (school of economics), Univ. of Pennsylvania. Discussion covered such issues as Insurance versus Public Utility responsibility for compensating victims. It has been noted <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/PG-E-stock-hammered-on-wildfire-fallout-13384830.php" target="_blank">electrical company equipment</a> has been a direct cause for some of these fires as in this article regarding possible protection of shareholders: <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/californias-electric-utilities-under-investigation-again-for-starting-deadly-wildfires-78c487ab70e6/" target="_blank">https://thinkprogress.org/californias-electric-utilities-under-investigation-again-for-starting-deadly-wildfires-78c487ab70e6/</a> Currently, lawsuits are involved. The Wharton article also discussed government responsibility and solutions in a number of areas.<br />
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GENERAL ADVICE FOR FUTURE YEARS<br />
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* Form local citizen groups to work on planning with police and fire authorities.<br />
* Form localized groups to deal with specific issues, such as exit road, nearby forest brush and dead/diseased tree removal, and tree thinning, etc.<br />
* Where exit roads are essential, clear brush well away from the road itself every year before fire season.<br />
* In your own yard, trim back trees and bushes, remove all brush, and thin trees.<br />
* Replace your flamable roof with metal to protect against flying embers.<br />
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-38711558011002079992018-03-10T02:55:00.003-08:002018-04-06T00:20:35.414-07:00DC TAXES: D-40, Schedule H Individual Tax Benefit Expires April 15, 2018 for 2014 [Don't loose $1,000]<b><span style="font-size: large;"> LAST CHANCE TO COLLECT UP TO </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> $1,000 BENEFIT for 2014</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Schedule H of the D-40</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">dc income tax form</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> was greatly improved for tax year 2014 (filing year 2015). Sadly, almost nobody knows this. Spring (2018) is the last chance to collect this benefit for tax year 2014. Forms for 2014 must be filed by the <b>deadline for filing</b> (either April 15, 2018 to be safe, or possibly April 17, 2018.</span> [For earlier link, see: <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/04/dc-taxes-2015-update-good-and-bad-news.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/04/dc-taxes-2015-update-good-and-bad-news.html</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DC GOVERNMENT could be holding more than 1/4 $billion dollars ($250,000,000,000 +) that we are eligible to receive but have not applied for.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">WHAT MUST I DO TO GET THESE BENEFITS? </span></b><br />
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<b>Am I eligible</b>?<br />
a. Usually if you <b>rented or owned</b> and lived in your own home and paid DC property taxes. Click "print, fill out and mail" form for 2017 below, instructions are on last 2 pages.<br />
b. Check the <b>age and income limits</b> below at "Computing Your Property Tax [or rent payments] Credit Worksheet. You will need Adjusted Gross Income from your Federal 1040 Form. AGI is the amount on the bottom line of page 1.<br />
c. Determine your <b>Family Unit. </b> "Were you an individual or married couple [or domestic partner] ...residing in the same household." "Unit also includes any persons...claimed as dependents on that tax return."<br />
d. <b>Standalone Filers </b>"If you are not required to file a DC individual income tax return because you are below the income tax filing threshold, you can file Schedule H as a standalone return.<br />
Link for <b><a href="http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/d-40x.pdf" target="_blank">D-40X Amended Return</a>: [</b>Form good for tax years 2014 - 2017<b>]</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>What do I do next?</b><br />
e. Find your old <b>tax year 2014</b> federal 1040 (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2014.pdf" target="_blank">2014 form</a>) and DC D-40 (see links below) forms for <b>filing year 2015.</b> If they are lost or you did not do them fill them out as accurately as you can and submit the D-40 and Schedule H. Also submit any money owed after deducting your calculated Schedule H benefit by the April 15, 2018 deadline. Procedures are similar for 2015, 2016, and 2017 but you have more time to act.<br />
f. If you DID submit your tax forms for tax year 2014, but DID NOT do the Schedule H but were eligible, decide if you want to submit the Schedule H for 2014 on line, or by mail. Select the <b>2014</b> <b>Schedule H</b> link below for "<b>fill in"</b> or "<b>print, fill out and mail</b>."<br />
g. Then fill out the D-40X Amended Return and submit with (f. above) before the 4/15/18 deadline. If you don't have the computer skills, get someone to help you print the forms, then fill out by hand and mail in time to get postmarked by 4/15/18.<br />
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h. <b>Mail to</b>: Office of Tax and Revenue, PO Box 96145, Washington, DC 20090-6145.<br />
"If you are required to file a DC income tax return, attach Schedule H to your DC income tax return." Address is good for "standalone" Schedule H as well.<br />
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i. Don't stop now, go to work on 2015, 2016, and 2017 Schedule H benefits for which you are eligible. Especially if you have property taxes you could get back as much as $4,025 altogether.<br />
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j. Tell/show your friends and neighbors who might be eligible before it is too late.<br />
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<a href="http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/d-40x.pdf">http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/d-40x.pdf</a> [Amended return D-40X]<br />
"Generally, an amended return may be filed any time within 3 years from the date when the original return was due." In 2014, due April 15, 2015<br />
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Original filing of the D-40 and Schedule H for tax year <b>2014 must be filed</b> on-line (fill-in) or postmarked (by mail) no later that April 15, 2018. Otherwise you loose the CREDIT forever. There is more time to file for the tax year 2015, 1016, and 2017.<br />
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<b>COMPUTING YOUR PROPERTY TAX CREDIT WORKSHEET </b><br />
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"This credit may not be claimed if you live in a property owned by a government, a house of worship or a nonprofit organization."<br />
" The credit equals a percentage of the property taxes paid or the portion of the rent paid that is equivalent to property taxes
(20% of rent paid) in excess of the applicable percentage of the total federal adjusted gross income of the tax filing unit. The
maximum credit amount is $1000." <b>For tax year 2017 it is increased to $1025.</b><br />
If you are under age 70 and the
Federal AGI of your tax filing unit is: $0 - $24,999, use the percentage amount of property tax that exceeds 3.0% of the adjusted gross income of the tax filing unit. <br />
For $25,000 - $40,000, use the percentage amount of property tax that exceeds 4.0% of the adjusted gross income of the tax filing unit. <b>For tax year 2016 & 2017, $40,000 has been increased to $50,000.</b><br />
If you are age 70 or older and the
Federal AGI of your tax filing unit is: $0 - $60,000, use the amount of property tax that exceeds 3.0% of the adjusted gross income of the tax filing unit.<br />
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1. Enter federal AGI of tax filing unit (Line 1, Section A, Schedule H or Line 8, Section B, Schedule H).<br />
<b>1. </b>__________________________<br />
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2. Enter property taxes paid in 2014 or 20% of rent paid in 2014.<br />
<b>2.</b> __________________________<br />
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3. Multiply Line 1 by the applicable percentage (.03 or .04).<br />
<b>3.</b> __________________________<br />
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4. Balance (Subtract Line 3 from Line 2).<br />
<b>4.</b> __________________________<br />
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5. Property Tax Credit Limit.<br />
<b>5.</b> _______<u>$1000.00</u>___________<br />
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6. <b>Enter</b> the smaller of Line 4 or Line 5 here on Line 6 and on Line 3 of Schedule H, Section A for credit based on rent paid, or Line
9 of Schedule H, Section B for credit based on property tax paid.
Round to the nearest whole dollar.<br />
<b>6.</b> _________________________<br />
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The exact line number to use when filling out the Schedule H will vary slightly depending on whether you are filling out Schedule H for 2014, 2015, 2016, or 2017. These refer to the years when money was actually earned or benefited. And are normally filed the following April. There is a 3 year time allowed to file an Amended Return.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">If you sent an FR-127 Extension of Time to File, you can submit the Schedule H when you file the D-40. Instructions are unclear as to whether you should submit the Schedule H with the FR-127 or only with the final tax submission. This should be fixed. The Schedule H Instructions say it is due by April 15, 2015 [or later years. The FR-127 only says to submit full payment of any taxes due by April 15, 2015 [or later years. </span><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </span><span style="background-color: lime; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">[OTR told me submit Schedule H with the D-40, NOT with the FR-127.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px;"> Even if you don't have enough income to file the D-40, you still may be eligible if you pay rent or property taxe</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><i>Here are links for the IRS 1040 tax forms</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2014.pdf" target="_blank">for 2014: use <b>adjusted gross income</b> at bottom of page 1</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2015.pdf" target="_blank">for 2015, use <b>adjusted gross income</b> at bottom of page 1</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.efile.com/tax-form/tax-year/2016-federal-form-1040-us-individual-income-tax-return.pdf" target="_blank">for 2016: use <b>adjusted gross income</b> at bottom of page 1</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;">for 2017</span><i style="background-color: white;">: </i><span style="background-color: white;">use <b>adjusted gross income</b> at bottom of page 1</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><i>Here are links for the <b>fill-in </b>versions of Schedule H. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2014_Schedule%20H_0002FillIn011515.pdf" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;">http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2014_Schedule%20H_0002FillIn011515.pdf</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">[<b>2014</b> Schedule H]</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/48153_Schedule%20H_010616_0002.pdf">https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/48153_Schedule%20H_010616_0002.pdf</a> [<b>2015</b> Schedule H]</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2016%20Schedule%20H_0002.pdf</u></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2016%20Schedule%20H_0002.pdf" target="_blank"> </a> <b>[2016</b> Schedule H]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2017%20Schedule%20H_0002_0.pdf" target="_blank">https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2017%20Schedule%20H_0002_0.pdf </a> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[<b>2017 </b>Schedule H]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><i>Here are links for the <b>print, fill out and mail </b>versions of Schedule H </i></span><br />
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<a href="http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2014_Schedule%20H_11201412-2014.pdf" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;">http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2014_Schedule%20H_11201412-2014.pdf</a><span style="background-color: white;"> [<b>2014</b> Schedule H]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/48364_Schedule%20H_12.9.15.pdf" target="_blank">https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/48364_Schedule%20H_12.9.15.pdf </a> [<b>2015 </b>Schedule H]</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2016%20Schedule%20H_12.15.16.pdf">https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2016%20Schedule%20H_12.15.16.pdf</a> [<b>2016 </b>Schedule H]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2017%20Schedule%20H.pdf">https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2017%20Schedule%20H.pdf</a> [<b>2017 </b>Schedule H, 2 pages of <b>instructions</b> also shown]</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">If there are 3 or fewer people in your Tax Filing Unit, then you only need print pages 1, 2, and perhaps 5 (the Computation Worksheet).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: yellow;">Here is the link for the <b>D-40X Amended Individual Income Tax Return</b>.</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<a href="http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/d-40x.pdf" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/d-40x.pdf</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: yellow;">Good luck, and please pass this information on to as many of your friends, neighbors, and lower and middle class earners that it could benefit.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">The DC government has given some people difficulties when they tried to claim the Schedule H benefit. Contact your Councilmember for help, and leave a comment with information below.</span></div>
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-31344154558352564282017-08-18T00:14:00.000-07:002019-12-24T16:17:48.321-08:00Trump, Donald: Surviving the Trump Year(s?) McMillan Park Fallout & Emergency Shelter<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">THIS IS A MUST READ FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS & ACTIVISTS</span><br />
Especially the last half on<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"> disaster preparedness.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><br /></span>
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Those who follow my blog and care about the issues covered here have already been upset by many of President Trump's actions. Some of his words and actions have raised the specter of nuclear attacks or dirty bomb terror attacks in retaliation. Various Cabinet choices or White House staff have come and gone. If anything, some more recent picks are more hard line. Here is a site showing his choices of a year ago some of whom are now gone, and t<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Donald_Trump" target="_blank">his site includes links</a> to their former jobs and connections. Trumps tweets and actions continue to amaze and alarm. The turnover itself is disturbing behavior, and continues through 2019. Don't let our Mayor destroy almost 1 million square feet of underground potential fallout shelter and economic development space.<br />
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[12/22/19] North Korean threats continue to heat up including Kim Jong Un's promise of a "Christmas Surprise." This link shows <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/exclusive-satellite-photos-show-work-north-korean-site-linked-long-n1106176" target="_blank">recent construction there enhancing their long range missile capacity</a><br />
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[11/8/19] This link is to a very interesting article about a man who has spent 40 year preparing an <a href="http://www.postfun.com/aww/the-amazing-reason-this-man-buried-42-school-buses-underground/?utm_source=ya&utm_campaign=381883129-9757070038-ya&utm_medium=aol.com-ya&utm_content=35165956881-ya&utm_term=c-3.5_bus.jpg-n-ya" target="_blank">underground shelter for 500 people </a>in case of nuclear or natural catastrophe. He thinks war between India and Pakistan is the most likely threat. Each has a large number of nukes, enough to blanket the earth with poisonous fallout, even if we were not targeted. Moreover, Korea and soon Iran remain worrysome direct threats. The article includes many important preparation details. He was helped with many details by an engineer, and local authorities have given him a hard time.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">[2/25/19] While the North Korean threat is quiescent, now we are getting threatening talk from Putin. Angry over the possibility we will help Europe install Intermediate Range Atomic Missiles, Putin says he might have to station <a href="https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/02/25/after-putins-warning-russian-tv-lists-nuclear-targets-in-us/23677841/" target="_blank">submarines off our coast with Hypersonic Missiles</a> that could hit the <a href="https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/02/25/after-putins-warning-russian-tv-lists-nuclear-targets-in-us/23677841/" target="_blank">Pentagon and Camp David</a> with only 5 minutes warning. If the Pentagon were hit, we in DC would probably be toast. On the other hand, as a grim warning the first target might be Camp David. In that case McMillian Park underground would be a very useful fallout shelter.</span><br />
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[4/11/18] As if worries about North Korea are not enough, now the <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-prepares-for-nuclear-war-with-us/ar-AAvMByY" target="_blank">Russians are talking civil defense </a>preparations for their people. We have no idea what Trump may do regarding the reported Chlorine attack in Syria, but given the Russian presence there it is very worrisome. What preparations, if any have our own city and national governments taken???<br />
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[1/13/18] Terror strikes the hearts of Hawaiians as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/us/hawaii-missile.html" target="_blank">mistaken missile warning</a> causes panic in the streets. Escalating war talk by North Korea is taken very seriously in Hawaii. What are our leaders doing about warnings in DC? This <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/01/14/hawaii-missile-alert-how-one-employee-pushed-the-wrong-button-and-caused-a-wave-of-panic/?utm_term=.4f2d657e8baa" target="_blank">Washington Post article</a> has over 700 comments.<br />
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Perhaps the most frightening aspect of Trump's reigning style is his wild use of "tweets" to set forth new policies or describe new plans. Others have noted that during his three installment tweets on his new anti transgender military service "directive" there was <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2141912-donald-trump-tweets-plan-to-ban-transgender-people-from-military/" target="_blank">a nine minute gap</a> between the first and the second tweet. The first tweet stated: "After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow......" One can imagine military men sitting in rapt attention wondering if he would declare war on North Korea, followed by sighs of partial relief as he continued: "....Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military", etc. Capped by the third tweet complaining about the burden of tremendous medical costs, etc.<br />
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The "9 minute gap" link also points out that transgender health care would cost between $2.4 million and $8.4 million per year, about 0.1% of active military medical spending. Subsequently it has been shown surgery and medical treatment costs for transition and maintenance are considerably less than the cost of erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment and medication. This <a href="http://www.armytimes.com/news/2017/07/26/the-military-spends-more-on-giving-retirees-erections-than-on-transgender-troops/" target="_blank">Army Times </a>article reports that in 2014 the Defense Health Agency spent $84.2 million on ED medication for active-duty troops, eligible family members and retirees. In addition are the 1.18 million ED prescriptions since 2014 and the total cost of $294 million for ED meds since 2011. So, when is Trump going to outlaw paying for Viagra by the military??? He would rather target contraceptive supply costs.<br />
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As if what we have seen already isn't bad enough, now our Dear President is <a href="http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20170809/trump-north-korea-trade-escalating-threats-of-fire" target="_blank">trading threats </a>of nuclear holocaust with North Korea's equally belligerent Dear Leader. Trump warns the North to fear "fire and fury like the world has never seen." I guess <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/9933587/The-myth-of-shock-and-awe-why-the-Iraqi-invasion-was-a-disaster.html" target="_blank">"shock and awe" in Iraq</a> was no big deal, except the consequence was a 9 year war. Nor was the terrible slaughter and destruction of the static <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2715098/The-haunting-account-trenches-ll-read-brilliant-anthology-Birdsong-author-Sebastian-Faulks.html" target="_blank">trenches of the Western Front</a> in WW1. Now the North's military has claimed planning for an attack on Guam where we have military bases. Do they believe the only way to top those horrors is to go nuclear? Unfortunately both men love political theater and spectacle.<br />
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[11/30//17 - North Korea has now successfully launched a missile which US Defense Secretary James Mattis says had the<b> ability to hit "everywhere in the world."</b> David Wright, Union of Concerned Scientists, says such a missile could "reach...any part of the continental US," <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/28/politics/north-korea-missile-launch/index.html" target="_blank">including Washington, DC</a>, although it's range would be affected by weight of it's payload. Additional photo and video analysis indicates that the missile test represents <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/north-korea-missile-test-scarier-than-it-seemed/" target="_blank">an even greater advance in capabilities</a> than analysts first thought. Earlier in May, estimates were given regarding how long it would take for a NORK missile to reach the US. The west coast was estimated at at less than 30 minutes. New York and <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/05/16/this-is-what-would-happen-if-north-korea-launched-a-real-attack/?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_1711970" target="_blank">DC were estimated to have between 30 and 40 minutes</a>. President Trump would have about 10 minutes to make a strike decision.<br />
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[10/16/17] - The situation between President Trump and North Korea, if anything, has heated up even more as the NK deputy ambassador to the UN says <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/north-korea-nuclear-war-ambassador_us_59e55925e4b0a2324d1d20cc?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=__TheMorningEmail__101717&utm_content=__TheMorningEmail__101717+CID_c1b9ca730b370c0b30c42e8d6caba455&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=HuffPost&ncid=newsltushpmgnews__TheMorningEmail__101717" target="_blank">"War May Break Out Any Moment."</a> He further declared that "The entire U.S. mainland is within our firing range..." While these threats are somewhat routine for that government, given equally inflammatory rhetoric by our President it is seriously worrisome.<br />
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[9/3/17] - North Korea <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-intelligence-highly-probable-north-korea-tested-hydrogen/story?id=49690690" target="_blank">detonated a powerful explosive device </a>this weekend, which many believe is a hydrogen bomb with 10 times the power of the bomb we dropped on Hiroshima. Then to add to the excitement, Russian president, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/05/south-korea-minister-redeploying-us-nuclear-weapons-tensions-with-north" target="_blank">Vladimir Putin, had a few choice words</a>. He warned the escalating NK crisis could cause a "planetary catastrophe" and huge loss of life, further describing US proposals for further sanction on NK as "useless". Putin says, "Ramping up military hysteria in such conditions is senseless; it's a dead end." Are either Trump or North Korea paying attention??? [Not to worry, now in early 2019, <a href="https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/02/25/after-putins-warning-russian-tv-lists-nuclear-targets-in-us/23677841/" target="_blank">Putin is ramping up his own military hysteria.</a> Even pointing out that his off shore submarines can hit DC area targets with hypersonic missiles with 5 minutes warning.]<br />
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This past week (before 8/18/17) we were even informed that North Korea's missiles might now reach as far as Boston and New York, which means DC could also become a target. They feel that Andersen Air Force Base on Guam could serve as the base for a potential US invasion. Thus they are developing plans to neutralize the island. Guam has been the target of their threats for some time now, but the language and official sources of these threats is becoming of greater concern. NORK's long vowed threat to reduce Seoul to a "sea of fire" adds additional spice to the rhetoric. [In early 2019 with the current Trump/NK talks Guam must be breathing easier, we should not become more complacent as the Putin and terrorist threats continues.]<br />
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The one good result of all the saber rattling is that China is finally expressing interest in dialing down this escalation. They have just announced trade sanctions against North Korea in reaction to the most recent threats against the US. These are reported to restrict the export of coal, iron ore, gold, titanium, and rare earth metals to China, their biggest client. On paper this looks good, but <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/433749/north-korea-sanctions-china-will-fold-if-north-korea-sends-refugees-across-border" target="_blank">China fears illegal immigration</a> just as much as we are troubled by Mexican border illegal immigration. In fact China has been a busy wall builder. A 2007 study suggested as many as 3 million of the North's 23 million population might flood China if the North's government suffers a major collapse.<br />
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Meanwhile, Guam is busy working on their problem based on the most recent North Korean threats to direct "enveloping fire" in their direction. This article: h<a href="https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/08/11/guam-publishes-fact-sheet-on-preparing-for-an-imminent-missile-threat/23075045/">ttps://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/08/11/guam-publishes-fact-sheet-on-preparing-for-an-imminent-missile-threat/23075045/</a> details some of their recommendations. Guam Homeland Security has released a fact sheet on preparedness for an "imminent missile threat." It advises the 160,000 people who live there to do the following:<br />
* Don't look at the flash or fireball--it can blind you.<br />
* Take shelter as soon as you can. Radioactive fallout can be carried by wind for miles.<br />
* Remove your clothing to keep radioactive material from spreading.<br />
* Shower, or if you can't, use a wipe or wet cloth to get rid of radioactive material.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, thanks to two seriously angry, ego driven leaders, Washington, DC faces a similar problem. And the question is: WHAT HAVE OUR CITY LEADERS DONE TO PREPARE???</span><br />
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I don't yet have the answer to that question. Personally, I am not convinced that even if North Korea launched a missile toward DC, that it would come all that close, but I can easily imagine a miss that would create huge clouds of radioactive dust. What do we have left of our old cold war bomb shelters and supply caches to allow staying sheltered for 4 or more days of fallout. Last November, the <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/article/20841566/dcs-nuclear-fallout-shelters-have-faded-from-memory" target="_blank">Washington City Paper</a> answered that question in very pessimistic terms.<br />
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While the original fallout shelter planning and public mania was directed toward fears of very large Soviet nuclear bombs, today's threat is somewhat different. After 9/11's terror attacks considerable worry was directed at the danger of dirty nuke explosions in downtown areas. Not necessarily atom or hydrogen bombs, but even conventional explosives packed with radioactive materials. Also NORK missiles would have a smaller payload, and could easily land miles from our city. <br />
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The most important key to survival is good protection from radiation and radioactive fallout. The consensus is that 3 feet of soil provides good radiation protection. This <a href="http://undergroundbombshelter.com/bomb-shelter-questions.htm" target="_blank">article answers many questions</a> about bomb/radiation shelters and lists things to do to survive. In a fallout situation staying underground a minimum of 4 days is recommended, and even up to two weeks depending on how powerful and nearby was the blast. I was very interested to learn that McMillan Park has 3 feet of soil above it's 20 acres of underground filtration galleries.<br />
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In the 60's, my aunt and uncle in Gettysburg were proudly showing us their new well-equipped fallout shelter. After admiring all the little details and conveniences, my Korean War veteran husband asked, "Where do you keep your gun?" They responded, "We don't have one." "So, how do you expect to keep all this food and medicine?," my husband exclaimed. No answer, befuddled looks. On the way home, hubby said, "Well, if worse comes to worse, we'll pack all our food and my firearms, and head fast for Gettysburg."<br />
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In addition to the Guam recommendations above, I would add:<br />
* Imagine needs if there is no electricity, running water, heating--candles, batteries, blankets.<br />
* Keep emergency box(s)--bags with a sealed changes of clothes, canned and dried food, several gallons water per person, flashlight, radio, wet-naps, among other things.<br />
* Agree on what well sheltered place to reunite with loved ones, bring box(s).<br />
* If sheltering at home choose lowest, most central site. Provide food, water, bedding, medicine, human waste containers, and other essentials in or next to this space. Quick trips to adjoining space to bring in essentials won't add much radiation.<br />
* For possible underground shelter in yard, <a href="http://www.oism.org/nwss/s73p916.htm" target="_blank">this site has much info</a>.<br />
* To avoid breathing radioactive ash use face mask/water moistened bandanna.<br />
* Iodine and/or fresh chlorine bleach to kill germs and purify water.<br />
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Given the various kinds of emergencies we may face including flood, storm, explosions, etc. This list for fallout shelters also provides <a href="http://undergroundbombshelter.com/stocking-your-bomb-shelter.htm" target="_blank">much other emergency situation information</a>. One of the important things to have is iodine pills to protect the thyroid from radiation, or liquid iodine which can also be used on cuts to kill germs. When traveling in Central America, a former Peace Corp volunteer told me to put a drop of liquid iodine in a glass of water, let it sit a half hour then drink. We did this the rest of our trip and my husband and I never got food poisoning once. <br />
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After Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Katrina, thousands of people suffered from lack of safe water. They could have filtered dirty water through cloth, and when clear used the above method to purify with a drop of iodine per glass. Also effective is fresh chlorine bleach or for <a href="http://survivaltopics.com/better-than-bleach-use-calcium-hypochlorite-to-disinfect-water/" target="_blank">long term emergency supply storage</a>, calcium hypochlorite. This link has detailed instructions. Calcium hypochlorite is especially good for large shelter use. Potential public shelters should keep a supply on hand.<br />
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Hurricane Katrina was a major citywide disaster with a central emergency meeting point. The New Orleans Superdome eventually held 30,000 people for five unsupplied days. This <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/refuge-of-last-resort-five-days-inside-the-superdome-for-hurricane-katrina" target="_blank">nightmare is well described </a>by manager, Doug Thornton, who was there the whole 5 days with his wife Denise. Their subsequent struggles to bring back New Orleans and <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/how-one-couples-desire-to-rebuild-new-orleans-nearly-tore-them-apart" target="_blank">how it almost destroyed their marriage</a> is movingly documented by Denise Thornton. <br />
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He devoted ALL his energy to rebuilding this essential infrastructure symbol for their city's home team. She felt the important need was to bring back the people and rebuild community. Eventually they agreed both kinds of work were essential. Nevertheless the huge noisy gathering to celebrate the NO Saints opening game a year later in a rebuilt clean-smelling Superdome was more than she could bear. She left, but her single-handed effort to establish communication had brought the people back.<br />
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OUR LEADERS NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT A DIVERSE COMMUNITY IS EQUALLY ESSENTIAL <br />
One of the great dangers of all gentrification all the time is our loss of the many lower income people who work daily in restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. Equally problematic is the fact that teachers, police and firemen can no longer afford to buy in DC. This was brought home to many last year when a record winter storm stranded many workers in the city. Businesses scrambled to house their workers so their businesses could stay open or because<a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Storm-Team4-DC-Slowly-Digging-Out-After-Massive-Blizzard-366424531.html" target="_blank"> Metro had been forced to close.</a> Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washingtons-corridor-of-power-yields-to-a-blizzards-force/2016/01/23/1064d83e-c1fd-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html?utm_term=.30372c05333f" target="_blank">ordinary people enjoyed</a> nearly empty roads and snow fun, or <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/double-digit-snowfall-blankets-the-dc-region-with-more-to-come/2016/01/23/30b7a46e-c1bb-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html?utm_term=.23336997f195" target="_blank">struggled to clean</a> unplowed alleys and side streets. This link has over 400 comments.<br />
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Last summer (2016) while running At Large for DC Council, I was very concerned to find some way to save McMillan Park for all our DC residents. I heard our Mayor was planning to sell it to a NO-BID developer for $17 million when it's appraisable worth is at least $100 million. I realized we pro-park people would need to come up with a plan having economic benefit for DC's tax structure. My detailed illustrated plan (<a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/12/mcmillan-park-finer-vision-for-pro.html" target="_blank">shown elsewhere at this blog)</a> explains how parts of the underground space could be used for high end wine cellars, and other economically useful and entertaining businesses. These would have good local and tourism benefits.<br />
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Another idea by the <a href="http://mcmillanfarmdc.wixsite.com/home" target="_blank">McMillan Coalition for Sustainable Agriculture</a> (MCSA) proposes growing hydroponic vegetables and fish culture. There is no need for poorer people in DC to suffer the deprivation of local food deserts when so much could be grown and distributed at relatively low costs. In addition, underground production could provide some of the needs of the restaurants and food related businesses described in <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/12/mcmillan-park-finer-vision-for-pro.html" target="_blank">my blog post.</a><br />
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This 8+ minute video shows how <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47s8FR2V6Oo" target="_blank">fish is being farmed indoors </a>in Baltimore at Univ. of MD's Inst. of Marine & Environmental Technology. They are growing salt water fish which is harder than producing fresh water <a href="https://thefishsite.com/articles/tank-culture-of-tilapia" target="_blank">fish like tilapia</a>. MCSA's combined system recirculating water between fish tank and hydroponic vegetation is highly efficient. Fish <a href="https://backyardtilapia.com/Backyard_Tilapia_Farming.php" target="_blank">waste feeds the plants</a> and the plants clean the water. Very little water is wasted. McMillan's underground space helps regulate proper temperatures.<br />
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I have asked others about the economic potential for growing fish and plants. One estimate was growing<a href="https://lakewaytilapia.com/How_To_Raise_Tilapia.php" target="_blank"> 50 metric tons of fish</a> per month per well designed acre. If only $1 a pound were received, that would be around $1.32million per year, around $4million for 3 acres. Given the <a href="https://www.howmuchisit.org/how-much-does-tilapia-cost/" target="_blank">prices suggested here</a>, $10million or more might be possible. Today Harris Teeter was selling tilapia for $5.95 a pound. Since tiers of plant growing racks could be constructed above the fish tanks, that is another significant amount that could be earned. <br />
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The two main styles of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xkS3hzTZpc" target="_blank">combining fish and plants</a> are called Media Bed Systems and Raft Bed Systems. This link has a 7 minute video and 2 dozen linked articles to the right as well as other useful videos after the first one ends. <a href="https://www.aquaponicsusa.com/ap-info/aquaponics-greenhouse-and-growroom.html" target="_blank">Aquaponics is a young technology</a>, and there is much creative experimentation going on. This view of <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/awsghunaim/hydroponics/" target="_blank">"Vertical Farming/Vertical Gardens"</a> most resembles a likely configuration for McMillan underground. Perhaps the most valuable contribution for DC would be the opportunity to hire young people and help them learn STEM subjects and good incomes.<br />
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There could still be plenty of space available for other uses such as emergency shelter for people stranded in the city by another Snowmageddon or as a fallout shelter should President Trump and North Korea [or Putin] do their worst. Existing food supplies from ongoing food related businesses would supplement emergency supplies. For more conventional emergencies like severe snow or storms, or the needs of employees who work very early or late shifts [especially since Metro may not restore late closing hours], basic bunk bed dormitories and bathrooms could be set up with lockers. Some would be used regularly by workers, and others as emergency reserve units.<br />
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When asked <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-missile-us-kim-jong-un-re-entry-nuclear-warhead/" target="_blank">how soon</a> North Korea might have missiles able to reach the US, the answer was probably months, not years. This detailed article with maps shows threats to us and our allies. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/north-korea-targets/?utm_term=.af93e8c5f992" target="_blank">Washington, DC (Pentagon)</a> is on the North's official target map. As to how soon east coast cities like DC, NY or Boston could be targeted, five years was one suggestion. [On the other had, in early 2019, Putin says his submarine missiles can reach the Pentagon in 5 minutes.] If the NK info is true, WE HAVE TIME TO PREPARE, but we should not be wasting time, and we certainly should not destroy our biggest and best potential fallout shelter--McMILLAN PARK's 20 acres, underground.<br />
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-62013202121661389692016-12-04T20:46:00.001-08:002017-12-26T00:12:31.921-08:00McMillan Park - A Finer Vision for Pro-People Development & Major Court Decision<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I felt deep concern over DC's plans to help destroy the only pre-WWII park open to African Americans. The NO-Bid developer our taxes have subsidized for the past 7 years want to destroy most of the 20+ acres underground and build an inner city Tysons Corner above. I concluded that politicians must have received a lot of financial support to do something so foolish, but that one solution is to interest a different group of developers in making use of all this underground space scheduled for destruction. Fortunately the DC Court of Appeals has ruled unanimously that alternative designs must be considered. [See the letter to Friends of McMillan Park posted in this article.]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Administration <b>should </b>want to receive long term benefits of taxes generated by employing people, sales and use fees, and long leases as they are doing with the Old Post Office Building (Trump Hotel) for 60 years. Instead the MAYOR intends to sell OUR park to VMP for $17million when it is valued at $100million. Surely we could find a better way to use this space that would open it to all DC residents and visitors, and also generate income to the city.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then I saw the picture reproduced on page 3 below in the Sept. 2001 Wine Enthusiast Magazine whose lead article was "Ultimate Wine Cellar Dining". The ceiling of that restaurant looked almost identical to the ceiling of McMillan's underground space. Bingo, a new idea was born and I prepared the document below. Unfortunately it did not transfer with clarity from Libre Office, so I will write out what is hard to see for your easier reading. Please add your Comments for ideas that are not listed here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Page 1:</b> <b>A FINER VISION FOR McMILLAN PARK</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b> </b> For seven years we in DC have paid $1million a year to subsidize a NO-BID developer named Vision McMillan Park (VMP) to plan destruction of this historic site to turn it into another Tyson's Corner. Community action, pleading to our DC Council and other efforts have failed to stop this juggernaut. Our prepaid DC government wants development at all cost, so we now need to consider better development that will provide the tax revenues they demand. [This was written before the Court ruled unanimously on our case and said we must come up with something better than VMP's plan.]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Since one strong argument against the current plan is that the intersection of North Capitol St. and Michigan Ave. is already a rush hour traffic nightmare, a better plan should focus on off peak hours. The plan suggested here responds to those concerns. Why not have Wolf Trap and Glen Echo type events here? To enhance them and provide added revenue, why not have a mix of high and lower end restaurants, wine cellars and rathskellers in the underground spaces with their 15 foot ceilings. DC already has thriving custom brewery businesses, and Virginia and Maryland can offer more and fine vintages from wineries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Custom foods like mushrooms, culinary herbs, and other specialties could be grown underground to supply them, and ceilings painted in spectacular art can attract visitors and paying customers while providing a venue for our artists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Page 2:</b> Two restaurants in the article, The Westin Salishan in Oregon, and the Sardine Factory in Monterey, California, are described here in detail. The top and bottom of the page reads:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> DC must have a score of restauranteurs, custom brewery owners and others who would be excited by this concept. Now we must go out and find them, so they can add their voices to the fight to keep McMillan Park close to its original form and for uses that will be unique and attractive to visitors and residents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Let us contact and encourage such bold entrepreneurs to take part in creating a real vision for McMillan Park that will not resemble Tyson's Corner and its nightmare traffic and inhuman scale, a vision that very few in DC would desire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Page 3:</b> Under this photo of the Federalist Restaurant/XV Beacon Hotel, Boston, MA, I wrote:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This photo, which so resembles what could be built in McMillan's underground spaces, inspired this "Finer Vision." G. Lee Aikin (DCSGP), December 2016.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Page 4: </b>Here is one view of the 20+ acres of underground space that could be developed without harm to the above ground park. The VMP plan is to destroy most of it. The ceilings are 15' high and the distance between columns is about 22'. There is a total of nearly 1,000,000 square feet just waiting for imaginative use. Below that photo are suggested uses for both below and above ground. I will list them under page 4 and will be adding to them as new comments and ideas are suggested or found.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">List of potential uses for the <b>20+ acres</b> of underground space with 15' ceilings:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Unique wine cellar and rathskeller type dining and wining establishments</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Brew pubs and possible small brewing capabilities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Underground farming of specialty herbs,mushroom, other foods for above businesses </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Underground fish culture [can provide nutrients for vegetable growth]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Ceiling space and columns used for murals and public art (our own Sistine Chapel?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Other stores, social, and artistic spaces, as well as open area for public activities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * <b>You supply your ideas:</b> Place them as Comments at bottom of this blog post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Above ground ideas <b>not envisioned</b> by the so-called VMP "Visionaries":</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Wolf Trap, Glen Echo and Torpedo Factory type events and activities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Community gardens, including ones for busing in seniors and people from Wards 7 & 8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Solar installations to power below and above ground needs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * A jogging track and other small group sports spaces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * <b>You supply your ideas</b>: Place them as Comments at bottom of this blog post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Major activities should be oriented to <b>non rush hour times</b> to avoid the terrible gridlock VMP's plan will invariably cause at this already difficult intersection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A number of <a href="http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/the-future-of-dcs-abandoned-mcmillan-park_o" target="_blank">interesting McMillan photos</a> are included in an article printed in this magazine for the Architectural profession.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>--------------------</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The preceding material is oriented toward the concept of wining and dining establishments. I developed this idea in the summer of 2016 while running for political office. The rigorous exercise of fundraising made me aware of how important it is to have competing economic interests involved in any major DC project. G. Lee Aikin, DCSGP</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We now continue with the complementary concept of providing food and gourmet specialties for such establishments and the general public. The <b>McMillan Coalition for Sustainable Agriculture </b>(MCSA) is an unincorporated non profit organization under the laws of Washington, DC, and members are not developers. This organization was formed in 2013 to provide a competing vision compared to the high-density development plans under consideration at that time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As active supporters of a people's park, MCSA testified and provided technical input to the DC Zoning Commission's multiple hearings and finally was part of the legal proceedings that reversed the PUD and the city's plans to destroy the park. The DC Court of Appeals' Dec. 2016 decision determined that the high-density plans proposed by the DC government and the developers should be vacated and better ideas sought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The court specifically stated the VMP plan did not reach a level of “Special Merit,” required to destroy the historic park and the 25 acres of green space. This unanimous ruling by a distinguished panel of DC Appeals Court Judges Vacates and Remands decisions of both the City’s Office of Planning, and The Mayor’s Agent, effectively nullifying the DC Zoning Commission’s PUD (ZC -13 and ZC-14) and the entire plan put forward by VMP (Vision McMillan Partners) and the DC government. As of today, We are back to ground Zero.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">To move forward, MCSA proposes a <b>Project Theme: Food - The Soul of the City. </b>Our city is noted for it's elegant restaurants and the spread of ethnic cuisine, all fueled by the diverse, multi-cultural plurality of America's Capital City. Contrast this with the the dismal array of food deserts that exist in many of our communities and neighborhoods. MCSA sees an unprecedented opportunity to apply green tech solutions to real urban problems. We can do this by designing a functional park that applies green technology to local food production, trains workers for real jobs with a future, engages returned citizens, teaches nutrition and STEM curricula to our children, and serves as a national demonstration project that draws tourists and urban planners from across the USA as well as from other countries.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Recent advances in urban green technology create exciting potential to grow literally tons of wholesome green food, along with high quality protein from fish and seafood, efficiently and effectively in the thermally stable underground spaces of McMillan Park. This combined system is called <b>aquaponics. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We see the opportunity to create an exciting combination of the aesthetic and the practical in a single functional space. Expanding upon the food theme, this existing space is perfect for the growing trend favoring small boutique artisanal restaurants that are unique and are creating dishes with local food. Wineries, local brewing, and artisanal cheeses can all be included in a permanent and tasteful concept design and produced underground as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The loss of Green Space is a major issue for DC. Functional green space is an asset to the city and the community. It is not necessary to pave over every inch of land within our city in order to achieve a balanced budget. Historically green space is known to be a major part of a city's infrastructure and a financial asset. Moreover, restaurants can provide significant municipal revenues through long term leases, food and entertainment fees, taxes on business profits, and the individual income taxes of DC resident employees.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We are quickly erasing all green space throughout the city on behalf of developers, and particularly in Ward 5. Compared with the rest of the city, Ward 5 is virtually without decent parks. The feeble attempt to placate citizen opposition with their laughable mini-park highlights the growth machine's need to exploit maximum density development. Furthermore as a large park space that belongs to DC, it should become <b>our Central Park, </b>which the federally owned Mall and Rock Creek Park can never be.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Rather than support the citizens, our DC government is both complicit and compliant with this high density philosophy. There have been multiple attempts to obliterate McMillan Park and turn it into an extension of tasteless urban sprawl. The People have rejected them all, yet our DC government continues on their short-sighted path, ignoring the will of the people and common sense.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Now, that must change. While much of the Park's topography has been erased by years of neglect, the Park's location and proximity to Bloomingdale and other thriving areas of the city make it a potential magnet for young families, children, and young people seeking recreational opportunities and open space in the heart of a major urban environment.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>MCSA's Adaptable Reuse Plan</b> seeks to address those needs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The great Olmsted himself envisioned and designed it as a "People's Park," to be open and accessible, not the exclusive province of the affluent and the privileged. And given the theme and content of our proposals--for Tourists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> To be clear, please understand we are NOT considering the surface of the park in this document. We are addressing the 20 acres (almost 900,000 square feet) of space 3 feet below the green surface of the park. The term "caverns" comes to mind, although in fact the space is a cistern, now drained and dry, ready for adaptable reuse. A related plan that includes the park surface will be prepared subsequently when we have a clearer picture of how legal issues raised by Federal covenants and regulations on historical site modification are resolved.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>
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In order to achieve the dual goals of creating a world-class people's park, and an economically viable alternative to mindless overbuilding and gentrification, MCSA has decided to focus on the Park's hidden asset. These "Caverns at McMillan" are unseen by Motorists fighting traffic and dodging Emergency Vehicles on North Capitol St. and Michigan Ave. during rush hours--a problem to be made far worse by overbuilding daytime offices and large numbers of market rate dwelling units with residents mostly working 9 to 5 schedules.<br />
Three feet below grade and covering 20 acres there lies a linked world of haunting subterranean "caverns" designed by master masons of the early 1900's. The vaulted ceilings stand from 15' to 20' high and are marked with the parallel board lines of poured concrete, aged with a mellow gold patina, and evocative of ancient wine cellars and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=50&newwindow=1&safe=off&source=hp&q=underground+atlanta+mall&oq=Underground+Atlanta&gs_l=psy-ab.1.3.0l4.2175.7319.0.12653.21.18.0.0.0.0.263.2464.6j8j3.17.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..4.17.2461.0..0i131k1.0.y9S8b1Z3WJM" target="_blank">Underground Atlanta</a>. That 12 acre place was developed from space created when early railroad tracks were roofed over. It rovides an instructive example of Adaptive Reuse of urban industrial space, although lack of diverse public offerings has hampered it's potential. We should do this better with our more diverse concept.<br />
For 80 years these cisterns provided fresh drinking water to Presidents and common residents, black and white together. They are beautiful and are an intrinsic asset of McMillan Park, and should be used creatively and not destroyed for greed and short-sighted planning goals.<br />
<br />
G. Lee Aikin, DC Statehood Green Party (DCSGP) (gleeaikin.blogspot.com)<br />
(My photos are from Wine Enthusiast Magazine,Sept. 2001)<br />
and<br />
Jerome Peloquin, McMillan Coalition for Sustainable Agriculture (MCSA)<br />
1231 Randolph St., NE, Washington, DC 20017, (410) 227-0498<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>A</b><b>d</b><b>ditional
material on aquaponics from G. Lee Aikin</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This
8+ minute video shows how <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47s8FR2V6Oo">fish
is being farmed indoors </a>in Baltimore at Univ. of MD's Inst.
of Marine & Environmental Technology. They are growing salt
water fish which is harder than producing fresh water <a href="https://thefishsite.com/articles/tank-culture-of-tilapia">fish
like tilapia</a>. MCSA's combined system recirculating water
between fish tank and hydroponic vegetation is highly efficient.
Fish <a href="https://backyardtilapia.com/Backyard_Tilapia_Farming.php">waste
feeds the plants</a> and the plants clean the water. Very
little water is wasted. McMillan's underground space helps
regulate proper temperatures.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
have asked others about the economic potential for growing fish and
plants. One estimate was growing<a href="https://lakewaytilapia.com/How_To_Raise_Tilapia.php"> 50
metric tons of fish</a> per month per well designed acre.
If only $1 a pound were received, that would be around
$1.32million per year, around $4million for 3 acres. Given
the <a href="https://www.howmuchisit.org/how-much-does-tilapia-cost/">prices
suggested here</a>, $10million or more might be possible. Today
Harris Teeter was selling tilapia for 5.95 a pound. Since tiers
of plant growing racks could be constructed above the fish tanks,
that is another significant amount that could be earned.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
two main styles of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xkS3hzTZpc">combining
fish and plants</a> are called Media Bed Systems and Raft Bed
Systems. This link has a 7 minute video and 2 dozen linked
articles to the right as well as other useful videos after the first
one ends. <a href="https://www.aquaponicsusa.com/ap-info/aquaponics-greenhouse-and-growroom.html">Aquaponics
is a young technology</a>, and there is much creative experimentation
going on. This view of <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/awsghunaim/hydroponics/">"Vertical
Farming/Vertical Gardens"</a> most resembles a likely
configuration for McMillan underground. Perhaps the most
valuable contribution for DC would be the opportunity to hire
young people and help them learn STEM subjects and good incomes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There
could still be plenty of space available for other uses such as
emergency shelter for people stranded in the city by another
snowmageddon or as a fallout shelter should President Trump and North
Korea do their worst. Existing food supplies from ongoing food
related businesses would supplement emergency supplies. For
more conventional emergencies like severe snow or storms, or the
needs of employees who work very early or late shifts, basic bunk bed
dormitories and bathrooms could be set up with lockers. Some
would be used regularly by workers, and others as emergency reserve
units.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you wish to contact Council members and other key city officials to urge support of these and other ideas to be developed, below is a list of email addresses, mostly of Council members and their staff assistants:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <b>E</b></span><b>mail: * </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mayor@dc.gov, eom@dc.gov, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* bnadeau@dccouncil.us, Ward 1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* jevans@dccouncil.us, jackevans@dccouncil.us, Ward 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* mcheh@dccouncil.us, Ward 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* btodd@dccouncil.us, Ward 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* kmcduffie@dccouncil.us (McMillan Park is in his Ward 5),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* callen@dccouncil.us, Ward 6</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* vgray@dccouncil.us, vincegray2016@gmail.com, Ward 7</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* twhite@dccouncil.us, trayonwhite2011@gmail.com, Ward 8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* rwhite@dccouncil.us, At Large</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* abonds@dccouncil.us, At Large</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* dgrosso@dccouncil.us, At Large</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* esilverman@dccouncil.us, At Large</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* pmendelson@dccouncil.us (Council Chair), </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* karl.racine@dc.gov (Attorney General), and </span><br />
<b> Staff: </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">brian.kenner@dc.gov, joaquin.mcpeek@dc.gov, sarosh.olpadwala@dc.gov, eric.shaw@dc.gov, Colleen.Willger@dc.gov, david.maloney@dc.gov, tfazzini@dccouncil.us, tjackson@dccouncil.us, sgrant@dccouncil.us, rwerner@dccouncil.us, jwillingham@dccouncil.us, nrentz@dccouncil.us, snewman@dccouncil.us, dturner@dccouncil.us, bmitchell@dccouncil.us, rgulstone@dccouncil.us, lmarks@dccouncil.us, aphelps@dccouncil.us, chuck@chuckthies.com, mngwenya@dccouncil.us, bbledsoe@dccouncil.us, dmeadows@dccouncil.us, TTate@dccouncil.us, kforrest@dccouncil.us, tgoodman@dccouncil.us, srosenamy@dccouncil.us, mblackwell@dccouncil.us, aweisbard@dccouncil.us mwynn@dccouncil.us, mbattle@dccouncil.us, alan.bergstein@dc.gov, bennett.rushkoff@dc.gov, james.pittman@dc.gov.</span><br />
<b> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Please invite your <b><a href="http://www.savemcmillan.org/petition/friends/">friends</a></b> to do the same.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">---------------------------- </span> <br />
Why was Mayor Bowser having a "groundbreaking" on Dec. 7, 2016? [The following day, Dec. 8, the DC Court of Appeals said she and the developers could NOT do what they wanted. Specifically they could not violate Covenants DC had signed with the Federal Dept. of the Interior.] Suggested reasons by Friends of McMillan Park:<br />
<br />
<h2 class="yiv6541732734null" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46571" style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #9f590e; font-family: georgia; font-size: 23px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_51259"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_51258" style="color: brown; font-weight: 700;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_51257" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;">We learned late last week without notice that Mayor Bowser will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the city's planned development of the McMillan site on Wednesday, December 7th at 11am (</span></span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"><a href="http://friendsofmcmillan.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=62b79da09f328424bf2ab31fc&id=8948be3847&e=dbe1d24f5e" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: brown; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: mediumblue;">see announcement here</span></a><span style="color: brown;">). [<span style="font-weight: normal;">Surprise: next day the Appeals Court decided in our favor!] </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_51265" style="color: brown; font-weight: 700;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_51266" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;">So what's up with tha</span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_51268" style="color: firebrick; font-weight: 700;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_51267" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;">t? The D.C. Court of Appeals has not yet handed down a decision on the case, and no building/demolition permits have been issued for the site, right? </span></span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46570" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_51260" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"> That's correct. The Friends of McMillan Park is the lead plaintiff in that challenge of the D.C. zoning and historic preservation decisions enabling the project, and we'd know right away if the court had handed down a decision. It hasn't. We think the decision may come in January 2017. </span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;">So why is the Mayor doing this? </span></span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46572" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46573" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;">DMPED and the Office of the Mayor are not exactly on speaking terms with the Friends of McMillan Park, so they haven't confided in us what's behind all this. But we suspect that what motivates the permit applications and this groundbreaking event is the fact that a number of key entitlements that the city awarded to enable the project are about to expire. The zoning order that approved the first stage Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the site in November, 2014 (zoning order in case 13-14) and the land disposition and surplussing legislation from the D.C. Council dated December 2014, and perhaps other subsidiary documents, expire after two years from issuance, which is right about now. So, we presume, these actions -- groundbreaking and permit application -- are formal gestures sufficient to make sure these entitlements don't expire. Looking at this from the city's point of view, if the court were to rule in the city's favor (which we of course do not want nor expect), but the PUD and other key entitlements had expired, the city would have to redo all the expired entitlements supporting the project. If you'd like to see the permits the city has applied for, visit the </span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;"><u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://friendsofmcmillan.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=62b79da09f328424bf2ab31fc&id=df329997e8&e=dbe1d24f5e" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #9f590e; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;">DCRA permits page</span></a></span></u><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;">and look for 2940 North Capitol Street, NW, the mythical address of this yet-unbuilt project. For those of you anxious to have a look tonight, DCRA has taken down the page for maintenance but it should be back up Monday. </span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;">So if that's the case, that this is not actually the beginning of demolition/construction on the project, why didn't DMPED and the Mayor say so in the event announcement?</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;">We wish we knew. </span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46578" style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46577" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><u id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46576" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><a href="http://friendsofmcmillan.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=62b79da09f328424bf2ab31fc&id=019b451af2&e=dbe1d24f5e" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46575" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #9f590e; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481142039971_46574" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;">The Washington Business Journal immediately picked up on the fact that this matter is not even out of court yet</span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">.</span> The city's announcement did not say that construction would begin right away, but it led a lot of people to assume that. The city has not been too open or transparent in this process, so at least they're consistent. Other than extending the life of the entitlements and sowing widespread confusion, the city is doing nothing of substance with this groundbreaking ceremony that we know of. Have a good time, RSVP for the event, and please extend to her honor the Mayor continued assurances of our highest consideration. </span></span></h2>
<span style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #434547; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px;">Thank you for your continued interest and support, </span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #434547; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #434547; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px;">John Salatti, Kirby Vining, and Hugh Youngblood</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #434547; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px;">Board of Directors, Friends of McMillan Park, Inc. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #434547; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #434547; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: large;">-----------------------</span></span> <span style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #434547; font-family: "georgia";">Links supplied by Kirby's 12/17/16 email:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #434547; font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_136679" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
Tour the magical spaces of McMillan Park in <a href="https://vimeo.com/111638481" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">this lovely video in the PBS Digital Librar</a>y. P<a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/savemcmillanpark" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140048" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">lease consider donating to our legal fund</a> to stop the city’s plans to demolish our park.</div>
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District investigative journalist Jeffrey Anderson has done an authoritative series of articles on many aspects of McMillan for the Capitol Community News:</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_136692" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/mcmillan-development-arrives-crossroads-0" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140046" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">McMillan Development Arrives at Crossroads</a></div>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_136693" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #363d4c; font-family: helvetica, arial;">
<a href="http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/empire-strikes-back" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140047" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">The Empire Strikes Back</a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140058" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #363d4c; font-family: helvetica, arial;">
<a href="http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/long-strange-trip-2" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140057" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">The Long Strange Trip</a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140060" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #363d4c; font-family: helvetica, arial;">
<a href="http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/spin-doctors" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140059" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Spin Doctors</a> </div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #363d4c; font-family: helvetica, arial;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: black;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140045" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #363d4c; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial";">…and he</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140044" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial";"> has done two excellent OpEd pieces on the same subject:</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dc-should-embrace-mcmillans-history/2015/09/17/5c8ea5e0-2c9e-11e5-a250-" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: black; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial";">DC Should Embrace McMillan</span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial";">’s History</span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/wp/2015/11/01/is-it-too-late-for-mcmillan/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: helvetica, arial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Is It Too Late for McMillan? </a></div>
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See also the following from Street Sense and the New York Times:</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140160" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://streetsense.org/article/community-land-saving-effort/#.Vb0XHni3COI" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Street Sense: Community Land Saving Effort</a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140159" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/realestate/commercial/washingtons-plans-for-a-historic-site-divides-its-neighborhood.html" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140158" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">NYT: Washington’s Plans for a Historic Site Divides Its Neighborhood </a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140157" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140156" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
The InTowner also has a wonderful series of articles: </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140155" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://%20http//intowner.com/2015/03/18/sleazy-dealings-between-the-city-and-developers-exposed/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Sleazy Dealings Between the City and Developers Exposed</a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140154" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://intowner.com/2016/06/12/turmoil-continues-over-mcmillan-park-site-development-friends-group-contests-validity-of-zoning-commissions-green-light-for-pud-files-appeal-with-dc-appeals-court/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Turmoil Continues over McMillan Park</a> </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140153" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://intowner.com/2014/05/09/developers-plan-for-historic-mcmillan-park-site-vigorously-questioned-during-hearings-serious-community-issues-said-unaddressed/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140152" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Developer’s Plan for Historic McMillan Park Vigorously Questioned</a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140062" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://intowner.com/2016/06/08/brief-filed-by-friends-of-mcmillan-park-contesting-zoning-commision-approval-of-planned-unit-developmement/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140061" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Brief Filed by Friends of McMillan Park…</a>.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140064" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://intowner.com/2013/10/14/historic-mcmillan-park-site-in-bloomingdale-set-for-big-development-neighbors-object-to-plan-seek-to-retain-and-restore-open-space/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140063" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Historic McMillan Park Site in Bloomingdale….</a></div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://intowner.com/2013/08/10/why-should-we-care-about-a-disused-drinking-water-filtration-plant/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Why Should We Card about a Disused Drinking Water Filtration Plant?</a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140066" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://intowner.com/2014/06/13/residents-concerned-about-the-fate-of-the-historic-mcmillan-park-site-reveal-dubious-dealings-between-the-city-and-developer/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140065" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Residents Concerned About Fate of Historic McMillan Park Site</a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140068" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://intowner.com/2015/06/20/sidewalk-sale-to-raise-funds-for-ongoing-mcmillan-historic-site-legal-fund/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140067" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Sidewalk Sale Held to Raise Funds for McMillan Legal Fund</a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140150" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: Helvetica-Light; font-size: x-small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140149" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://intowner.com/2016/10/18/the-mcmillan-park-reservoir-mess-city-officials-seem-to-be-ignoring-the-increased-opposition-to-the-plans-for-historic-sites-development-perhaps-at-their-peril/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140148" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">The McMillan Park Reservoir Mess: City officials Seem to be Ignoring the </a></span></span></h2>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: Helvetica-Light; font-size: x-small;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://intowner.com/2016/10/18/the-mcmillan-park-reservoir-mess-city-officials-seem-to-be-ignoring-the-increased-opposition-to-the-plans-for-historic-sites-development-perhaps-at-their-peril/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Increased Opposition to the Plans for Historic Site’s Development, Perhaps at </a></span></span><a href="http://intowner.com/2016/10/18/the-mcmillan-park-reservoir-mess-city-officials-seem-to-be-ignoring-the-increased-opposition-to-the-plans-for-historic-sites-development-perhaps-at-their-peril/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Their Peril</a></h2>
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<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/10/26/the-process-to-choose-the-developer-for-mcmillan-was-flawed-d-c-auditor-says/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">The Washington Post published an article on the D.C. Auditor’s report concerning the proposed McMillan development on October 10, 2015</a>, citing a glaring lack of any bidding process among other problems. </div>
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And a lovely group of <a href="http://www.portraitcitydc.com/mcmillan-park" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">interviews with neighbors who recall visiting McMillan Park when it was open</a>. Our city claims McMillan “was never a park.” (A<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0iqLezE6G0" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_140073" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"> full video of the interview with Ms. Ella is also available here)</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Detailed comments on the Court victory - same day as above list of links:</span><br />
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<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141320" style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #9f590e; font-family: georgia; font-weight: normal; line-height: 29px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141321" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 700;">The Court of Appeals Ruled in Our Favor, </span><span style="font-size: large;">but the War Goes On </span></h1>
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<em id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141325" style="color: #363d4c; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 19.5px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141324" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Dear Friend of McMillan Park,</span></em><span style="color: #9f590e; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 29px; font-weight: 700;"> </span></h1>
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<h2 class="yiv0442083696null" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141312" style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #9f590e; font-family: georgia; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141319" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141318" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141326" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141317" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"><span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">We are still euphoric over the D.C. Court of Appeals' decision in our favor, issued just one week ago.<span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141327" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: black;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141328" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">That court decision frankly was more favorable to our side than we had dreamed. This court decision is the first time that there has been any official look at the city's plans outside of the Wilson Building. With the notable exception of the D.C. Auditor Kathleen Patterson, everyone else in the Wilson Building apparently sees no problem with the proposed development and thinks it's a great idea. </span></span></span></h2>
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<h2 class="yiv0442083696null" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141312" style="background-color: #f5f5ef; color: #9f590e; font-family: georgia; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141331" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141330" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141329" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;">This court decision<span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span><u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;">vacates </u><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481617349899_141332" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;">(cancels or nullifies, in ordinary language) the District's one zoning and two preservation orders that enable the proposed development. </span></span></span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: black;"><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;">We were hoping that the court would at least remand this case back to the city to revise specified aspects of the plan, so cancellation of the three entitlements is more than we'd hoped for. Without those three orders, nothing can be done on the site at this time. Not legally, anyway. The court order obligates the District to rethink this whole project, and it actually recommended that something else entirely might be considered. Although those words sound rather innocuous, this is pretty strong language in a court order. The court stated that all the things the city wants to do could be justified, but they have not been justified, and was so firm in that position that it cancelled the three orders. </span></span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"> We are not so naive as to think that the District is not right now looking closely at that order and trying to figure a way to push the project forward anyway.<span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: black;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;">The Mayor has said as much in the few government statements her office has made. <u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">But this is a game changer, and just tweaking some details of the existing plans aren't sufficient</u>. Alternative designs are REQUIRED, both by the District's preservation law and specific mention of that in the court decision. The court found the District's plans not in compliance with its own rules and regulations. </span></span></span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"> So we are gearing up for<span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;">another fight</span></span></span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: black;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;">. <span style="font-weight: normal;">But we don't yet know what the District plans to do, or how, or when. <u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Most likely the District will hold new hearings to try to justify some modified form of its plans</u>. The District government would like to characterize us as interfering. On the contrary, we would very much like to work WITH our government and see a request for proposals for an open bidding and design competition (never happened) that is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's recommendations for the site, the historic designation of the site, and community opinions and wishes. If our government would just work WITH existing rules and regulations, we'd be with them, helping. But they're not even close yet. Not even close. High rise buildings and demolition of 80-90% of the site? Traffic? Not even close. </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 21px;"><u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">We are planning a gathering sometime in January, a time to celebrate this wonderful judicial ruling and talk about the future, and of course we hope to raise some additional funds with our new credibility.</u></span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 19px;"><u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></u></span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"><u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </u></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"><u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">We will advise you when we have a time, date, and place for this event.</u><span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span> On the fundraising side, so many of you have been extremely generous, but at this moment we have covered only about one quarter of the costs accrued in the lengthy zoning, preservation, and court challenges. It is certain that there will be additional battles. </span></span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: brown;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"> In the meantime,<span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span><u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">if you would like a copy of the court's decision, please contact the email address at the bottom of this message and we'd be delighted to get a copy<span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></u>to you as an email attachment (it's not very large). <u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">And we're always looking for volunteer help with a variety of things that help us keep going, so please let us know if you're interested.</u></span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;"> Please spread the word of our success, even though FINALLY we are getting a bit of press coverage on who we are and what we have done. </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 17px;">Thousands of persons like you have done something, minor or major, even if only to mention to a friend or neighbor that there's something wrong with what the city's doing at McMillan, and that has helped this effort succeed. That is what this is about: a community focused on the revitalization of something of astonishing beauty. Keep it up! Christmas has come early for those of us who want a beautiful McMillan Park in our future and you are angels, helping us bring our park back to life. </span></span></span></h2>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">John Salatti, Kirby Vining, and Hugh Youngblood</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Board of Directors, Friends of McMillan Park, Inc. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you have any questions, please contact<span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span><a href="mailto:restoremcmillan@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #9f590e; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:restoremcmillan@gmail.com">restoremcmillan@gmail.com</a><span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>or call<span class="yiv0442083696Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span>202.213.2690<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></div>
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Links from Daniel Wolkoff, Dec. 18, 2016<br />
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Daniel Goldon Wolkoff, McMillan Park links</div>
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Peoples Plan for McMillan Park </div>
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Prof. Miriam Gusevich Catholic University of America with Collage City Studio You tube power point </div>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/EwJwGr2qFrY" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482002101852_34449" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/EwJwGr2qFrY</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_17607" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"></span><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_17609" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">National Register of Historic Places McMillan nomination </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_17609" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">(</span><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_17610" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13000022.htm" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_17611" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_17612" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: blue;">http://www.nps.gov/nr/feature /places/13000022.htm</span></a></span><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_17613" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> ) by DC Office of Historic Preservation architectural Historian Kim Williams.</span> She describes a remarkably intact, fascinating, even charming engineering marvel slated for demolition in violation of federal law.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">------------------------- </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Bowser and PR Firm Fontaine lied "it was never a park", The High Line in NY was never a park, it was an elevated Railroad. They had the foresight to save it, and a fabulous success for NY.</span></div>
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<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_24193" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_24249" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<b id="yiv9783955274yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482093706481_28332" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bloomngdale elder Ms.Ella relates her childhood spent in the PARK, the children called McMillan "our beach".</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_22541" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="https://youtu.be/X0iqLezE6G0" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_22544" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/X0iqLezE6G0</a></span></div>
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<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_24251" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-------------------------</span></div>
<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_22908" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_22909" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">To ram the development down our throats the DC govt. hired Jamie Fontaine PR firm to "neutralize opposition", a violation of the Constitutional right to "petition the govt. for redress of grievances". When exposed to Bowser, Mendelson , they have covered this up and Deputy Mayor Miller lied about his office paying for Fontaine! </span></span></div>
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<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_22916" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="http://youtu.be/uXkOgHV7Lhw" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_24402" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/uXkOgHV7Lhw</a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23201" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">--------------------------</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23269" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23270" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">The community struggle to Save McMillan Park, preserving the ENTIRE "GREAT PLACE", Olmsted designed surface-park and existing 20 acres underground, creates the exciting potential for Sustainable large scale "indoor agriculture", numerous adaptive re-use that is allowed with Historic Preservation and building real careers, parks are economic development.</span><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23271" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23273" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23271" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Different than Kojo and Roger K. Lewis model.</span><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23274" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23277" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="http://youtu.be/ILzWmw53Wwo" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23278" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23279" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: blue;"></span></a><a href="http://youtu.be/ILzWmw53Wwo" id="yiv9783955274yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482093706481_31818" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/ILzWmw53Wwo</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">----------------------------<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23277" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><a href="http://youtu.be/ILzWmw53Wwo" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23278" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23279" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: blue;"></span></a></span></span></div>
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<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23642" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_24191" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23643" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DC Wolf Trap at McMillan outdoor concert stage with sunset vistas, Glen Echo arts/performance campus, Wine cellars,</span></span></div>
<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_24190" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23643" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">City Bazaar, Breweries, performance space, public land for the public use, and ownership, start the Conservancy NOW!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23649" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="https://youtu.be/JQ2L0vpVqls" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_23653" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/JQ2L0vpVqls</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">----------------------</span></div>
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<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8159" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8160" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Pope Francis</span></span></div>
<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8161" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8162" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"we have created new idols. The worship of the ancient Golden Calf</span></span></div>
<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8163" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8164" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">has returned in a new <b id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8165" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">ruthless </b>guise in the idolatry of money and</span></span></div>
<div id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8166" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_8167" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How did Pope Francis know about "the Monstrosity on Michigan Avenue"?<span id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_11672" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DC administrations collude with VMP,their development partners to steal 25 acres of public recreational land, the biggest land theft since Manhattan!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.envisionmcmillan.com/" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_11735" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://youtu.be/y5TU4nvRjgk</span></a></div>
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<span style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.envisionmcmillan.com/" id="yiv9783955274m_-6702501815704636012m_-2665149531711298747yiv1291603738yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1481531277640_11735" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Given that tourism is a major DC source of income, and given that government employment could suffer during a Trump administration, we should consider ways to <b>enhance the tourism potential </b>of McMillan Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I recently watched a Japanese TV show about mushroom culture in Japan. They have 21 species of mushrooms used there for culinary purposes. We could have an underground store featuring international goods and foods. Unusual Japanese style mushrooms actually grown in the underground area could be a product sold there. Perhaps we could approach the Japanese Embassy to see if this is a project that would interest them. The same could be done with other embassies and food or cultural products like cheese and pasta.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Having observed the popularity of watching products and food being made through a store window, I believe craft and food production showcases should be a popular addition. Examples near 14th and U Sts., NW are the Cupcake Factory on U St., and another baked goods store on 14th south of U St. Studio and craft space for artists and artisans could be provided at a low cost, with the opportunity to draw people by actually producing items before a window by the walkways. The <a href="http://www.artistcommunities.org/residencies/torpedo-factory-art-center" target="_blank">Torpedo Factory</a> in Alexandria is a nearby place where this sort of activity has taken place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If we have to build a big building, here is one of the better ideas I have seen for putting in a park.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/best-tall-building?utm_source=aol&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=aolfeature#136046">http://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/best-tall-building?utm_source=aol&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=aolfeature#136046</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Please be sure to add any <b>ideas you may have</b> at the Comments below.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-50760122560445895912016-10-14T12:21:00.001-07:002016-12-10T12:21:01.170-08:00DC Constitution & Statehood, Sept. 27 & Oct 6 Testimony, Consequences of Nov. 8, 2016 vote<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>The Mayor and 4 other people NOT elected to write a Constitution are now forcing us to make difficult choices when we vote on Nov. 8, 2016. Our Council now has a few days to fix this before they vote for final language on Oct. 18, 2016. </b>Note that the DC4D (10/17/16) analysis includes email addresses and phone numbers for our 13 Council members. Please contact them, urge them to not be persuaded by the Mayor to vote changes after the Nov. 8th vote. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">[11/9/16] Enough people were persuaded that the Council had made sufficient corrections to the Mayor's Constitution that on Nov. 8, 2016 the <a href="https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/v3/2016/November-8-General-Election" target="_blank">people voted over 78% </a>to approve Statehood (and that Constitution). Results are the last item on the link provided.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">[10/28/16] The <a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/statehood/publication/attachments/Constitution-of-the-State-of-Washington-DC.pdf" target="_blank">Council's revised Constitution</a>, dated Oct. 18, 2016, is now available for your review. In addition dcist.com has also posted an article on the Council's actions, with a <a href="http://dcist.com/2016/10/_following_a_series_of.php" target="_blank">window showing the Constitution </a>in which changes are printed in red. The provision stating that a real Constitutional Convention MUST be held within 2 year after we receive Statehood appears on Page 39 or (page 31 at dcist), ARTICLE VII, Sec. 4, a. For many people this removes the major barrier to voting YES on Statehood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">However, the Statehood Green Party will meet on Nov. 3 to make the Party's final decision. So far as I know this Constitution no longer contains protection of</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-size: 14pt;">minority party rights</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">with a guaranteed set-aside in the legislative body. This is likely to mean that no Statehood Green, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent is likely to be elected again to our State's legislative body.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">[11/7/16] Here is word from: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif;">Darryl! LC Moch, Chair, DCSGP</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">S</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif;">o far according to local activists who also checked with Councilmember Alissa Silverman's office there is no second vote. Legal council for the Teacher's Union did not see how council could do a second vote legally.</span><br />
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DCSGP has not issued a public statement but given that the council acted on most of our demands and the major demand that there <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">must</b> be a Constitutional Convention called within 2 years of admission satisfies the main points of our objections we stand with other partners in supporting the revised referendum- and still strongly object to not having that wording [listed separately] on the ballot so that the people can transparently vote on the final version of the resolution. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">[11/3/16] The DC Statehood Green Party held it's monthly meeting. We were informed of several changes the Council made in the Constitution, which the dcist posting of the 10/18/16 shows in red which makes it clearer just exactly what the Council actually changed. The Council adopted this 8 to 5 as a Resolution which only requires 1 vote, rather than the 2 votes required by a Bill. I could NOT find Mayor Bowser's reaction to this vote at Google. However, at the meeting is was said that she may try to get the Council to make a second vote (after the voters have already weighed in on the Council's 10/18/16 document). Thus some expressed fear that the Mayor and her big money backers my still try to change things to what they prefer after Nov. 8th. Of course if they did this the voters would probably have grounds for a legal case.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> I asked for those who are trying to clarify this picture to send me information as soon as they get it so I can post it here. No final vote was taken by the DCSGP on a YES or NO vote. Several said they had already voted NO, others said they were still weighing the issues and the possibilities of funny business by the Mayor and big money interests, and were waiting until Nov. 8th to make their decision. All agreed that having a Constitutional Convention no later than 2 years after achieving Statehood was better than not having a CC until we had been a state for at least 5 years. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> All agreed we should start forming plans with allies to start our own work on a CC in early 2017. The Coalition for Statehood and Democracy presented a statement that called for "a CC before congress approved the bid for statehood", and said "Ward 8 Dems, ANC7F and ANC8D have called for a no vote" because they also objected to waiting even 2 years for a CC.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">[10/13/16] Anise Jenkins has just added this urgent plea. </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;"> </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-size: 14pt;">"</b><span style="background-color: white;">If you want to vote for DC Statehood Referendum, but want to be able to make changes in the future to the DC Statehood Constitution - call your </span><b id="yiv4736187153yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476386195423_11682" style="background-color: white;">Councilmember and Council Chair Phil Mendelson at 202-724-8000</b><span style="background-color: white;"> and tell them you want them to add an amendment allowing for a </span><b id="yiv4736187153yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476386195423_11667" style="background-color: white;">Constitutional Convention made up of elected delegates</b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><b id="yiv4736187153yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476386195423_11715" style="background-color: white;">from the people </b><span style="background-color: white;">so that your changes can be made." [Good news, Council listened.]</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[10/20/16] Kesh at DC for Democracy has sent this updated information.</span><br />
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Wow, what an unexpected victory yesterday, when the Council voted 8 to 5 to adopt an amendment offered by Councilmembers Charles Allen, David Grosso, Kenyan McDuffie, Brianne Nadeau, Elissa Silverman, and Robert White to the Council Resolution “<em id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_58366" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Constitution and Boundaries for the State of New Columbia Approval Resolution of 2016″ (PR 21-913)</em>. These Councilmembers were joined by Yvette Alexander and LaRuby May to pass the amendment. Please read the <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_58368" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://dcfordemocracy.us5.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=24c35d07e15f4c8afb0ac7aad&id=6a22e2b017&e=cbdbb137c1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_58367" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #336699; cursor: text !important; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Washington Post article</a></span> about the vote. We are also heartened to learn that Mayor Bowser supports the changes to the constitution. [11/3/16 - This may no longer be true.]</div>
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DC for Democracy members have argued that the constitution deserves serious deliberation by a bona fide constitutional convention of elected delegates. That is why, despite numerous concerns with the constitution, we focused on changing the method by which the constitution could be amended. With this amendment, we won three of the four key provisions we pushed for, in collaboration with a broad grassroots coalition.<br />
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The three provisions we won are:</div>
<ul id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_58372" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 2px 0px; padding: 0px 40px;">
<li id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_58992" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_58993" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Ensuring the delegates to the constitutional convention would be elected</span> (not "selected"). The constitution passed by the New Columbia Statehood Commission did not specify that the delegates would be elected, and the so-called "constitutional convention" last summer was reason to demand that this be made explicit.</li>
<li id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_58371" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Ensuring that the constitutional convention could change any aspect of the constitution.</span> The original committee print had given the Legislative Assembly power to constrain the scope of what the constitutional convention could consider.</li>
<li id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_59041" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Ensuring that the constitutional convention had full authority to change the constitution, subject only to ratification by voters.</span> The original version had empowered the constitutional convention to merely make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly.</li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">We failed only to change the timing of the constitutional convention. While we had pushed to have the constitutional convention held one year after admission, the Council kept the timing to two years after admission -- not a big deal. [Actually the language is that the CC be held within 2 years, so we could do it in the first year if we are ready and organized.]</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">We have more work to do on this front (i.e. initiate a constitutional convention in 2017 or 2018, so we don't have to wait until we become a state to fix our constitution), but please take a few minutes today to feel good about what you, DC4D and our progressive allies accomplished for democracy and civic engagement!</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">So many DC4D members helped by contacting Councilmembers that I cannot possibly thank everyone by name, but I would like to highlight a few members:</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">Steering Committee members </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Keith Ivey</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">, </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Jesse Lovell</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">, and </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Andrea Rosen</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"> for the key role they played in defining our strategy; </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Anise Jenkins</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">, for mobilizing the members of Stand Up for Democracy/Free DC; </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Ann Loikow</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"> for mobilizing support of the Ward 3 Democratic Committee</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">; Markus Batchelor,</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"> who might well be credited with in winning LaRuby May's vote</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">; </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Claudia Barragan</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"> and </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Walter Deleon</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"> for their work through the DC Latino Caucus; and </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">David Schwartzman </span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">for mobilizing the Statehood Green Party.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">And if you can, please also take a minute to thank the Councilmembers who voted for democracy yesterday (feel free to tweet, as well):</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">At-Large Councilmember David Grosso dgrosso@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8105</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman esilverman@dccouncil.us (202)-724-7772</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">At-Large Councilmember Robert White rwhite@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8174</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau bnadeau@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8181</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie kmcduffie@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8028</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen callen@dccouncil.us (202)-724-8072</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander yalexander@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8068</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">Ward 8 Councilmember LaRuby May LMay@DCCOUNCIL.US (202)724-8045</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[10/19/16] This information about changes made on Tuesday by the Council was distributed by one of the people who recently testified about the Constitution.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16px;"> "THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAS OFFICIALLY APPROVED AN EXEMPLARY CONSTITUTION FOR </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_38620" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">A 51st</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"> STATE NAMED WASHINGTON, DC -- THE </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">“DC” STANDING FOR “DOUGLASS COMMONWEALTH.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">THE CONSTITUTION CREATES A 21-MEMBER UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE FOR THE NEW STATE, AND MANDATES </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">THAT A FULL-FLEDGED CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION BE HELD WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER STATEHOOD IS ACHIEVED. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">COPIES OF THIS CONSTITUTION WILL SOON BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">THIS IS THE CONSTITUTION THAT WILL BE REFERRED TO IN THE STATEHOOD REFERENDUM THAT WILL BE INCLUDED </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ON THE BALLOT IN OUR CITY’S FORTHCOMING ELECTION.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_38655" style="font-family: "calibri"; margin: 0px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476860285135_38657" style="font-family: "calibri"; margin: 0px;">VOTING BEGINS ON OCTOBER 22nd</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; margin: 0px;"> AND CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER 8th</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; margin: 0px;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> [10/18/16] This just in from Kesh at DC4D. I await further information to add. "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">So grateful to </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=570387136&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A2540176953%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/elissa.silverman.1" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">Elissa Silverman</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=7408165&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A2540176953%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/robert.c.whiteii" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">Robert White</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=500145398&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A2540176953%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/charles.allen.182" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">Charles W Allen</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a aria-controls="js_m" aria-describedby="js_n" aria-haspopup="true" class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=610161431&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A2540176953%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/david.grosso.9" id="js_l" role="null" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">David Grosso</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=578633344&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A2540176953%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/brianneKN" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">Brianne KN</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, Kenyan McDuffie, </span><a aria-controls="js_h" aria-describedby="js_i" aria-haspopup="true" class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1540367481&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A2540176953%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/ymalexander" id="js_j" role="null" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">Yvette M Alexander</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> and LaRuby May for passing the amendment 8-5." Here are additional sources of information about this day's Council actions:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">* <a href="http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20161018/AP/310189767/">http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20161018/AP/310189767/</a></span><br />
* <a href="http://wtop.com/dc/2016/10/washington-dc-statehood-name-change/">http://wtop.com/dc/2016/10/washington-dc-statehood-name-change/</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[10/17/16] After a detailed analysis of <a href="http://chairmanmendelson.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/PR21-0913-New-Columbia-Packet.pdf" target="_blank">Council recommendations</a> the folks at DC for Democracy have issued the following analysis and recommendations:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">The Committee of the Whole of the DC Council has released<a href="http://chairmanmendelson.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/PR21-0913-New-Columbia-Packet.pdf" target="_blank"> the latest version </a>of the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_28373" style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://dcfordemocracy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=24c35d07e15f4c8afb0ac7aad&id=7800446066&e=cbdbb137c1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_28372" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #336699; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Constitution.</a></span><br />
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The good news is that they have heard our demand for a constitutional convention.<br />
The bad news is:<br />
1) the constitutional convention only gets to recommend changes to the Legislative Assembly (our new legislature), it does not have authority to make changes itself.<br />
2) the constitution doesn’t make it absolutely clear that the delegates are elected by the people.<br />
3) the Legislative Assembly gets to decide the scope of what the constitutional convention can do.<br />
4) the constitutional convention is called TWO years after admission into the Union.<br />
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We think the Council should change the constitution as follows:<br />
1) the constitutional convention should have the ability to amend constitution.<br />
2) make it absolutely clear that the delegates are elected by the people.<br />
3) remove the provision that allows the Legislative Assembly to constrain the scope of the constitutional convention.<br />
4) call the constitutional convention ONE year after admission.<br />
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If you agree, you need to <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">ACT</span>.<br />
<a href="http://dcfordemocracy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=24c35d07e15f4c8afb0ac7aad&id=0f7215fc6a&e=cbdbb137c1" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #336699; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">First, sign our petition.</a><br />
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Second, call and email your Councilmembers NOW to demand the above changes to the “Constitution and Boundaries for the State of New Columbia Approval Resolution of 2016″, PR21-913.<br />
We need to act before <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Tuesday, October 18</span>, so we strongly recommend emailing Councilmembers, and following up with a phone call. If you need more information, please read our earlier blog posts.<br />
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Feel free to use the points above as talking points.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Chairman Phil Mendelson</span> is the most important target. Email and call the Chairman, and copy Evan Cash, Director of the Committee of the Whole.<br />
Chairman Mendelson pmendelson@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8032, and Evan Cash cow@dccouncil.us.<br />
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Also email and call the At-Large Councilmembers and your ward Councilmember, as well as any other Councilmembers you know.<br />
At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds abonds@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8064<br />
At-Large Councilmember David Grosso dgrosso@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8105<br />
At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman esilverman@dccouncil.us (202)-724-7772<br />
At-Large Councilmember Robert White rwhite@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8174<br />
Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau bnadeau@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8181<br />
Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans jevans@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8058<br />
Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh mcheh@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8062<br />
Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd btodd@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8052<br />
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie kmcduffie@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8028<br />
Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen callen@dccouncil.us (202)-724-8072<br />
Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander yalexander@dccouncil.us (202) 724-8068<br />
Ward 8 Councilmember LaRuby May LMay@DCCOUNCIL.US (202)724-8045</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">Please spread the word!</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">--- Kesh Ladduwahetty, Chair, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">DC for Democracy</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;">- - - - - - - - - -</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[10/17/16] Here is another plea by a long time community activist:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia";">Only in DC, the colony, could it be found acceptable to push for Statehood by legislative decree and to do so without a real Constitutional Convention fully untethered except by that of the will of the people through elected delegates.</span><br />
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45430" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 1.22em;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45429" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45428" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45427" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45426" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45425" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45424" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">
Maybe the residue of the control board still pervades your minds and souls, where the people of DC cannot be trusted to determine their own fate. Hogwash!</div>
</div>
</div>
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45442" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"> Your bill Mr. Mendelson and Mrs. Bowser is a great paradox and will make it difficult for your push for statehood to pass in high numbers or if at all. You are risking Statehood through this greatly flawed bill.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45437" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;" /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45441" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45440" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><u id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45439" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45438" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">We, the people of DC, deserve:</b></u><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;" /><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45478" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"> 1) to have a real constitutional convention with delegates to amend the constitution</i></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45479" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45478" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"> 2) to make it absolutely clear that the delegates are elected by the people<br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;" /> 3) that any provision which gives any Legislative Assembly the chance to constrain the scope of the constitutional convention be removed<br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;" /> 4) a call for a constitutional convention ONE year after admission</i></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45450" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">Chris Otten, </span>16 Year Ward One resident</div>
</div>
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45452" style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; line-height: 1.22em;">co facilitator DC for Reasonable Development., </span><a href="http://www.dc4reality.org/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1476739795686_45453" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #196ad4; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">www.dc4reality.org</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">- - - - - - - - - -</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> [10/10/16] There are several immediate and major flaws in the Mayor's Constitution which I list here. Other changes can be considered once a true Constitutional Convention with elected Delegates is convened, preferably early in 2017.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"> 1) Voters are asked to vote YES on Statehood, but if they do they are also voting YES on the Mayor's Constitution. At this time we of the Statehood Green Party and many others feel <b>we must vote NO</b> unless serious flaws are removed from the Constitution and a <b>dated</b> Constitution posted on line before Absentee and Early voting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"> 2) The Mayor's Constitution eliminates the minority party <b>2 Council seats </b>set-aside which will help keep her party (Democrat) in total control. Probably no more Statehood Green, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent Party members elected when we become a state.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"> 3) New language was added to the Mayor's second draft of the Constitution. ARTICLE VII, Sec. c., says NO Constitutional Convention can be held until 5 years after we get Statehood. Lots of time to consolidate pay to play politics. This provision must go. <b>The people</b> want to begin drafting <b>their </b>Constitution in early 2017.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"> 4) The Independent Auditor, Chief Financial Officer, and Attorney General will all be under control of the Governor (former Mayor). Recent firing of two DC employees for not choosing the bid of a local contractor who bid more than double ($6 versus $13 million) shows the extreme danger of that move.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> In several places I have added my own comments or additions to original testimony by several others on this blog article shown in brackets [ ].</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Testimony
by G. Lee Aikin, before DC Council Committee of the Whole, 9/27/16 </b>on
B21-826, Constitution of the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment
Act of 2016</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Thank
you for hearing our very grave concerns regarding this bill. By any
reasonable analysis you should not even be considering such a bill.
No one elected the Mayor, the Chairman, or the three “Shadows” to
write a Constitution in a few short months. Earlier
elected Delegates worked a number of months to create a fair and
comprehensive document which
the electorate then voted to approve.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">People
are being told we had 3 days of “Constitutional Convention”.
This is <b>not true</b>,
they were basically 3 days of hearings with people allowed 3 minutes
each to testify. No one was elected to do anything with this
information. Now, although at least ¾ of the people testifying then
insisted a vote for Statehood should NOT be combined with a vote for
the Constitution, you are
asking us to include this
Constitution in our vote for
Statehood. The majority
testifying also wanted a true Constitutional Convention started
early in 2017, and
I do too.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Will
the final language even be available for voter viewing prior to
Absentee and Early Voting? Are you even aware that the spring version
of the Constitution and the one that is currently available for
reading on line have
NO DATE? Is this Council
acting like shyster lawyers presenting us with an undated blank
check for our approval and
signature?
Already serious changes have been made from the draft given to us in
May at the Lincoln Cottage. Who knows what other changes without our
knowledge will appear in the document we will automatically
approve if we vote YES for Statehood in
November.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">The
more recent change has added a paragraph c. to Article VII, Sec. 3,
saying “on or about the
fifth anniversary of [Statehood], the House of Delegates <b>MAY</b>
call for a Constitutional
Convention...” In essence
we could not
have a Constitutional Convention to change the one voted on in
November until at least 5 years after we achieve Statehood. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">This
is very wrong, and it deeply
pains me that unless a major change is made in Article VII, Sec. 3.c.
I will <b>NOT vote for Statehood</b>
with this Constitution included in
this form when I vote on November
8.
I will also urge all whom I contact to vote <b>NO </b>if
unchanged. <b> </b>As a DC
Statehood Green Party candidate
for At Large Council member, it deeply pains me that after all our
efforts to achieve Statehood we face the supreme irony of
recommending a <b>NO</b>
vote.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">A
substitute that could
change our <b>NO</b> to a
<b>YES vote</b> is
the following language. “No later than one month following the
effective date of the Admission Act, the House of Delegates shall
initiate steps to hold a Constitutional Convention charged with
creating a constitution for our new state with this process following
the model of the 1982 Constitutional Convention with elected
delegates. Completion of the work of this Constitutional Convention
and the vote
ratifying
its Constitution must occur no more than one year after the effective
date of the Admissions Act. The election of new members to the House
of Delegates should only occur after the new Constitution is voted
on and approved by a
majority of qualifed voters.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Only
timely placing
this change in the
published, <b>dated</b>
Constitution can permit our
<b>YES</b> vote.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">By timely is meant the Council
makes this change final and perfectly transparent to the DC
electorate with the Constitution ready, printed and on line in final
voting form, <b>with the publication date included, </b>at least one
week before absentee balloting and early voting begin. Only this
will cause us to <b>revisit our decision to vote NO</b> in the
current circumstances.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Other issues related to the
Constitution include the fact that the set-aside created in 1973 to
have at least 2 non dominant party (non-Democrat) members elected to
the Council has been completely omitted from this Constitution. All
references regarding voting refer to “shall be elected on a
partisan basis.” This could be remedied by changing this wording
to “shall be elected on a <b>non-partisan</b> basis.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">As it stands, this means that
virtually no DC Statehood Green, Republican, Libertarian or
Independent stands much chance of ever being elected to the Council
[state legislature]. In addition to being grossly unfair, this also
means that Republicans in Congress will be even less likely to
support Statehood for DC.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am also told that the
Independent Auditor will no longer be independent, but rather under
control of the Mayor, I mean the Governor. Given the recent action
by the administration to fire several people because they failed to
approve a favored (generously contributing) nearby business for a
contract this is a serious consideration. Even the fact that this
contractor's bid was more than double the winning bid did not save
these people their jobs. [It was also pointed out that the Chief
Financial Officer was being moved under the control of the Governor,
and the Attorney General appears there too. With this Constitution
in force for 5 years, will we be voting for a pro big contractor
Governor or a Dictator?]</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I also favor the name Douglas
Commonwealth rather than New Columbia. NC already stands for North
Carolina whereas DC should be acceptable to more in Congress. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The electorate has recently
demonstrated their opinion of the Mayor's actions on a number of
topics, even before most became aware of this effort to force us to
choose between her Constitution and Statehood. Three of her frequent
supporters will not be back on the Council next year. Unless you
demonstrate a willingness to abide by the wishes of your voters, you
may join them in future years. It is not too late to demonstrate
your understanding and willingness to support the wishes of the
voters and correct this draft Constitution to support the will of the
majority. Or else you could separate the vote for this Constitution
from the vote for Statehood, so we have the liberty to vote for
Statehood while displaying a different opinion on this Constitution.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for giving careful
consideration to the serious decisions you must make if we are to
have a successful vote for Statehood. [Items in brackets added after
testifying.]</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>G. Lee Aikin, DC Statehood
Green Party</b>, and 55 year resident of DC.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">gleeaikin@yahoo.com</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[I hope you will
consider voting for me on November 8, 2016 as one of your two At
Large choices.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Please
vote G. Lee Aikin, </b>At Large
Council*]</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt;">[*
Paid for by ELECT G. LEE AIKIN, campaign committee, 1754 Swann St.,
NW, Washington, DC 20009, Don Wharton, Treasurer</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Contributions</b>
can be written to <b>ELECT G. LEE AIKIN</b>, and mailed to <b>1754
Swann St., NW, Washington, DC 20009</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt;">A copy of our report is filed
with the Director of Campaign Finance of the DC Board of Elections]</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
- - - - - - - - - -</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Testimony, COW
Public Hearing on the following Legislation: B21-826, </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Constitution of
the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment Act of 2016.</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sept. 27, 2016
11:00AM, Room 500, Wilson Bldg., by <b>David Schwartzman</b>, PhD.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>These are the 4
main points of my testimony:</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1)From its
start with a 5 member Commission holding a charade of a
Constitutional Convention, the process creating the draft
Constitution has been a travesty of democracy, disempowering to the
cause of DC Statehood. As Professor Maurice Jackson, a delegate to
the 1982 Constitutional Convention and Chair of the DC Commission on
African American Affairs, said at Lincoln Cottage on May 6, 2016 "If
we want democracy, we have to give democracy". As a result the
draft Constitution's Bill of Rights is highly deficient compared to
the progressive 1982 Constitution.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2)Such a
Constitution should be created by an elected delegated Constitutional
Convention, following the model of the 1982 Convention process. This
opportunity is lacking in B21-826.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3)The Council
could have facilitated a strong positive vote for Statehood on the
Advisory Referendum by either removing language regarding the
constitution or providing for separate votes on each section. We
vigorously lobbied the Council to remove any mention of a
constitution in the wording of this Referendum, leaving a simple vote
Yes or No on statehood, and of course we would have strongly urged a
vote of Yes if this change was implemented, but the Council rejected
our plea. Hence the DC Council and Mayor should be held accountable
for a weak or negative vote</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
on the Advisory
Referendum on November 8. Such a vote should not be interpreted as a
vote against DC Statehood.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4)Therefore we
urge the DC electorate to vote NO on the Advisory Referendum on
November 8 since we only get one vote on all sections of the text,
unless the DC Council does the following:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
a)The draft
Constitution now being considered by the Council must require the
convening of a Constitutional Convention, following the model that
created the 1982 Constitution, and the ratification of its
Constitution must be completed in no more than one year after
admission of the state of New Columbia, and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
b)The DC
Council make a [dated] final text with this revision widely available
to the DC electorate no less than one week before absentee
ballot/early voting.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Further
explanation</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The whole
process to produce this "Constitution" is a facade of
democracy, starting with the three hearings of the so-called
Constitutional Convention held in May and June as well as the DC
Council hearings today and on October 6. Only an elected delegated
Constitutional Convention along the lines of the 1982 model can
produce a legitimate Constitution for what we prefer as the name of
our state, "The Douglass Commonwealth", with the name of
our state to be likewise determined by this Convention.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We say
<i>so-called</i> Constitutional Convention because this was not a
democratic process, no one elected the New Columbia Statehood
Commission to come up with a new Constitution, now being considered
by the DC Council. This task is not in their job description. No one
was delegate to a real Constitutional Convention in this charade, nor
should anyone so claim for those who testify to the DC Council in
this public hearing. A delegate is elected, participates in the
drafting of a constitution and has a vote on its final product.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We first point
out that unless the final approval of this "Constitution"
is completed and made fully transparent to our electorate before
November 8, we will be asked to "approve a Constitution of the
State of New Columbia to be adopted by the Council" without
actually seeing the final text. Is this Council actually expecting
our electorate to approve a Constitution without full transparency
regarding its text? If a second vote on this bill comes after
November 8 that is precisely what will happen, an outrageous assault
on democratic practice.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We want to
emphasize the top-down undemocratic process that created this
"Constitution", and its gross deficiencies, for example in
its Bill of Rights and number of legislators in the House of
Delegates in comparison with the visionary 1982 Constitution, the
only one ratified by voters (go to
http://statehood.dc.gov/page/statehood-resource-center for pdfs of
both and compare). The Bill of Rights in the 1982 included provisions
for freedom from discrimination based on race, color, religion,
creed, citizenship, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
poverty, or parentage, and disabilities (Section 3), right to
employment or for those unable to work, an income sufficient to meet
basic human needs (Section 20),
and equal pay for equal and comparable work (Section 21). As such
these provisions anticipated the official status by our Mayor and
Council as the nation's first Human Rights City on December 10, 2008
based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent
Conventions in international law.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The number of
legislators in the House of Delegates provided for in the draft
Constitution is too small (21, compared to 40 in the 1982
Constitution). A House of Delegates of 21 corresponds to a ratio of
legislators to population one half that of Delaware, one fourth that
of South Dakota and one fifth that of Wyoming.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is only
one revision in this draft "Constitution" that may change
our decision to vote NO, a change in the amendment process spelled
out in Article VII, Section 3. We urge the deletion of this text as
it now stands, all provisions, noting especially the following:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
"c. On or
about the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the Admission
Act, the House of Delegates <b>may</b> call for a Constitutional
Convention to assess the transition from a federal district to a
member of the Union." [bold added]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>As a substitute
we urge the following language:</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
"No later than
one month following the effective date of the Admission Act, the
House of Delegates shall initiate steps to hold a Constitutional
Convention with the charge of creating a constitution for our new
state with this process following the model of the 1982
Constitutional Convention, with elected delegates. The name of our
new state shall be reconsidered in this Constitutional Convention.
The completion of the work of this Constitutional Convention and the
ratification vote of its Constitution must occur no more than one
year after the effective date of the Admissions Act. If ratified by a
majority of qualified voters this Constitution shall replace "The
Constitution of the State of New Columbia" The
election of new members to the House of Delegates should only be
scheduled after this process is completed."</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If the Council
makes this change final and perfectly transparent to our electorate
with the Constitution ready, printed and on line in final voting
form, with the publication date included at least a week before early
voting and absentee balloting begins, then we will revisit this
decision to vote NO.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We support
parallel legislation by the Council for the convening of a
Constitutional Convention in 2017 following the 1982 model, as the
basis for a petition for statehood to the U.S. Congress. Further, the
likelihood that a statehood bill will be approved by Congress and
signed by the President in 2017 should be clear by the results of the
Nov. 8 election, and the legislative agenda of both the incoming
President and Congress. If this likelihood is low, then we support
efforts, e.g., by Council legislation or Initiative, for the
convening of a Constitutional Convention in 2017 following the 1982
model, as the basis for a petition for statehood to the U.S.
Congress.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
David Schwartzman,
PhD</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Political Policy
and Action Committee, DC Statehood Green Party</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dschwartzman@gmail.com, 202-829-9063</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
- - - - - - - - - -</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>T</b><b>estimony
on Behalf of the Coalition for Democracy and Statehood, </b><b>on
</b><b>B21-826,</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Constitution of
the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment Act of 2016,</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
October 6, 2016 by
<b>Glenda Richmond</b><br />
<b>[</b>For some reason Google refused to allow me to make proper paragraphs in this testimony.]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
First, I wish to
thank those elected members who served as delegates at the DC
Statehood</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Constitutional
Convention and who utilized the democratic process for drafting the
constitution</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
for the state of
"New Columbia". This constitution was approved and ratified
by 60% of the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
electorate of the
District of Columbia, in 1982.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thank you, Charles
Cassell, David Clark (D), Hilda and Charles Mason (D), Reverend James
E.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Coates, Absalom
Jordan, Theresa Jones, Mildred Lockridge, Gwendolyn Paramore,
Reverend</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jerry Moore,
Reverend James Terrell, Richard Bruning, Maurice Jackson, Robert
Love, Marie</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Nahikian, Anita
Shelton, Joel Garner, Franklin Kameny (D), Michael Marcus, Talmadge
Moore,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Norman Nixon, Samuel
Robinson, Harry Thomas (D), James Baldwin, David Barnes, Alexa</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Freeman, Barbara
McGuire, William Cooper, Jeannette Feeley, Jannette Hoston- Harris,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Victoria Street,
Howard Croft, Janice Eicchron, Chestie Graham, Charlotte Holmes,
Geraldine</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Warren and a dear
friend and mentor Barbara Lett Simmons.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My name is Glenda
Richmond. I am a resident, as well as a registered voter of the
District of</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Columbia. I am also
a supporter of the Coalition for Democracy and Statehood. Today, I
rise in</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
support of
statehood. The struggle for statehood is a struggle for freedom...
freedom from the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
colonial oppression
of the Federal Government and self-determination from the economic</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
oppression and
dominance of the Federal City Council. We, the residents of
Washington, DC,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
deserve better. We
deserve the ability to determine our own destiny and the right, that
is, we</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the people, to
create our own constitution utilizing the democratic process. We
must not</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
allow our destiny to
be controlled and determined by the Federal Government, the Federal
City</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Council nor our
"shadow" government of the District of the District of
Columbia.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Again, I am a
supporter of DC Statehood, however, I am oppose to the process which
was</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
utilized by our
Mayor/City Council to create the constitution now contained in this
bill, B21-</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
0826, Constitution
of the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment Act of 2016.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
•The process
creating the draft Constitution for petitioning Congress for
admission as</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the state
of "New Columbia" is a facade of democracy, disempowering
to the cause of</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
DC
Statehood. A 5 member commission voted on this text. [Not elected to
do this.]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
•The District
electorate is being asked to vote in the upcoming election on
November 8,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2016, for a
proposed constitution. This constitution was not created by an
elected</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
delegated
Constitutional Convention.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Therefore, we are
asking that the DC electorate vote <u><b>N</b></u><u><b>O</b></u> on
the Advisory Referendum on</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
November 8, 2016,
unless the DC Council does the following:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1. That the
Council agrees to offer and support an amendment to Bill 21-0826
which will</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
require the
election of and funding a Constitutional Convention , as provided in
DC Law</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3-171,
within 30 days of the approval of the Advisory Referendum on
statehood, and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2. The DC
Council make a final [dated] text of the Bill 21-0826 with this
revision widely</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
available to
the electorate of the District no less than (1) week before absentee
ballot/early voting</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
commences.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Glenda Richmond,
2001 15<sup>th</sup> St., NW, #602, Washington, DC 20009, Telephone:
(202) 367-5527</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
- - - - - - - - - -
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[This next testimony
emphasizes the general feelings of confusing and puzzlement I have
encountered among DC voters regarding the sudden rush to approve a
finished Constitution. I agree that inclusion of a Table of
Organization showing which offices are subordinate and which offices
control others would be very helpful. In addition a map showing the
actual boundaries of the Federal Enclave would be a valuable
addition.]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Council Hearing
on the Proposed Constitution for the State of New Columbia</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Testimony of
<b>Anntoinette White-Richardson</b>, 10/6/16, Ward 4 Resident</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Good evening my name
is Anntoinette White-Richardson and I am a Ward 4</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
resident, whose
"roots" date back in this city since 1833. I come before
you today</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
as a citizen very
confused and disappointed at the proposed New Columbia</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Constitution.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If this document's
mission was supposed to be informative in explaining the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
positive effects of
supporting statehood to residents, then it has done the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
opposite effect. It
is inconceivable that this city council expects anyone to</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
understand such an
unwieldy document. Portions of this document such as the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Legislative
Districts and the Board of Education are vague in defining
jurisdictions</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and oversight. In
most geography classes you learn that states consist of</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
municipalities
(cities, counties and/or townships). However there is nothing</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
proposed in this
constitution that speaks to this concept being applied in the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
planning of New
Columbia. Fact, in our surrounding jurisdictions they (the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
municipalities) are
responsible for the maintenance of their own schools, libraries,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
parks and etc. The
bone of contention around internal boundaries deals with</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
questions around tax
and revenue bases being equally shared from one set of</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
funds to maintain
entities equally, regardless of where they are located. Also,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
there is a lack of
clarity in reference to the organizational structure at various</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
levels and who is in
charge of what!</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As an Education
Specialist with a focus on literacy a few diagrams could have</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
helped in the
presentation of this proposed constitution from the aspect of helping</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
those who are more
visual, interpret the governing body.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I understand that
having a voice on the Hill is important, but at what cost! We are</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
already dealing with
issues around gentrification that are whispered, but never</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
spoken about in the
open. This constitution looks as if it could add to our</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
gentrification
fears, because it is not easily understandable for most of us to feel</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
comfortable enough
to vote for statehood. People say Washington DC is a</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
transient city, but
the reality is it is only transient for a certain population. It is a</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
permanent home for
natives and those seeking a better life. In 1973 we got home</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
rule and most
residents native or newly arrived can't even begin to tell you what</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
we got out of it!
Mayor Bowser's Parents and my parents all had "Good</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Government"
jobs that were federally funded and we both grew up with a solid</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
middle class
upbringing.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In addition, I am
unclear to whether or not our status as the Nation's Capital will</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
stay intact, the
constitution does not address this concern. I say concern, because</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
being from the
Nation's Capital gave me great pride and bragging rights wherever</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I travelled in these
United States and abroad.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In closing there are
too many unanswered questions for me to feel comfortable</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
about supporting
statehood for the District of Columbia. I thank you for your time</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and listening to my
concerns.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
- - - - - - - - - -<br />
[Google sometimes did not allow me to make proper paragraphs here either.]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[Prior to writing
our testimony, activists in our DC Statehood Green Party communicated
to determine the most serious defects in this entire “Constitutional”
process and decide key points to emphasize in our testimony. The
DCSGP members who testified are marked below in <b>bold</b> type.]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Our draft
position on the Constitution/Advisory Referendum for your review</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
From: <b>David
Schwartzman</b> <dschwartzman(>gmail.com> Today at 3:37 PM,
9/20/16</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To Eugene
Puryear, Scott McLarty, Mike Wang, Darryl Moch, David Bosserman,
Dominique</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hazzard, Tracye
Redd, Jonathan Lykes, Philip Barlow, <b>Lee Aikin</b>, Lino
Stracuzzi, Jenefer Ellingston,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Philip Blair,
Debby Hanrahan, John Hanrahan</b>, Jabari Zakiya, Ann Wilcox, <b>Perry
Redd</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>I made a few
clarifying revisions from what I sent you on Sept. 9, we need to come
to a</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>final position on
the conference call tomorrow at 9 pm, see below.</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The whole process to
produce this "Constitution" is a facade of democracy,
starting with the three</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
hearings of the
so-called Constitutional Convention held in May and June as well as
the DC Council</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
hearings today and
on October 6. Only an elected delegated Constitutional Convention
along the lines</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of the 1982 model
can produce a legitimate Constitution for what we prefer as the name
of our state,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
"The Douglass
Commonwealth", with the name of our state to be likewise
determined by this</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Convention. As
Professor Maurice Jackson, a delegate to thel982 Constitutional
Convention and Chair of DC Commission on
African American Affairs, said at Lincoln Cottage on May 6, 2016 "If
we want democracy, we have
to give democracy".</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We say <i>so-called
</i>Constitutional Convention because this was not a democratic
process, no one elected the New Columbia
Statehood Commission to come up with a new Constitution, now being
considered by the DC Council.
This task is not in their job description. No one was delegate to a
real</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Constitutional
Convention in this charade, nor should anyone so claim for those who
testify to the DC</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Council in this
public hearing. A delegate is elected, participates in the drafting
of a constitution and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
has a vote on its
final product.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We first point out
that unless the final approval of this "Constitution" is
completed and made fully</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
transparent to our
electorate before November 8, we will be asked to "approve a
Constitution of the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
State of New
Columbia to be adopted by the Council" without actually seeing
the final text. Is this</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Council actually
expecting our electorate to approve a Constitution without full
transparency regarding its text? If a
second vote on this bill comes after November 8 that is precisely
what will happen, an outrageous assault
on democratic practice.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We want to emphasize
the top-down undemocratic process that created this "Constitution",
and its</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
gross deficiencies,
for example in its Bill of Rights and number of legislators in the
House of Delegates in comparison with the visionary 1982
Constitution, the only one ratified by voters. <b>Therefore we urge
the DC electorate to vote NO on the Advisory Referendum on November 8
since we only get one vote on all sections of the text.</b> The
Council could have facilitated a strong positive vote for Statehood
by either removing language regarding the constitution or providing
for separate votes on each section. We vigorously lobbied the Council
to remove any mention of a constitution in the wording of this
Referendum, leaving a simple vote Yes or No on statehood, and of
course we would have strongly urged a vote of Yes if this change was
implemented, but the Council rejected our plea. Hence the DC Council
and Mayor should be held accountable for a weak or negative vote on
this Advisory Referendum on November 8. For the reasons we provided,
such a vote should not be interpreted as as a vote against DC
Statehood.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> There is only one
revision in this draft "Constitution" that may change our
decision to vote No, a </b><b>change in the
amendment process spelled out in Article VII, Section 3.</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We urge the deletion
of the text as it now stands, noting especially the following
section:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
"c.<i> On or
about the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the Admission
Act, the House of</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Delegates <b>may</b>
call for a Constitutional Convention to assess the transition from a
federal district to a </i><i>member of the
Union."</i> [bold added]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As a substitute we
urge the following language:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
"No later
than one month following the effective date of the Admission Act, the
House of</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Delegates shall
initiate steps to hold a Constitutional Convention with the charge of
creating a</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
constitution for our
new state with this process following the model of the 1982
Constitutional</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Convention, with
elected delegates. The name of our new state shall be reconsidered in
this</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Constitutional
Convention. The completion of the work of this Constitutional
Convention and the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
ratification vote of
its Constitution must occur no more than one year after the effective
date of the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Admissions Act. If
ratified by a majority of qualified voters this Constitution shall
replace "The</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Constitution of the
State of New Columbia" The election of new members to the House
of Delegates</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
should only be
scheduled after this process is completed."</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If the Council makes
this change final and perfectly transparent to our electorate with
the Constitution ready, printed and
on line in final voting form, with <b>the publication date included</b>
at least a week before early voting
and absentee balloting begins <b>then we will revisit this decision
to vote No.</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We support parallel
legislation by the Council for the convening of a Constitutional
Convention in 2017 following the 1982
model, as the basis for a petition for statehood to the U.S.
Congress. Further, the likelihood that a
statehood bill will be approved by Congress and signed by the
President in 2017</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
should be clear by
the results of the Nov. 8 election, and the legislative agenda of
both the incoming</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
President and
Congress. If this likelihood is low, then we support efforts, e.g.,
by Council legislation or Initiative, for the
convening of a Constitutional Convention in 2017 following the 1982
model, as the basis for a petition
for statehood to the U.S. Congress.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-54464410119982786452016-10-10T22:03:00.001-07:002016-12-10T12:16:06.206-08:00G. Lee Aikin, WAMU, GLAA & DC4D Questionnaires, More Detailed Answers for 2016 General Election<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Here you will find my answers to several questionnaires from an assortment of local constituencies and groups interested in providing fair and detailed information on candidates for the public in 2016 elections.</b> Their questions are in <i>Italics</i>, my answers are standard type. They include:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> *<b> WAMU</b>, radio station</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> *<b> GLAA</b>, serves gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning people</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> *<b> DC for Democracy, </b>mostly progressive Democrats fighting for the people</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you like my answers, please make me one of your two votes on Nov. 8 for At Large to the Council. Also <b>campaign contributions</b> would be very welcome. On checks write <b>Elect G. Lee Aikin</b> and mail to <b>1754 Swann St., NW, Washington, DC 20009*</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[Items in brackets were added to the original answers.][The<a href="https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/v3/2016/November-8-General-Election" target="_blank"> final vote resulted</a> in my coming in third with over 29,000 votes (more than Trump received in DC). In the field of six candidates this is what I had realistically hoped for. I had no illusion that I would win against the Democrat candidate or the incumbent with his $300,000+ war chest.]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In addition to questionnaires there are also YouTube videos of my presentations at various events. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIRO-R_Y7ko" target="_blank">This link is to Green TV in Virginia</a>. There is a 26 minute interview with myself when I ran against the Chairman in 2014, and a Virginia green candidate. We cover items like solar, light and high speed rail, and other environmental and social issues. At this site there is also a 6 minute interview from when I ran for "Shadow" Representative to Congress. My current Treasurer, Don Wharton, also spent some time explaining the energy savings from Passive House construction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=50&newwindow=1&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=g.+lee+aikin+youtube&oq=G.+Lee+Aikin%2C+you&gs_l=hp.1.0.33i160k1l2.3342.11122.0.14967.18.13.0.5.5.0.412.2170.0j11j1j0j1.13.0....0...1c.1.64.hp..0.17.1783.0..0j0i131k1j0i22i30k1.8BM3KqIr4RQ" target="_blank">Here are listed a number of sites</a> with video or other material on my positions and various candidacies in 2012, 2014, and 2016. There is a link to my answers regarding the current <a href="https://www.mpp.org/d-c-candidates-survey-reposonses/" target="_blank">marijuana situation</a> in DC. If elected, even if not elected, I will push for reasonable taxation of commercial MJ production and sale, and use of these funds for addiction related help for all with substance abuse problems. We should be sure to retain the private growth permissions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>- - - - - - - - - - - -</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The <b>WAMU questionnaire</b> asked many important questions. Each space provided by WAMU only allowed 1000 characters total. Some of the issues raised were very complex and could not be answered well in only 100 to 200 words. See below for a lot more detail on the issues of my 3 most import actions once on the Council, housing for all, closing down DC General, how to fix criminal justice system, and the Mayor's Constitution. Other answers fit within the space allowed, including why am I the best choice for At Large, taxation of marijuana, and schedule fairness for hourly workers.</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Name: G. Lee Aikin</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Party: DC Statehood Green Party (SGP)</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Age (As MM/dd/yyyy): Given that
date of birth information is one of the things we are warned not to
make public to protect from fraudsters, I cannot for my own safety
give you this information. Just say over 65.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Family: Widow, 2
sons--Grant (wife, Dierdre Ford) and Neal (wife, Michelle Corretjer);
four grandsons—Connor, Archer; Sebastian, Joaquin</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length of residency:
55 years</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Education: <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
*BA, St. Univ. of Iowa, Major—General Science, Minors—Education
and Spanish</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">*Two
summers, Mexico City College, Mexico City, Mexico</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">*Dept.of
Agriculture Graduate School, courses in Psychology</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Occupation: Self
employed entrepreneur</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Are you an
incumbent? No</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Website (blog): http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Facebook Page: http://G Lee Aikin</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Twitter: http://@gleeaikindc</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
YouTube Channel:
http://
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Email Address: gleeaikin@yahoo.com</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Campaign HQ Address: Elect G. Lee Aikin,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1754 Swann St., NW, Washington, DC 20009</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[Above information is good for filling out and mailing campaign contribution checks, Don Wharton - Treasurer. Report filed with Dir. Campaign Finance, DC Board of Elections]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Campaign
Questions</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>What are the
three most important actions you would take if elected?</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If
you are not including hiring a capable staff, then it would be:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1)
Stop the mad rush to total
gentrification of the city, with major efforts to increase the
building of low and moderate income housing. For example I was
recently informed that over decades DC government had returned
$140million in unspent funds to HUD, from just 1 of 5 programs we
could be using. How much more did we not use in the other 4 HUD
programs? See:
<a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-government-fails-to-use-millions-of.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-government-fails-to-use-millions-of.html</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Change
the law that allows OTR to increase annual property tax assessments
by 10% and more even when no improvements have been made. Basing
this on one or two nearby high end renovations is just plain wrong,
and needlessly causes rent
increases. Change the Basic
Business Law which requires home owners to jump through hoops just to
rent out one or two rooms in their home. It
is a needless barrier and a cruel process for elderly empty nesters
who need income from their vacant rooms.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2)
I have since been told that
there are other programs where available Federal money has not been
used for community needs. Therefore, I would plan to form consulting
teams of experts to keep track of money available in various
programs—housing, education, community development, health, etc.
My conference room would be
made available to such groups. I
would like to keep some of my staff funds available for modest
payments for some of these efforts.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3)
A lot of important work
needs to be done in the area of education. We must not loose our
schools to developers because a right wing funded report says that
Wards 7 and 8 have too many underutilized schools. We must maintain
the cluster concept for our schools. We need our low use schools for
additional programs like adult education, after school tutoring,
meaningful technical and other employment skills education, and
childcare programs. We also need to explore better ways of reducing
violence among our students, starting in the early grades. Given our
large number of dropouts, we need to develop different ways of
engaging the minds and energies of these students, many of whom may
be dyslexic or have ADHD,
and are not taught effectively
by focusing on reading and writing in early grades, or sitting still
in classes for most of the day. With
both a mother and husband (with
12 years in DC Junior and Senior High Schools)
who were teachers I have given these matters a lot of thought.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>What are the key
differences between you and your opponent(s) that make you the best
choice?</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My campaign is
mostly self-financed which means my loyalty and votes are NOT bought
and paid for. I will always vote for what I believe is best for this
city. This means a balance of housing and benefits allowing a
healthy mix of businesses, entrepreneurs, and employees within DC.
This would allow most of us to afford to live near where we work, and
reduce dependence on private carbon based transportation and costly
public transportation. I would openly vote on important issues. My
guiding philosophy would be to support efforts to enhance success of
the lower ecnomic half of our population while causing minimum
distress to the economic upper half of our citizens. Having worked
in various fields and also been self-employed for 30 years I have had
much experience with DMV, Tax & Revenue, DCRA, and Special
Education and resolved many issues successfully.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>How would you
ensure that residents of all income groups can remain in the city?
What would you do to keep and expand affordable housing units for
low-income residents, and what — if anything — would you do to
keep middle-income residents with families who are also being
squeezed by higher prices?</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
See the next question for answers that also pertain to this
question. In the past, developers building on public land have
promised to build percentages of lower cost housing units.
Frequently they did not and often no legal action was taken by the
city. This must change. Also, we need to see if all larger projects
could be required to build a mix of low, moderate, and market units
that would allow workers of all types to live and work nearby. What
appears to be a taken-for-granted 20% mark up on contracts must stop.
The fact that 2 people were fired for granting a contract to an out
of area builder who wanted $6million rather than $13million is
outrageous. The angry local contractor already has a former employee
sitting on the DC Council. If we need to go out of area to find reasonably priced contractors, then we should do so until our local contractors wake up. This kind of thing is one reason I am
running for At Large.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Several additional measures that could help us keep middle-income
families include: </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1) Stop raising property taxes on unimproved homes
10% and more each year based on the renovation activities of one or
two neighbors. Taxes should go up for no more than inflation until
sold at a much higher price when they would be reassessed. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2)
Eliminate the BBL for owners renting only a few units; also simplify
the D-30 tax form for small income owner rentals. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3) Change the one
month Vacant Property law which forces homeowners with serious health
issues or heirs to property to make immediate sales to developers who
then sit on the property for years making minor improvements but
waiting for the market to get better. Neighboring counties have one
year Vacant Property laws we should have the same. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4) Speed up
coupling our D-40 income tax deduction and exemption rates with the
federal rates. This change I began work on in 2004 will put $85
million back into the pockets of
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
all
earning under $150,000 a year. See:
<a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-2019-dc-council-approval-of-2-tax.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-2019-dc-council-approval-of-2-tax.html</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
5)
In addition almost no one knows about the improved D-40, Schedule H
benefit for renters and home owners. Since tax year 2014 they may
have been eligible for up to $1,000 a year if
individual and family income for those under 70 was $40,000 or less,
or for those 70 and older $60,000 income or
less. There are 3 years to
file an Amended Tax Return, and links
for all forms needed can be
found at:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/04/dc-taxes-2015-update-good-and-bad-news.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/04/dc-taxes-2015-update-good-and-bad-news.html</a></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Do you support
the most recent plan to close the shelter for homeless families at
D.C. General by opening shelters in neighborhoods across the city?</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
support the need to find better housing options for homeless families
than
DC General. However this effort was marred by the Mayor's choice of
options, many of which were specifically designed to reward her
political backers. Already less costly options have been found and
more should be. It is not fair to concentrate such housing in only a
few parts of the city. Lower
income renters are rightfully hostile to any project that proposes to
force them out of housing before suitable replacement housing is
available. The New Communities program (Williams administration)
involving Barry Farms, Park Morton, Northwest One, and Lincoln
Heights has failed to meet it's obectives:
<a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/13124286/report-d-c-should-redevelop-public-housing-without-replacing-units-first">http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/13124286/report-d-c-should-redevelop-public-housing-without-replacing-units-first</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The
“plans were presented as ready for implementation when they
were in fact very conceptual and lacking all the necessary
ingredients in place, such as site control, partner agreements
and due diligence...." </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What
has been planned or built is ¼ market rate, ½ moderate income, and
only ¼ low income (amounting to under 400 units). This will not
solve the problem with 70,000 on waiting lists. Perhaps the idea
described in my blog post </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">might
allow faster construction: <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/can-creative-use-of-shipping-containers.html">
http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/can-creative-use-of-shipping-containers.html</a></span></span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/can-creative-use-of-shipping-containers.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span></span></a>
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> U</span>nfortunately, few of our developers are interested in many modest
contracts with no 20% add on. The Trump disease of glitz and glamour
has infected the majority and low cost housing doesn't attract them. If we have to go out of area to find reasonably priced contractors, then we need to do so until our local contractors get the message. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have one more question. Why the sudden rush to vacate DC General? What is planned there? Will any of it include low and moderate cost housing???</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Former Police
Chief Cathy Lanier recently said the city’s criminal justice system
was “broken.” What are the most practical things you think the
council can do to fix it?</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Police
officers are deeply distressed that they have had almost no increase
in pay for SEVEN years. A
reasonable and fair increase needs to be negotiated; this is not the
depths of the 2008 recession. We should not be loosing seasoned
officers because they know they will have an inadequate pension based
on the present salary rates.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Good
officers are concerned that
they no longer patrol, hunting for crime and difficult situations.
They do not consider that stationing officers in
cars at high visibility
stationary posts is a good substitute. Hardheaded stubbornness by
both labor and management in grievances and other situations has
resulted in many unsettled arbitration cases. Hopefully a new Chief
will handle these things better.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Murder
rates have increased 50% in the last 2 years. Auto theft is rampant.
I understand there is no Auto Theft Unit. Does organized crime need
a special unit? Given the recent publicized police killings of
people with mental and drug problems, perhaps specialized training
and experience with the hospitalized mentally ill would be useful.
Perhaps the formation of a Mental Health Unit, similar to Special
Victims, would help and could be called upon to report rapidly to
appropriate scenes to take over negotiations and arrests. In several
cases of police killings it appeared that police acted quickly to
kill someone who probably would have surrendered weapons if handled
patiently and with empathy.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[An
incident from my own life illustrates what drives good employees
away—job insecurity and disrespectful treatment. My late husband
taught 12 years in DC (including 8 at Eastern High School), but most
years we did not know until the latter half of August if he had a job
for the next year. One year he was offered a job on Aug. 20<sup>th</sup>
in Arlington Adult Education. We decided he should take it. On
August 27<sup>th</sup>
a DC Schools manager called and said, “Hey, Aikin, you are to
report to XXX on XXX.” “I'm sorry, sir” said Robert, “but I
have a signed
<b>contract </b>with
Arlington.” A few hours later a higher level manager called and
insisted in knowing why he
would not report to DC schools. Again my husband explained. Finally
the top man called and demanded to know why he was not going to
report. Again
he explained to this rude ex-boss. Arlington Schools was a decision
he never regretted.]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Do you support
the statehood strategy Mayor Bowser is currently pursuing? </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Absolutely
not. No one elected her or her four associates to write a new
Constitution. We are being forced to either vote AGAINST STATEHOOD,
or if voting For Statehood, then approving her very undemocratically
written New Constitution.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
scam was furthered by holding 3 SO-CALLED Constitutional Conventions
(actually 3 days of 3 minute testimony) at which the large majority
testified they were against this whole process.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Between
spring and summer a new ARTICLE VII, Sec. 3, (c) was added. This
says that NO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION could be held until FIVE years
AFTER we gain Statehood. Five long years for the big money folks to
consolidate their power with the governor and delegates. Five more
years to force low and moderate income voters out of the city with
their housing policies.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Neither
the document given us this spring at the Lincoln Cottage, nor the
document now online and made available at the 9/27 and 10/6/16 have a
date on them. Thus we are being asked to vote for a Constitution which
could have changes made after our vote with no way to prove when they
were actually made part of the Constitution.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
Constitution does not protect the guaranteed 2 seats on
Council (future legislature) which means it is highly unlikely that a
Statehood Green, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent could ever
be elected again. Even honorable Democrats should be against this
disenfrancisement of minorities. [This remains unchanged.]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
See:
<a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/05/statehood-for-dc-mayor-fast-tracks-new.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/05/statehood-for-dc-mayor-fast-tracks-new.html</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[I and others also testified before the Council on Sept. 2 and Oct. 6, 2016. Fortunately the Council made some important changes in the Mayor's Constitution which makes it more likely that people will vote YES for Statehood, which means YES for the Constitution as well. See link for details and testimony: <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/10/dc-constitution-statehood-sept-27-oct-6.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/10/dc-constitution-statehood-sept-27-oct-6.html</a>]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Should the city
be preparing a system for the taxation and regulation of marijuana
sales within the District?</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Even
though Congress is blocking such efforts, to the point of not even
allowing DC government to spend it's money to do that work, we should
move forward with volunteers helping put together such potential
regulation and taxation for more rapid consideration and approval
once we are able to do so. Whatever
taxation and regulations are eventually decided on, the current
system of allowing people to grow a few plants and give presents of
small amounts to their friends should remain the law. Tax
money could then be used for drug, alcohol, and tobacco addiction
treatment. Funds could also be use to deal with obesity issues and
better nutrition.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Should the
Council revisit legislation that would require employers to make
schedules for hourly workers more predictable?</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Absolutely.
All workers should have the right to fairness and a degree of
predictability in their hours and working conditions. This includes
planning for time off, whether for doctors visits, vacations, or
family needs. It is especially important that working parents have
at least 48 hours notice to provide alternate childcare if needed.
Many doctors and dentists charge for the visit unless it is
changed/canceled more than 24 hours previously. Of course a good
union can provide some of these protections with a well negotiated
Collective Agreement, but not all workers have good unions.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">- - - - - - - - - - -</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <b>GLAA Questionnaire</b> has a 10 point rating scale. <b>My score was 7.5. </b>Four of the 10 points were based on what one had done at a real level to help the GLBTQ community. Since I have not held office or worked for an elected lawmaker, I did not have the advantage that those who have voted for favorable legislation could claim.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC
2016 Questionnaire for DC Council Candidates
Answers from G. Lee Aikin, At Large candidate</span></b><br />
<br />
Before answering the 9 questions I would like to make some general observations. First, GLAA
should be recognized for it's very detailed and well prepared position paper, Building on Victory, A
2016 election guide to LGBT issues in Washington, D.C. The extensive and comprehensive list of
90 References is a gold mine of information for anyone interested in working with/for the GLAA
community on major issues.<br />
The emphasis on questions regarding health of the old, addicted, and youth, and society's overall
treatment of issues regarding sexuality of the non-traditional variety points to the underlying problem
of the GLAA community and our wider society—selfishness, prejudice, fear, and anger. The most
obvious examples are the violent and hateful treatment seen in bullying, unnecessary incarceration, and
deliberate marginalization of sex related business. The more subtle manifestations are overall
indifference to the problems of others, and failure to realize that what harms one group and makes them
a target reduces security and safety for us all. It is this awareness of and concern for the wider
problems that do affect us that makes me want to serve the people of DC. As the bull's eye on the target
of indifference, neglect and even hatred, unaddressed GLAA issues for me serve as the “canary in the
coal mine.”<br />
<br />
<b>HOME RULE -<i> </i></b><i>1.</i> <i>Will you oppose congressionally imposed school vouchers, which have been shown not to improve
students' academic achievement, and which often go to schools that operate outside the nondiscrimination
provisions of the D.C. Human Rights Act?</i><br />
<b>YES.</b><br />
The move by Presidential candidate Ted Cruz and others to force our 660,000 residents to
fund a voucher program that we don't even want is disgusting and offensive. The fact they are used for
private schools demonstrates the overall effort of the far right to eliminate public education and all
government programs that help people, especially those least able to help themselves. The Walton
Family Foundation funded IFF Report several years ago proposed closing or charterizing a large
number of public schools, mostly in Wards 7 and 8. Now they are at it again, and vouchers is one of
their tools. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/01/27/walton-family-steps-upsupport-for-school-choice-with-1-billion-pledge/">www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/01/27/walton-family-steps-upsupport-for-school-choice-with-1-billion-pledge/</a>]
Our Mayor is reportedly “hopping mad.” at Walmart
deceit.<br />
In addition, various studies have indicated outcomes in charter schools are often not as advertised.
Moreover, most do not adhere to non-discrimination provisions of the DC Human Rights Act. Nor do
those teachers have the protection of the Washington Teachers' Union. I hope that Mendelson, Orange,
Todd and Cheh have been or will be persuaded to sign on to the 2015 letter to Rep. Chaffetz opposing
their latest voucher program. If At Large Councilmember Orange has not, I will be happy to replace
him on the Council and sign that letter.<br />
<br />
<b>HEALTH - </b><i>2. Will you press the Department of Health to complete and issue the long-delayed LGBT Health Report,
which is supposed to be issued annually?</i><br />
<b>YES.</b><br />
For our government to have delayed submitting the annual LGBT Health Report since 2010
borders on criminally negligent, especially as it already has much of the needed data. This report
should be followed by speedy distribution of funds to appropriate LGBT organizations. An analysis of
possible loss of federal funds to LGBT health and other programs would be wise. See this astounding
report that DC has returned $140million in unspent housing money on just 1 of 5 HUD programs over
decades. [<a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-government-fails-to-use-millions-of.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-government-fails-to-use-millions-of.html</a>] The fact that in 2014 our DC residents and businesses paid $26.4billion in federal taxes highlights this need for
monitoring. If elected I would like to support volunteers and part time paid personnel to examine waste
and non-use of all our granted and available federal funds.<br />
How much money has the DC government received from the federal government and failed to spend
on LGBT related mental health and substance abuse treatment (question 3); marginalized LGBT
workers (question 6); upgrading quality of police, fire and EMS services (questions 4, 6, and 7); or
services and treatment for LGBT homeless youth, transgenders, seniors, and terminally ill (questions 5
and 8)? If the housing issue linked above is any example, it must be substantial.<br />
<br />
<i>3. Will you support budgets that target funds to address LGBT health disparities, including in mental
health and substance abuse treatment, and mandate data collection on this population across all programs?</i><br />
<b> YES.</b><br />
Our DC government spends entirely too much money supporting rich sports franchise owners
and high end developers, including some who have never even engaged in competitive bidding. Given
the higher levels of stress and disapproval experienced by LGBT children growing up, it is not
surprising that they have a higher than average level of PTSD and suicides. Back in the 1980's I
remember a study showing 30% of gay men reported less safe sex practice now that HIV/AIDS was a
known fatal health issue. This figure correlated well with other forms of slow suicide like drug abuse
and alcoholism. Money and efforts spent to treat the underlying PTSD will bear dividends in lower
costs for mental and physical health care. Newer coverage through Obamacare and trans-inclusive
coverage should be a big help.<br />
The Council should be alert to funding and laws needed to adequately support HIV testing and
linkage to care, as well as appropriate use of PrEP and PEP. It was ultimately proven that government
paid monitoring was needed to insure consistent follow-up treatment of Tuberculosis. This Bulletin
from the World Health Organization [<a href="http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/5/06-038927/en/">http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/5/06-038927/en/</a>]
outlines the kinds of steps useful for stopping the spread of TB, and could contain useful advice for
monitoring PrEP usage and other issues covered at HAHSTA.<br />
Without proper collection and dissemination of health related statistics, it is hard to properly and
effectively allocate resources both human and monetary, and for the Council to make correct decisions
on the legislative aspect of these allocations. As more and more elderly become widowed or divorced,
they become especially vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and other STDs that were not an issue when happily
mated to a spouse. For elderly these chronic illnesses become especially costly given their frailty.<br />
<br />
<i>4. Will you support separating Emergency Medical Services from the Fire Department?</i><br />
<b>YES.</b><br />
It makes sense to separate these functions. Effective EMS personnel do not need training in
firefighting. Some people with chronic conditions need repeated EMS assistance over time. There
should be a readily available data base and communication procedure so that appropriate assistance is
sent to people who should be listed in a rapid help evaluation system. There is no need to send a hook
and ladder truck where it is known that a repeat illness victim is not morbidly obese and lives on the 1st
or 2nd floor. Information on a preferred hospital would be good where the victim is unconscious. DC schools should do more in the way of vocationally oriented education to prepare young people
for such jobs as EMS and Firefighting. My son was in ROTC for 3 years, and the discipline there
encouraged him to look at possible work as a firefighter. More can definitely be done to enhance
public education to help our young people explore career options in health and public safety. My son's
ROTC training enabled him to enlist as a better paid Private 1st Class, rather than Private 3rd Class.<br />
<br />
<b>JUDICIARY - </b><i>5. Will you support and press for passage of Bill 21-38, the Death with Dignity Act?</i><br />
<b>YES</b> with questions.<br />
I have read the complete bill and also the criticisms. First, some of my
concerns are based on caring for my mother slowly dying at my home of congestive heart failure, and
my husband of 44 years slowly dying at home of Alzheimer's. Fortunately, neither was experiencing
extreme pain or suffering as some might when dying of cancer and other illnesses. I read the provision requiring a written request. If my husband had been dying of both Alzheimer's and painful cancer, he
would have been unable to write a request in any form even 2 years before he died. There is no
mention of the prescribing physician being required to be present when this written request is made, so
I wonder what protects the dying from predatory or impatient relatives and caretakers.<br />
When my husband was 4 months from death I went to see the VA doctors about his advanced
directive for NO heroic measures to sustain life (tube or intravenous feeding, ventilator, etc.). Two VA
doctors examined him and asked about the advanced directives. He was unable to answer them so I
repeated the questions in simplified terms. He answered with an emphatic NO!!! When I followed
their instruction to ask again, he again answered NO emphatically. When he was on his death bed, my
son and I were able to call them and received appropriate specific instructions about feeding or not
feeding. I think refinement could be made in language regarding witnessing some steps of the process
that would safeguard the mentally vulnerable from coercive actions by family, doctors or institutions.
My husband died at home with visits from a hospice nurse. The funeral parlor put that he had died in a
hospice on the Death Certificate. I reported this to Medicare as a possible case of fraud.<br />
Thus, while I generally favor this bill, I think there are some ways in which it could be improved. I
would hope to bring my very hard won experience to perfecting this measure for all who might need it.
However, I do not believe that search for the perfect should be the enemy of the good. Councilmember
Alexander should move forward to obtain additional public input on ways in which this bill satisfies the
needs of the dying and caregivers, or ways in which it could be improved.<br />
As a separate but related piece of legislation, I would like to see an expansion of the DC D-40
individual income tax provision for Exemptions. It allows (2015 tax year) a $1775 exemption for a
blind person. I would like to see the same exemption for any person medically certified as handicapped
as much as a blind person. In the last 2 years of life my husband needed much more care and
supervision than a blind person. A person in the 15% tax bracket would save $266.25 in tax payment,
and in the 25% tax bracket save $443.75. Such a saving might permit an exhausted family caregiver to
hire a non-family caregiver and occasionally go out alone to a movie or do necessary shopping.<br />
<br />
<i>6. Will you press for the District to provide “Jobs Not Jails” by developing alternatives to incarceration
for marginalized citizens who resort to sex work for survival?</i><br />
<b> YES.</b><br />
Incarcerating adults (16 in DC with an age gap provision) for any agreed upon activity with a
consenting adult is stupid and wasteful. However, we must make it easier for young adults to learn and
find work that does not force them into making unwanted decisions in order to survive. The failure I
referred to in Question #2, of DC to spend government money to build much needed low-cost housing
must be stopped. It even seems as thought there is collaboration among most of our leaders to make it
almost impossible for lower and lower middle income people to find low-cost or affordable housing.<br />
Prevention of bullying and fighting in our schools is essential. The Council will need to be alert to
effective implementation of the Safe School Certification Program due to begin in the 2016-17 school
year. In addition to encouraging this implementation the Council should also determine that the
$3.8million grant from the National Institute off Justice is being spent effectively. I am not aware that
bathrooms are a transgender school problem in DC, but am sympathetic to the issue.<br />
During the fight to keep the IFF Report from closing schools in our poorer neighborhoods, I thought
it might be good to use one or more of those schools as a low cost dormitory for youth under 22 years.
It/they could have “dorm advisers” who were graduate students of Sociology, Psychology, Public
Health and similar disciplines receive free room and board and a stipend to supervise these dwellings.
Included could be a cafeteria and laundry where the young residents would work part time and receive
training and rental credit. In addition there should be counseling and other treatment and adult health
education made available. This is just one example of kinds of creative alternatives to incarceration or
street living for our marginalized citizens I have imagined. I would work to implement others as well.<br />
<br />
<i>7. Will you support and press for passage of a reintroduced Bill 20-63, the Police Monitoring
Enhancement Amendment Act, to give the Office of Police Complaints unfettered access to information
and supporting documentation of the covered law enforcement agencies?</i><br />
<b> YES.</b><br />
The Bill 20-63, Police Monitoring Enhancement Amendment Act, formerly introduced by
Tommy Wells needs to be reintroduced. Apparently earlier language requiring “unfettered” access of
the Office of Police Complaints (OPC) to information and documents had been converted to the vague
term “reasonable” access. The stronger term “unfettered” should replace “reasonable” in a newly
introduced bill.<br />
I have several questions which depending on the answers might require legislation and/or funding.
Have the OPC and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) ever adopted the Police Complaints Board's
recommendation that OPC and MPD together establish a joint monitoring system for allegations of
inadequate police response to reported hate crimes? Has OPC been better able to determine the
number of hate crime related complaints referred to MPD? Does OPC now have access to complaints
filed with MPD's Internal Affairs bureau? Is there now a “rapid response” protocol for handling
routine, customer service oriented complaints? Given the potential fear of reprisal felt by members of
the LGBT community, does OPC now have the capacity to look at MPD performance and responses to
LGBTQ complaints even for just a small number of them? In recent years I have noticed a definite
increase in reports of harmful treatment of Transgender people. Has the review of complaints
regarding demonstrations of police bias toward people of color been expanded to include LGBTs and
especially Transgenders?<br />
<br />
<i>8. Will you support improved services and treatment for LGBT homeless youth and seniors, including
transitional housing?</i><br />
<b> YES.</b><br />
Since a significant minority of LGBT youth are rejected by their families and made miserable
in school, homelessness is a serious issue for them. For the elderly, loss of a partner and shared
economy, or inability to work because of age and illness are some causes of homelessness. In addition
LGBT youth are at higher risk of suicide, and isolated seniors are probably also at higher risk. Thus,
both these LGBT populations need more specialized counseling, education on health and sexuality, and
assistance with housing needs. The fact the DC government seems to have no interest in providing low
cost housing hasn't helped. The fact that anyone wishing to rent out a room or two needs a Basic
Business License doesn't help. See answer at Question #9.<br />
Here again you have these particular vulnerable populations serving as the “canary in the coal
mine.” Given the overall failure of the city to promote low cost housing, and basic employment
education for much of the population, it becomes especially noticeable among young and elderly
LGBTs. In addition to working specifically to help vulnerable LGBT populations, it is important for
GLAA to work closely with other groups engaged in the good fight against greedy and indifferent
developers and the politicians they support.<br />
For example, how can support services for needy populations be paid for when the city plans to
spend $3billion tearing up the streets and putting ALL electric lines underground? Where homes are
far apart it is cheaper and quicker to repair above ground cable breaks, and pay arborists and tree
trimmers to keep dangerous branches cut beforehand. Why should over $60million be allocated this
year to destroy over 20 acres of historic water filtration caverns at McMillan Park when this space
could be used for STEM education and projects growing hydroponic food and fish to feed the poor and
teach useful skills? Has all the money spent on the H Street light rail system been a total waste? The
common element here is that in each case developers and contractors will earn heaps of money, often at
inflated rates, and only they and upper income residents will benefit. I am told that NO housing
developer has ever been sued by the city for failing to include the promised lower cost units that were
negotiated and agreed to before permits were issued.<br />
One result is that although the Tax Revision Commission agreed with my 11 year effort to restore
the parity D-40 Deductions and Exemptions rates had with IRS 1040 rates in 1973 when we gained
home rule, the Council approved scheduling this restoration of justice over SIX years. Thus, it will be
2020 before the full $85million a year will flow back into our pockets and out to our local businesses. For this April's 2015 taxes, a young single could deduct $6,975 on the D-40, but $10,300 on the 1040.
An elderly single could deduct $8,750 on the D-40, and $11,850 with the IRS 1040. Somewhat better
savings were given in 2015 than in 2014, but see [http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-2019-dccouncil-approval-of-2-tax.html]
for a more detailed view of previous figures.<br />
<br />
<b>CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES -<i> </i></b><i>9. Will you defend the right of adults in the District to choose adult-oriented entertainment for
themselves, and the right of appropriately licensed and zoned businesses to provide it?</i><br />
<b>YES.</b><br />
Adult-oriented entertainment and business are part of our “life, liberty, and pursuit of
happiness.” When young and exploring the hidden world of sexuality, I read some gay porn. I believe
my husband of 44 years benefited from some of the knowledge gained. There was also a period in the
1980s when my husband was away a lot and the children almost grown that I visited a number of gay
oriented clubs including Ziegfeld's, Tracks and Lost and Found near S. Capitol. Living near DuPont
Circle, I more often went to Friends, the Fireplace and Rascals, including to their 3rd floor, and others.
I remember how the S. Capitol clubs were displaced by the subsidized ballfield, and wondered why it
was fair to pay off one business at the expense of another.<br />
If I should be on the Council while businesses are being displaced by the Buzzard Point soccer
stadium, I would certainly work to persuade other Councilmembers to pass fair legislation. As an
increasingly popular city for tourism and late night entertainment, we should not allow prudes to dictate
the legal and properly regulated pleasures of others. The legitimate desire of people to gather in
appropriate public settings to socialize and use marijuana also needs fair and practical action.<br />
Two other measures I would pursue if elected would be to make it easier for young, elderly, and
small entrepreneurs to begin a micro-business. Even something as simple as a lemonade stand can
bring grief [<a href="http://www.copblock.org/7170/lemonade/">http://www.copblock.org/7170/lemonade/</a>]. All non service businesses in DC require a
Basic Business License. If one owes the city a traffic fine, back taxes or other monies above $100 it is
impossible to get the BBL. A waiver should be provided for payments that are in adjudication or
negotiation. An elderly friend with 5 joint replacements needed a BBL for an agent to rent out her
apartment for 6 months. The number of hours and places she had to visit to achieve obtaining the BBL
were physically painful and exhausting. Therefore I would recommend not requiring a BBL until one
year after grossing $250,000. Instead the prospective entrepreneur should take a ½ day course on how
to file DC business (D-30) and income (D-40) taxes and the federal business taxes they are based on.<br />
This brings me to the second issue—the D-30 Unincorporated Franchise Tax. In 1986 it was
determined that any business grossing over $12,000 should pay a minimum $100 fee and taxes for
profits above that. Recently, the $100 minimum was raised to $250, but the $12,000 gross income was
not adjusted for inflation which should bring it up to between $25 and $30,000. In addition if all
earnings are DC based then there is no need to have the long, complicated, poorly explained D-30 form
filled out. One should merely have to submit the IRS 1040 Schedule C for general business, or the
Schedule E for rental income, along with the first 2 pages of the D-30.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Related Personal Actions and Experience </b>- </span><i>Your record is part of your rating. Please list any actions that you have taken that may help
illustrate your record on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.</i><br />
<br />
In the past four years I have made a point of forwarding articles about GLBT issues and human
interest to appropriate members of the GLBT political and journalistic community. A number of years
ago I made a presentation at Whitman-Walker on new highly effective methods of dealing with
emotional/PTSD/abuse issues (which I used for 10 years seeing clients about such issues). When my
husband died from Alzheimer's, I gave all his adult diapers to Joseph's House. I would be happy to
speak with a GLBT group about home care of the dying, and planning an at-home death. I personally observed a number of people in the early 1980's experiencing the problems of living as
a GLBT person. My husband was seldom around and my sons were mostly off with their friends, so I
started going to the bars on P St. near my DuPont Circle home. I especially liked the piano bars at
Friends and the Fireplace. As a fun but maternal figure a number of young gay people became my
friends and long term acquaintances. They would tell me their troubles and ask for advise. I was
answering so many questions about nutrition and health that I wrote and printed a 20 page pamphlet
titled “PROTECT YOUR HEALTH THROUGH BETTER DIET (from AIDS and other diseases).” I
distributed free copies to anyone who asked.<br />
I will outline some of these people's stories. They have mostly all died, so I don't think I will be
breaking confidences. However several followed my advice about careful sex and super-nutrition and
were still healthy and alive ten years after HIV first appeared in DC.<br />
A) A man in his 30's who had suffered severe sexual abuse by his brother and was neglected by his
alcoholic mother. He developed AIDS and gradually went blind. He called me one day in panic, “I
can't see anything, it's all black.” He lived with an abusive lover who didn't believe he was blind and
left obstacles for him to trip over, and even refused to let him get a guide dog. I begged him to let me
find a better placement for him, but he refused. They both died a year or two later.<br />
B) A 17 year old, emancipated as a 15 year old minor to flee the abusive foster home system. He lived
with an older gay man who died of AIDS. We did some renovation work together, I taught him some
some skills, and he developed his artistic talent and started a business. He succeeded in creating a good
life for himself, including providing my son a job and mentorship, but died at 50 from Hepatitis C
caught in those early years.<br />
C) An artistically and dramatically talented young man who was reasonably successful as a drag
performer. I gave him a free place to live in my home for several months. He had been severely
abused physically and emotionally by his alcoholic single mother. Subsequently he was raped by an
HIV positive “friend”. He probably became HIV positive (he had practiced protected sex in the
ordinary course), and ODed either accidentally or on purpose a year or two later.<br />
D) A man in his 30s who was into leather daddies who beat and bruised his butt so badly I warned him
he was in danger of dying from a lung embolism. He started coming to a free self-help therapeutic group I
had organized. In a major breakthrough he realized the origin of his behavior in his relationship with
his distant father who passed off discipline of this son onto his overwhelmed wife. After this he no
longer engaged in abusive sex, and had several relationships before he died of AIDS a few years later.<br />
E) A man in his 30s who had been abused by both his upper middle class parents. When we first met
his T-4 level was around 400 and he could only walk a few blocks before exhaustion struck. He was
also a cocaine addict. His father arranged for me to monitor a stipend for his rent and food. We went
shopping and sometimes cooked together. I set him up with an array of supplements. After 4 months
his T-4s were 1100, and we could walk 11 blocks without suffering fatigue. Two years later his father
stopped the stipend and he moved home. He misplaced his supplements in packing, his parents
restimulated feelings from his childhood abuse, and a lover dumped him. He died 3 months later.<br />
I could provide at least a half dozen other stories, but the point is, I have heard the tragic early
histories and watched the successes and failures of a number of GLBT people over time and helped
where I could. I will continue to do so whether elected or not.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>- - - - - - - - - -</b></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DC for Democracy Questionnaire </span></b>- For 2016 General Election
Council Position Sought: At Large
Candidate Name: <b>G. Lee Aikin (DC Statehood Green Party) </b><br />
<br />
<i>1. Bills now before the DC Council are intended to reduce the influence of big money
donors through several approaches: </i><br />
<i> ● banning corporate campaign contributions, </i><br />
<i> ● keeping donors who make very large contributions from getting government
contracts and special tax breaks, and </i><br />
<i> ● providing for public financing of political campaigns through a system that
matches small donations, similar to what it used in New York City. </i><br />
<i> Where do you stand on each of these approaches? </i><br />
<br />
a. The amount allowed for all contributions needs to be seriously reduced, and those
from corporations need to be clearly identified. Voting in Council to do this and speaking
out for our people to support the Move to Amend is something I will do whenever
appropriate. Corporations are not people, and money is not speech.<br />
b. If (a) is done there won't be any very large contributions, open bidding on
government contracts should be allowed by all, but special tax breaks like the East Banc
deal at 22nd and L Sts. should never be allowed, nor should the NO-BID contract and
$1million annual subsidy to destroy McMillan Park be permitted. Contributions by
bidders should be clearly identifiable to all, and the Independent Auditor should remain
so.<br />
c. I would certainly want to know a lot more about the New York City matching
donations program, as well as others that have been tried. How effective have they
been, have people discovered ways to game these system, and how does the general
voting population feel about them and their fairness?<br />
<br />
<i>2. The DC Council recently passed a law to gradually raise the DC minimum wage to
$15 by 2020. However, they failed to eliminate the difference between the tipped
minimum wage, as called for by the ballot initiative that prompted the law. What is
your position on the tipped minimum wage?
</i><br />
For many years the minimum wage has been ridiculously low. Efforts are finally
succeeding in raising it closer to the level it should have been if increased often to reflect
inflation. The tipped minimum wage has also been very low for a long time, and should
be raised in fair proportion to it's relationship with the minimum wage increase.<br />
Frankly I also think there should be a <b>maximum wage</b> law. For example 35 or
more years ago the ratio between top CEO pay and low level worker pay in their
companies was about 40 to 1. Now it can be as much as 1,000 to 1 and is often 400 to 1.
Fifteen dollars x 40 hrs. per week x 52 weeks = $31,200. That wage times 40 =
$1,248,000. So let's round that out to $1,250,000 and say that any business that pays
their executives more than that cannot deduct the excess salary from their corporate
income taxes. This is a complex idea, but that is an example to start us thinking about
ways to curb the corporate excess which among other things is robbing Social Security.
See: <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/10/saving-social-security-wage-cap.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/10/saving-social-security-wage-cap.html</a>.
Read how corporate wage inflation has destroyed the 90% wage cap that both parties
agreed to in 1983, and is now threatening the future of SS benefit payments.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> 3. Child care on average costs $21,000 a year for families. What would you do to
ensure access for all families? Do you support universal child care? </i><br />
<br />
A few years ago the Walmart funded IFF Report said we should close or repurpose
over 40 “underutilized” DC schools, the majority located in Wards 7 and 8. DC
government should use some of that excess space to house low or no cost childcare
programs. Among the developed countries, only in Switzerland is the cost of childcare a
greater percentage of family income, a figure which should shame our country into
doing better. For this and other important social programs a slight increase in upper
level income taxes would help. California's top rate is 13%. DC's is 8.25%<br />
<br />
<i>4. In recent years, DC has lost tens of thousands of units of affordable housing. Over
the next few years, we are projected to lose thousands more. How many of these units
should the DC government replace or preserve? What steps do you propose to replace
and preserve that many units? </i><br />
<br />
The poison of all big development, expensive housing, and gentrification is driving all
low and moderate income workers to MD and VA. Our Metro woes show how
dangerous Council actions are to continue that trend. Soon few firemen, teachers,
police, hotel restaurant, or hospital workers will be available in any emergency.<br />
All builders of big housing should be required to supply a mix of low, moderate, and
market rate units to allow workers of all types to live and work near home. Mark-ups of
20% on contracts must stop. DC workers were recently fired for granting a $6million
contract to a distant bidder, rather than a $13million bid by a local contractor whose
f ormer executive is now on our Council. We should continue to reward low bids, even if
the bidder is out-of-area, until local bidders learn honesty and make competitive bids.<br />
Our Mayor recently proposed a high priced plan for housing the homeless that
rewarded campaign contributors. Immediate negative reaction has forced finding some
less expensive alternatives, but more should be found. Low income renters are
rightfully hostile at being kicked out before promised housing is built. The Williams
administration's New Communities program involving Barry Farms, Park Morton,
Northwest One and Lincoln Heights failed to meet it's objectives. What was planned
and built is ¼ market rate, ½ moderate income, and only ¼ low income (less than 400
units). There are 70,000 on waiting lists. For one of my low cost housing ideas see: <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/can-creative-use-of-shipping-containers.html" target="_blank">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/can-creative-use-of-shipping-containers.html </a><br />
Other fixes include: 1) Stop raising property taxes 10% and more on unimproved
homes because some neighbors renovated. 2) Eliminate BBL for owners renting a few
units and simplify the D-30 for small owner rentals. 3) Change the one-month Vacant
Property law to the one year VP used in nearby counties. This has caused panic selling,
by people who are ill or heirs at the worst time of their life, to real estate speculators
(who then sit on the building waiting for the market to go up).<br />
<br />
<i>5. What actions would you take to enhance public safety and reduce violent crime
while reforming racialized policing that unfairly targets people of color? </i><br />
<br />
Violent behavior begins early. Danes and Germans react very differently when
children fight on playgrounds. Danish methods could be taught to our parents. We
need to hire a new police chief who does not repeat past mistakes and can negotiate
effectively with police representatives. Making police sit in cars at high visibility static
posts frustrates good officers who want to patrol, hunting for crime and other trouble.
Do we need a special unit for rampant auto theft?<br />
Regarding recent police killings of
people with mental or drug problems, more training to deal with mental illness and
intoxication is needed. Perhaps a new Mental Health Unit, like Special Victims, should
exist to provide better negotiation and unrushed empathic handling on scene. Police are
upset with one small pay raise in 7 years. Long term officers leave early because
pensions are based on 3 best earning years. This is not 2008, we can pay more. DC jail
could use more funding for counseling, education and treatment of illness and mental
health.<br />
<br />
<i>6. Good government requires checks and balances between the Council and the Mayor.
Which policies do you support that are different from Mayor Bowser’s policies? Please
be as specific as possible. </i><br />
<br />
The Mayor's Statehood/Constitution effort is a real danger to checks and balances.
The current document still limits future Delegates to a smaller number than approved
and voted in 1982. It is harder for special interests to influence a larger number than a
few Delegates. Her Constitution eliminates the 2 Council member set-aside for nonmajority
party candidates like Statehood Greens, Republicans, Libertarians or
Independents, further limiting independent thought and votes on the Council. Putting
the Independent Auditor and Chief Finance Officer, as well as the Attorney General
under direct control of the Governor is very dangerous. The Auditor, who questioned
the NO-BID contract allowing one contractor to plan destruction of our last big
parkland, McMillan, is an example. The recent firing of workers for approving a much
lower bid to an out of area contractor rather than a well connected local one is another
example.<br />
The Mayor has added a provision to the Constitution to not allow a true
Constitutional Convention for at least 5 years after statehood. <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/10/dc-constitution-statehood-sept-27-oct-6.html" target="_blank">Does the Council have the courage</a> to oppose the Mayors dictatorial moves which many testifiers brought to the
Councils's attention? [The Council in fact did vote to call for a Constitutional Convention within 2 years of achieving Statehood.] These moves include her creating a committee of 5, with the
Council Chairman on it, to write/approve this Constitution when this was not in their
job descriptions when we elected them. Holding 3 days of Constitutional Convention,
which in fact were merely hearings with people allowed 3 minutes to testify, with no one
elected as a Delegate to actually write or vote was a total denial of the 1982 Constitution
process. Then elected Delegates worked and wrote a document DC voted to approve in
Nov. 1982.<br />
Now they want our YES vote for Statehood Nov. 8. This vote contains the POISON
PILL of an undated Constitution that is dangerous and anti-democratic. Vote NO if the
Council fails to correct and date the Mayor's dictatorial Constitution before you vote. [The Statehood Green Party will meet on Nov. 3rd to decide if the Council's changes merit a YES vote on Nov. 8th. I am inclined to accept the Council's recent changes and vote YES, but want my party's guidance.]<br />
<br />
<i>7. The New Columbia Statehood Commission has proposed a Statehood Initiative that
calls for an Advisory Referendum that includes approval of a new Constitution and
boundaries to be adopted by the DC Council. If you had designed the Statehood
Initiative, would it be different in any way, and if so, how? </i><br />
<br />
Many of the problems with the Mayor's proposed Statehood Initiative are described
above in question 6., but here is how I would have done it differently.<br />
With voter input, I would have prepared an Advisory Referendum for voting on Nov.
8, through the regular Initiative process with many thousands of petition signatures by
DC Voters. There would have been 3 separately voted sub-items on the ballot. The
Initiative would have included a stand alone vote for Statehood. There also would have
been a separate call for a Constitutional Convention, like 1982, beginning a date early in
2017 with a date for completion. A separate vote for a manner of electing Constitutional
Convention delegates and the number of delegates would have been included. No actions influencing the time and content of the Constitution should be made by
the current Council which still has two lame duck members. [Who did, if fact, vote for the improvements in language.] The repudiation of 3 of the
Mayor's supporters in the Primary elections makes current Council actions regarding
our future Constitution highly inappropriate.<br />
<br />
Detailed articles related to some of the issues above can be found on my blog:
gleeaikin.blogspot.com. <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/12/index-of-all-posts-newest-to-oldest.html" target="_blank">Click INDEX </a>under my photos for a complete list of over 70
articles which I write in detail and update where appropriate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Campaign expenses paid for ELECT G. LEE AIKIN, campaign committee, 1754 Swann St., NW, Washington, DC 20009. A copy of our report is filed with the Dir. of Campaign Finance, DC Bd. of Elections.</span></div>
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-73003455221447596782016-10-05T21:03:00.000-07:002016-12-26T22:53:39.615-08:00McMillan Park, Further Updates and Legal Action--Summer/Fall 2016<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the serious issues with the entire McMillan Park process is that for at least 7 years, we taxpayers having been giving a NO-BID contractor $1million a year to plan their development which the community has vigorously protested. Even Kathy Patterson, the DC Auditor, has expressed concern with the lack of proper bidding processes in <a href="http://www.savemcmillan.org/docs/2015_10_19_mcm_auditor_report_to_council.pdf" target="_blank">her Oct. 19, 2015 letter</a> to Chairman Mendelson.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I have been told that the Auditor is independent, but one of the <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/05/statehood-for-dc-mayor-fast-tracks-new.html" target="_blank">many suspicious things the Mayor's new Constitution does </a>is put the Auditor directly under control of the Mayor, oops, I mean Governor. The Chief Financial Officer and the Attorney General also fall under control of the Governor in the Mayor's new Constitution. The Mayor has already tried to take approval for city development deals</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"> </span><a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/blog/13135747/independent-counsel-attorney-general-karl-racine-survived-2015-here-comes-2016" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">away from the Attorney General. </a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> These are additional reasons to vote NO for Statehood which vote includes accepting her Constitution on Nov. 8, 2016, unless the Council makes important changes in the Constitution as a result of the Sept. 27 and Oct. 6 hearings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> [Important changes were made, and on Nov. 8th the people vote 83% for Statehood while, with this same vote, being forced to approve the somewhat revised and improved Constitution.]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[12/8/16] A day after the Mayor held a symbolic "groundbreaking", we won the lawsuit against the VMP monopoly. It is still possible that they may be able to turn this win around, so we must keep fighting and being creative. Since then at least one well attended meeting has been held by people planning to develop better ideas.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This site has the best color photo of the underground galleries I have seen: <a href="http://friendsofmcmillan.org/">http://friendsofmcmillan.org/</a></span><br />
<br />
[12/4/16] Mayor Bowser plans to hold a kick-off of the VMP, taxpayer subsidized, NO-BID, unpopular plan to destroy most of the underground historic water purification structure to build a Tyson's Corner type project at this already rush hour bottlenecked intersection. It is scheduled for 11:00 am, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at the McMillan site, near the intersection of North Capitol St. and Michigan Ave.<br />
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<i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_39410" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_39409" style="font-family: "bitstream charter" , serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_39412" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">McMillan Press Update <b>May 22, 2016 </b>:: SAVE MCMILLAN ACTION COALITION ::</span></span></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-family: "bitstream charter" , serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">202 344 5385</a> :: <a href="http://savemcmillan.org/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">savemcmillan.org</a></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "bitstream charter" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36604" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><u id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36603" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36602" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36601" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.22em;">McMillan Park Legal Cases Reveal Startling Facts Not Considered by City Council or Planners During Park Giveaway Proceedings</span></span></u></b><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></b></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_39420" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_39419" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_39418" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;">Legal filings demonstrate overwhelming traffic conditions, millions of gallons of wasteful sewage and water use, and serious air pollution & displacement factors</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">May 23, 2016, Washington, D.C. -- District of Columbia residents and several DC citizen groups<a href="https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=a2aulbc9hk995#m_-7171529324737753566_m_7149950770997584934_m_9207238221998348197_m_1485757625544692003_m_4261842884311528189_m_-1249317678582070890_m_1596792155815068755__ftn1" name="m_-7171529324737753566_m_7149950770997584934_m_9207238221998348197_m_1485757625544692003_m_4261842884311528189_m_-1249317678582070890_m_1596792155815068755__ftnref1" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title-off="" title="title"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.22em;">[1]</span></span></span></a> have filed legal briefs with the DC Court of Appeals to save their historic McMillan Park. Their legal teams are awaiting responses this week from attorneys representing the city and a cadre of well-heeled developers, all paid for by DC tax dollars. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36570" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36569" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">The appeals seek to defend McMillan as a national historic landmark, to protect a key water-source feature (20-acre cistern) to help the capital city resist increasing climate chaos, as well as to safeguard the surrounding working-class community from a myriad of adverse impacts. </span><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="http://www.savemcmillan.org/legal" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">www.savemcmillan.org/legal</a></b></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36572" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">Residents are challenging what they describe as "arbitrary" decisions made by DC zoning and historic preservation officials which show an "absolute disregard of fundamental planning protocols." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">For example, the filings show </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">the Zoning Commission chose to upzone the site from a low-rise community to that allowing massive downtown-sized development to serve the developers interests in bringing online over 2 million square feet of dense commercial and residential buildings and paving over two-thirds of the open public space. This upzoning flies in the face of city planning documents that call for more limited moderate community-minded development that preserved most of the open park space. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36579" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36578" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;">Evidence on the record shows that just on a Saturday alone, the proposed "McMillan Town Center" will generate nearly 25,000 vehicle trips, and 40,000 "person" trips to and from the site. And, the project will push 3 million gallons of water plus an equal amount of sewage through aging city pipes on a daily basis. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36582" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">No analysis was done to determine if the city's infrastructure can even handle a project of this size, and who would pay for upgrades, nor did anyone take into account the more than 50,000+ vehicles already coursing around McMillan everyday and how adding thousands of more cars will affect the air quality and emergency services of the surrounding communities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">Moreover, local residents are deeply concerned that the amount of luxury housing proposed for the site (more than 500 market-rate units) will "accelerate gentrification pressures" in the surrounding community. The staffers with DC's Office of Planning provided no evaluation of displacement effects brought on by this project. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36592" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36591" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;">Local developers and architect design teams (Jair Lynch E.Y.A.; Trammel Crow; Perkins Eastman DC; Robert Silman Associates; EHT Traceries; and others) are getting cover from city officials who are eager to get started on the project. </span><a href="http://goog_280956262/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"> </a></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n240yomawg" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n240yomawg</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">These developers are anticipating a 2+ billion dollar windfall to come at the expense of DC taxpayers who are paying for the vast majority of pre-development costs, including a PR firm hired to discredit those in opposition, as well as paying for architects, designers, and for the legal help.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="http://savemcmillan.org/calendar#fontaine" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">savemcmillan.org/calendar#fontaine</a></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36596" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">The city has recently released a Request for Proposals for the so-called horizontal development, which means the demolition of the site, as well are shopping preliminary plans for the “park” in spite of the legal battle unfolding in Court. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36587" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36589" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">This legal battle follows on from mounting public dissent to the project (More then 8,000 people have signed the petition to Save McMillan park; </span><a href="http://www.savemcmillan.org/opposition" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">www.savemcmillan.org/opposition</a><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464052219983_36586" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">) and DC's independent auditor, Kathy Patterson has asked that the McMillan project be competitively rebid because competition was minimized for these favored developers under the banner, Vision McMillan Partners. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;">Holland and Knight, the lawyers for the developers who are being paid with DC taxpayer monies, may be submitting responses to the residents' initial legal claims this week.</span><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "bitstream charter" , serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=a2aulbc9hk995#m_-7171529324737753566_m_7149950770997584934_m_9207238221998348197_m_1485757625544692003_m_4261842884311528189_m_-1249317678582070890_m_1596792155815068755__ftnref1" name="m_-7171529324737753566_m_7149950770997584934_m_9207238221998348197_m_1485757625544692003_m_4261842884311528189_m_-1249317678582070890_m_1596792155815068755__ftn1" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title-off="" title="title">[1]</a></span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.22em;"> Appeals of the DC Zoning Commission to destroy McMillan Park have been brought by Friends of McMillan Park (</span><a href="http://friendsofmcmillan.org/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">friendsofmcmillan.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.22em;">), the DC Preservation League (</span><a href="http://dcpreservation.org/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">dcpreservation.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.22em;">), the Committee of 100 (</span><a href="http://committeeof100.net/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">committeeof100.net</a><span style="line-height: 1.22em;">), DC for Reasonable Development (</span><a href="http://dc4reason.org/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">dc4reason.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.22em;">) and the McMillan Coalition for Sustainable Agriculture. FMI:</span><a href="http://www.savemcmillan.org/legal" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">www.savemcmillan.org/legal</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveMcMillan" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/SaveMcMillan</a></span></div>
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Posted by: "d.c. forrd" <dc4reality@gmail.com></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Historic Preservation articles and contacts on McMillan, for follow up and letters of support. [from Daniel Wolkoff]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Kim Williams, Architectural Historian, from DC Office of Miserable Planning, HPO, wrote the 2012 nomination to the National Registry of Historic Places------25 YEARS LATE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> United States Department of the lnterior National Park Service </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> /<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> NPS Form'10-900 OMB No 1024-0018 (Exp¡res 5/31/2012)<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> McMillan Park Reservoir Historic District Washington, D.C.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Name of Property County and State<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> <b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465752964069_33020" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> 9. Major Biblioqraphical References</b><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Bibliograph! (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form.)<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board Application for Historic Landmark, McMillan Park Reservoir, 1991.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> a<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Drutchas, Geoffrey. "Gray Eminence in Gilded Age: The Forgotten Career of Senator James McMillan of Michigan,"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Michigan Historical Review, Vol. 28, No.2 (Fall2002), pp. 79-113.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Drutchas, Geoffrey. "A Capital Design," Michigan History (March/April2002), pp.30-38.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> EHT Traceries, "McMillan Slow Sand Filtration Plant, Historic Preservation Report for the Proposed Redevelopment of the<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> McMillan Slow Sand Filtration Plant," Prepared for Vision McMillan Partners, July 2010.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Engineering-Science, lnc. "Architectural and Archeological Survey, Eastern Portion, McMillan Water Treatment Plant,"<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Funded by the Office of Business and Economic Development,1990.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Goodwin, R. Christopher & Associates. "Washington Aqueduct Architectural Survey, District of Columbia and Montgomery<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> County, MD., Final Report Prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1998.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Greenhorne & O'Mara. "Final Report and Recommendations, McMillan Reservoir Sand Filtration Site," Submitted to the<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> District of Columbia Office of Planning, 2001.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Quinn Evans Architects. "McMillan Reservoir Sand Filtration Site: Historic Preservation Review."<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Prepared for the National Capital Revitalization Corporation. June 26,2006.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Rosenberg, Elissa. "Public Works and Public Space: Rethinking the Urban Park." Journal of Architectural Education, Vol. 50, No. (2008), pp. 89-103.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> a<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Somma, Thomas P. "The McMillan Memorial Fountain: A Short History of Lost Monument."<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Washington History, Vol. 14, No. 2 (2002), pp. 97-107.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Sweeney, Thomas W. "Sand Castles." Historic Preservation Magazine 42, No. 4 (1990): 38-43,72.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Ways, Howard C. The Washington Aqueduct, 1852-1992. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1992</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "pgff1a"; line-height: 40.5625px; white-space: pre;">Link for Auditor's letter 10/19/15, to Mendelson stating need for rebidding McMillan based on significant changes in scope.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">[5/7/16] Here is an update on the lawsuit action being taken by Friends of McMillan Park and other historic preservation groups.</span></div>
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What is the Save McMillan Park Lawsuit All About?<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><em style="color: #363d4c; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Dear Friend of McMillan Park,</span></em></h1>
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Friends of McMillan Park and other historic preservation organizations have joined in filing a legal appeal of the District of Columbia Government’s zoning and preservation decisions that would allow for demolition of 80 to 90% of the historic, below-grade vaults and numerous other historic features combined with high-density commercial development on the 25-acre, DC-owned portion of historic landmark McMillan Park. The appeals also challenge the proposal to subdivide the historic site into several parcels for sale to commercial high-rise developers who aspire to turn McMillan Park into a suburban office park reminiscent of Tysons Corner.<br />
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The Friends organization has been working with legal counsel since 2014 before the case went before the DC Historic Preservation Review Board, the Mayor’s Agent for Historic Preservation, and the Zoning Commission under the assumption that these District government agencies would approve this commercial development proposal that has plagued our community since at least the Fenty Administration. That assumption proved true.<br />
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After the Mayor’s Agent and Zoning Commission decisions for McMillan became public in April 2015, we immediately began the appeal process by filing petitions for review with the DC Court of Appeals. The court accepted our preservation and zoning appeals and consolidated them into one case. We filed our opening brief for the case this past week. We currently have no date for the first appearance in court on this matter although we expect that it may be some months away.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Here are our main arguments, in plain language:</span></div>
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<li id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1462597812380_17439" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">High-density zoning for McMillan Park is inconsistent with the DC Comprehensive Plan and the Future Land Use Map recommendations of low-to-moderate density zoning. </li>
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<li id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1462597812380_17347" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Because McMillan Park has been a DC Historic Landmark since 1991 (and also is listed in the National Register of Historic Places), demolition of a significant portion of the site’s protected historic resources is inconsistent with the protections afforded by the DC Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act.</li>
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<li id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1462597812380_17440" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">The Mayor’s Agent decision to permit demolition and subdivision of this DC Historic Landmark did not consider alternatives that could achieve the “special merit” objectives of the proposal, as required by the Preservation Act. </li>
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<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">The proposed development project does not satisfy the “high standard” required of a project of “special merit” (required in order to waive the statutory preservation restrictions) because the majority of the development proposal, such as the commercial medical office buildings has no demonstrated special merit.</li>
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McMillan Sand Filtration Site is a unique and irreplaceable landmark that should be developed in a manner consistent with the site’s historic character and within existing zoning guidelines. <a href="http://friendsofmcmillan.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=62b79da09f328424bf2ab31fc&id=0a2741e4cc&e=dbe1d24f5e" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #9f590e; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The project should also align with the concerns and wishes of the surrounding community expressed consistently for decades</a>. As such, McMillan Park needs a competitive, open bidding process or a Request for Proposals (RFP) solicitation like the District government used for the St. Elizabeth’s, Walter Reed, and Franklin School redevelopment projects. The McMillan Park redevelopment deal before us today devolved long ago into the current no-bid, sole-source plan that violates DC Government procurement law. McMillan Park deserves an open design competition like the one used for The High Line redevelopment project in New York City.<br />
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What might the Court do if it agrees with us? We hope that the Court of Appeals will grant our petitions to review and vacate the DC Government’s zoning, demolition, and subdivision decisions. We hope that this will happen and that a new ethical, community-driven development process will begin — consistent with the District’s existing rules, regulations, and laws, and with the wishes of the people of the District of Columbia,<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
<br />
John Salatti, Kirby Vining, and Hugh Youngblood<br />
Board of Directors<br />
Friends of McMillan Park</div>
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1462597812380_17350" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you have any questions, please contact<a href="mailto:restoremcmillan@gmail.com" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1462597812380_17351" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #9f590e; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:restoremcmillan@gmail.com">restoremcmillan@gmail.com</a> or call </span>202.213.2690<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1462597812380_17356" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21126" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">"From the record" by Daniel Goldon Wolkoff [this is an ironic critical objection to the process being forced upon us by DEMPED. I will also include a few comments of my own in brackets.]<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />Now we know how critical the Trammel Crow 1,000,000 sq. ft. medical office towers will be, impressive!</span> From Testimony to the ZC 13-14</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20876" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20814" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20813" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20812" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20811" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20810" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20809" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20808" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20807" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20806" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;">from Janice <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20805" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">Posey, Manager for the Higher Education and <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20804" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">Healthcare Sector</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;">in the Office of the </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><b>D</b>eputy <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21063" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><b>M</b>ayor for <b>P</b>lanning and <b>E</b>conomic <b>D</b>evelopment.<br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21062" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />"My role is to engage, collaborate <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_24557" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">and assist with real estate and programmatic <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_24556" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">challenges for all 19 colleges and universities <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_24555" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">located in the District of Columbia and the 14 <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_24554" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">hospitals that serve the general public in the <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_24553" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">DC region. My specific involvement with the <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_24558" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">McMillan Project originated from Vision 5 of <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Mayor Gray<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">s Five Year Economic Development <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">Strategy which aims to create a first class, <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">global medical center at the McMillan site.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>"<br />
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"And why can't we just rely <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20894" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">on the hospitals across the street to treat <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20893" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">chronic diseases?<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> The answer is<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> this space </b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20892" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">could help eradicate not just treat diseases.</b><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20891" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">Pioneering healthcare research and <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20890" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">innovation is the key to eradicating diseases. <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20889" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">If we only rely on the traditional approach to <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20888" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">treating diseases, does that really make the <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">disease obsolete?<br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">McMillan Center of Excellence <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">could</b> <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">provide the venue and space for revolutionary<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">advances in medical treatment for chronic<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"> di<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">seases."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_20973" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;">Wow , we can have "revolutionary advances" at Trammel Crows Medical Office Towers, close NIH($31.3 Billion) and CDC ($11.5 Billion), save $43 Billion. Why waste the money on those old traditional research institutes when we can have cutting edge, pioneering, avant-guard medical research, right here in DC at McMillan Town Center and eradicate diseases.</span><br />
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font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;">from Comprehensive Plan Healthcare</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11pt;">1106--</span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 9pt;">H</span>ealthcare facilities should be distributed in areas of the city underserved</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 9pt;">“</span></b><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 9pt;">The distribution of these facilities across the city is presently uneven, with most hospital beds on the west side of the city and only one full-service hospital east of the Anacostia River. 1106.10</span></b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 9pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: x-small;">and</span></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_25149" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_25148" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: x-small;">1106.11 The health care facility policies in the Comprehensive Plan seek to provide a more equitable geographic distribution of community health care facilities throughout the city. The primary means of achieving this goal is the establishment of a comprehensive network of community-based health centers. While some centers already exist, they are often located in outmoded facilities that need to be renovated or replaced. 1106.11</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Testimony of Michelle Webster, 100 block of Adams Street (resident)</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>“</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21023" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A space this massive in an area that already provides office space for the medical professionals<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />that are currently associated with the nearby hospitals is at great risk for a large number of vacancies. </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21037" style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;">Also, the Applicant should be committed to </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21036" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;">"providing a community medical clinic on the site. At this time, the only sources for urgent care within the</span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_25147" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_25146" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">immediate area are the emergency departments"</b> </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_22753" style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_22752" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;">at the Washington Hospital Center and Children’s National Medical Center. Additionally, there are</span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_22758" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;">few low-cost or no-cost medical clinics available for citizens of the District of Columbia. The addition of such a clinic would be extremely beneficial </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_22759" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;">to the families, seniors, and other citizens residing in the adjacent neighborhoods and beyond, and would be a positive use of the large medical </span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;">office space proposed by the Applicant.</span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 10pt;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21058" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Further, should the space be filled, the current studies indicate that employees of the complex and the visiting patients and guests will be the greatest source of traffic increase in the neighborhood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Michelle, don't worry about traffic impacts from the 3000 employees coming to McMillan Town Center each workday, don't worry. James Vloeltzki architect for VMP solves the traffic mitigation problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">from James Vloeltzki architect for VMP from the testimony Twilight Zoning hearing ZC 13-14</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> "<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21031" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">The garage allows employees to bike<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21030" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"> <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21029" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">to work with <b>eight </b>secure bicycle storage<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21028" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"> <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_21027" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">lockers and a men's and women's shower and<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_25134" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"> <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461131005024_25133" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 13pt;">locker room with 2 showers and 20 lockers." [Wow! Eight bicycle riders. That will help prevent gridlock at N. Capitol and Michigan Ave. gla]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now your thinkin' Mr. Voeltzki, those high paid security guards, receptionists, and janitors [and lab techs (personal note, my first DC job was as a GS-3 lab tech at NIH while living near DuPont Circle)gla] will certainly bike in from the parts of the region they can afford, like Manassas, outer PG, and West Virginia. [Which illustrates just how important it is to increase lower income housing in DC.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks a lot!</span></span><br />
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And now some serious concerns about McMillan as a back-up clean water source:</div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6812" style="color: yellow; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6811" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: red; line-height: 1.22em;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6810" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6809" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;">=== DC ENVIRO-ALERT: McMillan Park ===</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6808" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;" />Delirious actions and behavior by the Mayor and City Council is dangerous to your health, short-term and long.</span></div>
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Googling this,<br />
<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=tiber+creek+mcmillan+park" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6820" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/search?q=tiber+creek+mcmillan+park</a><br />
This link shows a number of articles about Tiber Creek. I am acquainted with Tiber Creek because I own a house in the 1700 block of U St. and have been told Tiber Creek runs under this area. This was why a sump pump had to be installed to prevent flooding with heavy rain as the water table is close to the surface.<br />
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We come across this,<br />
<a href="https://hiddenwatersblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/tiber-creek-washington-d-c/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://hiddenwatersblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/tiber-creek-washington-d-c/</a><br />
This is a very detailed article on Tiber Creek's history with photos, maps, and a painting.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px;">And this, </span><br />
<a href="https://parkviewdc.com/2011/09/08/hidden-washington-tiber-creek/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6821" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #196ad4; font-family: georgia; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://parkviewdc.com/2011/09/08/hidden-washington-tiber-creek/</a></div>
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And this,<br />
<a href="http://drum.lib.umd.edu/handle/1903/10780" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6822" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://drum.lib.umd.edu/handle/1903/10780</a><br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_5694" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: #d0e0e3; line-height: 1.22em;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_5693" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">Water is so important to this city and its history, let alone survival.</b></span><br />
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Other cities are drying up, while DC's "planning" officials are considering throwing out its giant underground water cistern to be replaced by more condos, office space, and short term developer profit.<br />
<span style="color: cyan; line-height: 1.22em;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: blue; line-height: 1.22em;">== OTHER CITIES h20 WOES ==</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;">When, not if, will DC be hit with the blinding light of persistent drought like the experience of our municipal friends around the world. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTcWzaZQFMk" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTcWzaZQFMk</a></div>
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<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">From West</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2016/06/03/a-chief-source-of-water-for-california-dries-up" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2016/06/03/a-chief-source-of-water-for-california-dries-up</a></div>
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<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">To East</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.newyorkupstate.com/weather/2016/08/severe_drought_deepens_in_upstate_ny_wells_dry_up_corn_shrivels_cities_run_low.html" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.newyorkupstate.com/weather/2016/08/severe_drought_deepens_in_upstate_ny_wells_dry_up_corn_shrivels_cities_run_low.html</a></div>
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<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">Down South</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/11/22/455751848/as-brazils-largest-city-struggles-with-drought-residents-are-leaving" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/11/22/455751848/as-brazils-largest-city-struggles-with-drought-residents-are-leaving</a></div>
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<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">Across To Africa</b></div>
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<a href="http://phys.org/news/2015-11-johannesburg-limits-drought-worsens.html" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://phys.org/news/2015-11-johannesburg-limits-drought-worsens.html</a></div>
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<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">Then Asia</b></div>
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<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/this-major-world-city-is-running-out-of-water-db2acd3f43f5" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://thinkprogress.org/this-major-world-city-is-running-out-of-water-db2acd3f43f5</a></div>
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<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">All over the dam world!</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jul/29/where-world-most-water-stressed-cities-drought" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jul/29/where-world-most-water-stressed-cities-drought</a></div>
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<u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">WHEN IS IT DC'S TURN?!? Do we really want to be surprised?</b></i></u><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;">Wouldn't it be nice to have a 20 acre <i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">underground </b></i>water cistern </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6799" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6798" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.22em;"><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6797" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6796" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 1.22em;">(protected from the elements and sun) </b></i></span>that could actually store and clean hundreds of millions of gallons of water without electricity (McMillan) in case of emergency drought! The other cities don't have this answer already built like DC does.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAM82GHa6Iw" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAM82GHa6Iw</a></div>
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DC for Reasonable Development<br />
202-810-2768</div>
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<a href="http://dc4reason.org/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1475684961874_6832" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">dc4reason.org</a></div>
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-77352313069815704192016-10-03T01:16:00.001-07:002019-01-21T22:33:54.908-08:00DC Tax Justice for Low and Middle Income People, My 12 Year Fight<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ever since I saw in 2004 my DC taxes were more than my federal taxes, I have been working hard to learn how or why this is happening, especially as my income level adjusted for inflation had not changed. In previous decades my DC taxes had been 1/2 the federal tax bill. I testified regarding my findings at various Council hearings, and finally twice before the 2013 Tax Revision Commission chaired by former Mayor Anthony Williams.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>[1/21/19 Update] -</b> Because in April 2019 we will now be subject to the workings of the new Trump federal tax code for tax year 2018, I felt it important to see how that affects our DC personal income tax, the D-40. I was distressed that eliminating the federal Exemptions and only allowing the Standard Deduction (if not using the Schedule A Itemized Deductions) might once again hurt us, the lower income tax payers. Having now compared the IRS 1040 Standard Deduction rate with the DC D-40 Standard Deduction rate, I find good news. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> At least for a single taxpayer, the rates for IRS and DC are now identical, this puts us one year ahead of schedule for complete comparability with the federal rates and means an unexpected additional amount of cash for taxpayers and community businesses. Click the link below to see the actual savings for tax year 2018 (calendar year 2019).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-2019-dc-council-approval-of-2-tax.html">https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-2019-dc-council-approval-of-2-tax.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>[2016] I am currently running for At Large Council member</b> (DC Statehood Green Party) on Nov 8, 2016.</span> [While I did not win over the Democrat and Incumbent candidates, I did come in third (in a field of 6 candidates) thanks to your 29,000+ votes.] Others have said I should focus more on the low income health, safety, and welfare oriented issues. I agree these are tremendously important, but involve a number of complex factors which are hard to translate quickly into effective and winning laws. For example I was shocked to be told that regarding just <b>one</b> of <b>5</b> federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs we had<a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-government-fails-to-use-millions-of.html" target="_blank"> returned $140million to HUD unspent over decades</a>. As a Council Member I would like to put together advisory groups that would help me and other allies make sure we use our federal grants and not return the money unused. These could include housing, jobs, education, environment and energy, low income benefits, returned citizens, health and AIDS, transportation, etc.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Therefore, I have focused on <b>Tax Justice </b>because one way or another everyone pays taxes, whether it is sales tax, property tax (affecting rent rates), income tax, or business tax (and the cost of goods sold). Once a good place is chosen to improve a tax rate, those numbers are voted and normally go into effect the next tax year. Although the Council decided to slowly phase in the $85million benefit I started working on in 2004, already <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-2019-dc-council-approval-of-2-tax.html" target="_blank">people are paying less DC income taxes</a> than in 2012. Failure to raise many benefits with cost of living increases is a major problem that needs watching. [Finally for tax year 2018 we have a Standard Deduction identical to the more generous federal rate.]</span><br />
<br />
An even <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/04/dc-taxes-2015-update-good-and-bad-news.html" target="_blank">larger benefit is possible with the revised Schedule H</a> that helps renters and property owners. For decades only Individuals and Family Units earning $20,000 or less could benefit. As of tax year 2013 the limit was raised to $40,000 or less, and for seniors 70+, $60,000 or less. Then for tax year 2016, the $40,000 figure was raised to $50,000. <b>Almost no one knows about this.</b> At a recent candidate forum with at least 150 lower income elderly, only 3 people had heard of this benefit when I spoke about it. I calculate this roomful of people probably had from $150,000 to $200,000 in uncollected Schedule H benefits. In all I suspect that for the 2013 and 2014 tax years from 1/4 to 1/2 $billion dollars have not been collected by the eligible. Publicizing this benefit is a major goal of mine. The maximum benefit is $1,000. <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/04/dc-taxes-2015-update-good-and-bad-news.html" target="_blank">Please click this link </a>to see if you are eligible. You have 3 years to file an Amended Return and links to all needed forms are at the link above. If you do not file the Amended Return for 2014 this year, you will loose the benefit for that year FOREVER.<br />
<br />
This article by the Washington Post suggests that with more Millenials being voted to our Council that the Council is moving farther to the left. This group is also susceptible to developer and big business payoffs, as is shown by recent votes regarding the NO-BID contractor whom we are paying $1million a year to turn McMillan Park into another Tyson's Corner rather than a benefit for us all. One of this new group hiring as their chief of staff someone who had just left a job working for that development group. All except Elissa Silverman voted to continue that $1million subsidy for another 5 years, while continuing to ignore the objections of the large number of community people who testified against this. Also, just wait until they discover how various aspects of DC taxes impact their lives negatively. <br />
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/2016/11/01/61fe9c0a-9c7e-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Lucida Grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/2016/11/01/61fe9c0a-9c7e-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html</a><br />
<br />
I have added some comments to the Testimony below in brackets [ ] to reflect additional or more recent information<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="http://media.wix.com/ugd/ddda66_720f888296f727c3b129c2241baf22cc.pdf" target="_blank">Testimony</a> at</b> </span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>D.C.
Tax Revision Commission on June 24, 2013 </b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>by G. Lee Aikin </b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Thank
you for hearing our testimony and for all your hard work to improve
our tax laws. I wish to comment on several aspects of this issue: </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"> 1) Restoration of our Deduction and Exemption rates to those we had
when granted Home Rule in the early 1970's; </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"> 2) Adjustment of the
upper tax brackets and rates. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"> 3) Improvements in the D-30 tax form
which is currently a small business nightmare; and </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"> 4) Modification of
the Business Tax rates to make us more competitive with surrounding
jurisdictions; </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">1)
</span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Restoration
of our Deduction and Exemption rates </b></span></span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">–
In early 1970 these rates were roughly the same as those allowed by
the IRS 1040 tax form. However, unlike the Federal rates which are
adjusted for inflation each year, our rates fell to the tender
mercies of our elected representatives who consistently failed to
adjust them timely, so that by 1991 they were only ½ the Federal
rates. After that they were not changed until I called Councilmember David Catania in 2004 </span></span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "cambria" , serif;">to look into the idea of “coupling” our rates with
the Federal rates. After another year or two, small additions were
finally made to these deductions. However, <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-2019-dc-council-approval-of-2-tax.html" target="_blank">the current situation </a>[including 2014 updates] is
such that if a family of 4 were allowed to take the Federal rate for
their DC D-40 D & Es, they would pay taxes on $16,400 less
income. This is [will be] a significant tax reduction for our families and
lower income taxpayers. If our D & Es were coupled, this would
be an immediate benefit for every single DC taxpayer from lower
middle income to the very rich.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">2)
</span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Adjustment
of the upper tax brackets and rates – </b></span></span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Currently
tax rates in the D-40 jump from $40,000 to several hundred thousand.
There should be an additional step at the $100,000 to $125,000 level.
To compensate for the coupling of our D & Es with the Federal
rate, there will probably need to be a modest increase in the upper
level tax rates. [An additional step has been added, but top tax rates have been lowered, while the D & E benefit slowly phases in over 6 years. The rate for top earners in California is 13%. In DC I believe the top rate is 8.25%. Here and elsewhere some concerned wealthy people are saying that they should be paying more taxes than they are being charged now.]</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">3)
</span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Improve
the D-30 tax form </b></span></span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">–
This form as currently constituted needs an unnecessary amount of
information. For example, the portion related to general business
income and rental income requires a lot of detail that could be
provided with inclusion of the Federal Schedules C and E for DC
income. The form is also needlessly technical. For example Schedule
F – DC Apportionment Factor which says “Multiply the total income
by a fraction. The numerator is the property factor plus the payroll
factor plus the sales factor. The denominator is three, reduced by
the number of factors without a denominator.” No concrete examples [DC supplies no concrete examples] as the IRS 1040 instruction booklet gives us poor benighted
taxpayers. FOR SHAME. Write this so a high school graduate can
understand it or else admit this is a tax lawyer make work
boondoggle. In fact I visited a tax preparation service where the
resident tax attorney said he couldn't really be much help, but most
people in my business income bracket submitted the $100 minimum and
did not bother submitting the D-30. A $12,000 gross receipts
requirement was placed in 1986, with a $100 minimum tax bill. Last
year the minimum payment required was raised to $250. How about adjusting the gross
receipts rate for inflation to at least $25,000 or $30,000. Give people with
lower income the option of calculating their tax owed with the D-30,
or else include it in the D-40. [The tax rate has been reduced, which benefits bigger businesses, but the $250 minimum tax hurts small income businesses. It even has to be paid if there is no actual income. Also a $5,000 deduction was established in 1986. That should also be increased to reflect inflation which would also be fairer to small businesses.]</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">4)
</span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Modify
the Business Tax rates</b></span></span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">
– <a href="http://media.wix.com/ugd/ddda66_720f888296f727c3b129c2241baf22cc.pdf" target="_blank">On the back of this page is a chart </a>(admittedly several years
old) which shows property tax rates in DC and surrounding
jurisdictions. You can see that our $1.85 per $100 rate is much
higher than most other jurisdictions. Why can't we have different
rates in different parts of the city like Montgomery Co. does. Why
should upper Georgia Ave. or Anacostia pay at the same rate as
downtown. Also, high rates cause high rents and drive many desirable
small businesses out of our neighborhoods leaving only high volume
liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. Perhaps we should have an ANC
petition mechanism for identifying valued neighborhood stores for
special lower tax rates provided the building owner passes this on to
the store owner. [After reading this<a href="http://www.walmartrealty.com/" target="_blank"> link from Walmart Realty</a>, I realized one reason they picked their upper Georgia Ave. location is the row of 2 story stores across the street. Walmart doesn't care if their stores succeed so long as there is valuable property nearby they can buy when small businesses are destroyed by Walmart competition. A few years ago, the Class 2 tax rate for businesses of $1.85 per $100 assessed value, was reduced to $1.65 for property worth $3million or less. I propose that rates be reduce further to $1.45 for property worth $1million or less, and to $1.20 for property worth $500,000 or less. I interviewed at all the stores across from Walmart on Georgia Ave. They all said their property was assessed at $500,000 or lower, and the $1.20 rate would help them survive Walmart.]</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in;">
<span style="color: grey;"> </span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Thank
you for hearing our concerns and good luck making everyone as happy
as can be expected.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in;">
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Testimony at DC Tax
Revision Commission on Nov. 12, 2013,</b> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>by G. Lee Aikin </b></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
First let me thank you for all your
hard work on this complex topic. My testimony will emphasize two
issues—harm from <b>failure to index</b>, and <b>saving the middle
class</b>. The <b>middle class</b> is in serious trouble, you are in
a position to help. People hate taxes and ignore them if possible.
Therefore serious inequities creep into DC and the Federal tax codes
with little public notice. Often by <b>failure to index</b>, as is
true of several DC tax problems. I am most familiar with the D-40
and D-30 forms, but urge that others be examined carefully. Three
minutes allows little time to present other concerns--</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Issue 4) Class 2, 3, and
4 taxes; </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Issue 5) the $1500 Fee in Lieu of Taxes for street vendors; </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Issue 6) the Basic
Business License; </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Issue 7) Homestead property tax deductions; </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Issue 8) and hardship
exemptions--</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
so I hope you will read my entire testimony <a href="http://media.wix.com/ugd/ddda66_6f6f0613c3d1429897333cae3b573130.pdf" target="_blank">and attachments</a>. These inequities and other factors locally and
nationally have seriously <b>diminished the</b> <b>middle and lower
middle class</b>. Without much possibility of achieving middle
class status, the lower classes can loose hope and respect for the
<b>Social Contract</b>. This can have dangerous results. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I<b>ssue 1</b>) Most distressing is
failure to preserve the equality of Deductions and Exemptions when
Home Rule was achieved in 1973-4, and they were comparable to the
Federal rates. Federal rates have annual COLAs. DC changes had to
be voted annually, but were not. By 1991 taxpayers had lost 50% of
this benefit. In 2004 my DC taxes had doubled relative to Federal
taxes, I discovered <b>NO</b> added change had been made in 13 years.
David Catania agreed it made sense to “couple” our D&E's
with the Federal rate [and introduced the possible change]. But, no Council actions took effect until
2006 and 2008. Since then nothing. [I had spoken with Catania in late 2004, but I was caring for my dying husband in spring 2005 and could not help mobilize support for Catania's efforts.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In 2012, a family of 4 would typically
subtract $10,700 in D&E's from Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on the
D-40 form. If our D&E's were coupled with the Federal rate, they
could have subtracted $27,100 in D&E's from AGI. This is a
difference of $16,400. Thus, the family would have paid $786 on D-40
Taxable Income of $16,400. <b>Using the Federal D&E's they would
have paid ZERO.</b> A similar family with $56,400 income would pay
$1,394 less in D-40 taxes. Others have testified about serious
inequities with Schedule H, used to help low income renters and
homeowners. [And I have added <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/04/dc-taxes-2015-update-good-and-bad-news.html" target="_blank">important details</a> in the June 24, 2013 Testimony above.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Issue 2)</b> The D-30 needs major
overhaul. Instructions are opaque [i.e. DC Apportionment Factor:
“Multiply the total income by a fraction. The numerator is the
property factor plus the payroll factor plus the sales factor. The
denominator is three, reduced by the number of factors without a
denominator.] I'm told this is a tax attorney make work project. To
change that, examples should be given as they are in the Federal 1040
instructions. Many very small Unincorporated Businesses only have a
little rental income, or sell a few things. If all income is DC
earned, why not allow inclusion of the Federal Schedule C and/or E,
and skip filling out redundant facts in D-30 Schedules A,C, E, and G,
not to mention most of the rest of the form. In 1986 the D-30 became
required of all <b>Gross</b> Income above $12,000 with a $100 fee
even if there was a NET LOSS. Now a $250 fee is required. To be
fair, the Gross Income should rise to at least $30,000. [A $5,000
deduction is allowed, but this should also be increased to reflect inflation, and up to 30% for personal labor to operate the
business, so an adjustment could be made in the D-40 to allow these
benefits with an increase to $30,000.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Issue 3)</b> The idea that D-40
should add “<b>taxed Social Security</b>” to income is
unconscionable. SS, first taxed in 1983 under Reagan, had a tax
calculator “benefits worksheet” allowing singles a $25,000
deduction, and couples $32,000. This is <b>unchanged</b> in 30
years. According to the [Consumer Price Index] CPI calculator, the 2013 figures should be
$58,427 and $74,787. Unadjusted a person with $20,000 SS and $40,000 [Adjusted Gross Income] AGI will pay tax on almost <b>half</b> their SS; $50,000 AGI and
above, on <b>85%</b> of their SS--another assault on the <b>middle
class</b>. DC's current D-40 deduction for Federally taxed SS helps
rectify this gross unfairness.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I<b>ssue 4) </b> The Class 2 Business
Property tax and Class 3 and 4 Vacant Property taxes need serious .
changes. Reducing the $1.85 Class 2 rate to $1.65 for property
assessed under $3 million is a help, but really does not fix business
in blighted areas. Businesses in Anacostia and upper Georgia Ave.
often minimally improve their property. Taxes in PG Co. are much
lower, and Montgomery Co. has variable rates. Why can't DC have
variable rates or considerably smaller rates on low assessed
properties? The Vacant Property tax rates are outrageous, far
greater than any in the US, and violate at least the spirit of DC
Code 47-817 Comparison of rates and burdens, “...it is the
intention of Congress, that the tax burdens in the District be
reasonably comparable to those in the surrounding jurisdictions...”
[<a href="http://media.wix.com/ugd/ddda66_6f6f0613c3d1429897333cae3b573130.pdf" target="_blank">See attachment, pages 5 & 6</a>] The <b>one month vacancy </b>registration rule is
way outside the <b>one year vacancy norm</b> elsewhere [in neighboring MD and VA]. In
addition, as soon as you register, your tax is immediately jumped 6
or 12 times the old rate. One 60+ person I know lost her row house
because she didn't realize she should file for an exemption and thus
received a $105,000 tax bill. [Former Councilmember Muriel Bowser, now Mayor, held hearing at which a number of tragic cases were reported. For example, the 95 year old woman who had be hospitalized for 5 months and now was in danger of loosing her home. While exemption factors were added to the one month vacant property law, the ONE MONTH itself was not changed. Imagine your relative has just died and our government demands that you provide a tenant in one month, or perhaps loose your inheritance. Who needs that grief in the month after loosing a loved one. We must demand that our government use the same ONE YEAR period approved in neighboring MD and VA. I know people who are afraid to travel for the whole summer for fear of loosing their home. We are now seeing cases where speculators are sitting on properties they scooped up from beleaguered home owners and heirs. Their neighbors are complaining about this result the one month law was supposed to fix.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Issue 5)</b> The $1500 Fee <b>in Lieu
of Taxes</b> is an outrage against street and truck vendors. It is far
above the tax small part time neighborhood vendors might pay on
sales. And some highly successful truck vendors are probably not
paying their fair share. A half day of <b>tax training</b> upon
licensing should solve this problem and be much fairer. This would
be similar to the kind of training certification provided for food
handlers in restaurants and on food trucks. In the late 1980s one
could get a vending license for $35 dollars and pay actual income
taxes and 6% on sales. The $1500 has to be paid even when one has
almost no income such as in January, February and March. There is
also a <b>moratorium</b> on renewing a dropped license. Here too,
poor and middle class entrepreneurs are being harmed and
disincentivized. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Issue 6)</b> Another unfair and
counterproductive tax related matter is the Basic Business License.
Requiring licensing of <b>all</b> businesses is another serious
disincentive to business formation by our younger and poorer
potential entrepreneurs. The BBL should not be required below a
certain gross income level, such as $250,000.. A rule could be made
that businesses below that would also take a half day of tax training
on how to prepare their business taxes including the Federal
Schedules C and E that pertain to business income. A simple
registration fee of $25 could cover this cost. This could exempt
them from the BBL and improve tax collection. [Imagine the frustration of a highs school or college student who decides to get a mower and a few tools to have a simple summer property maintenance business. They would never be able to get the BBL paper work done in time to do such a summer business. Once a business has a year's gross income of $250,000 or more, they could then get the appropriate license.] In addition, the
<b>“clean hands self-certification”</b> that says one does not
owe the city $100 or more in taxes or fines is big problem. I know
people who in 2010 used the Tax Amnesty to clean up their tax
situations, and then the following year received OTR bills in the
$hundreds and even $thousands saying they owed taxes which in fact
had been resolved. Sometimes it takes months [or years] to clear up these OTR
errors, to <b>finally</b> allowing the BBL to be granted. [The excessive traffic fines experience by many are often challenged in court, but if over $100 can also prevent getting a license.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
More on <b>Issue 1</b>) Regarding the
Deductions and Exemptions issue I would like to add the following.
As pointed out above, with “coupled” rates a family of 4 would
pay taxes on $16,400 less income. Thus no tax would be paid unless
the Adjusted Gross Income was above $27,100. [$27,100 IRS1040 D&E
- $10,700 D-40 D&E's = $16,400] Without this $16,400 reduction,
the 2012 tax is <b>$786</b>. A family of 4 with Taxable Income of
$26,400 or $36,400 would save <b>$984</b> with coupling. At $46,400
the saving is <b>$1,144</b>. At $56,400 and above the savings are
<b>$1,394</b>.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
An educated guess suggests that around
$100,000,000 might remain in the pockets of taxpayers with coupling. [The actual figure calculated by the TRC was $85million.] Imagine what this would do to our local economy where it could be
spent on food, housing, clothing and other merchandise. These “<b>high
velocity dollars</b>” would then generate additional sales and
income taxes for the city, considerably lowering the initial loss.
Moreover, with recent tax income surpluses ranging near $300 to $500
million we can afford to do this. A small increase of top tax rates
could rectify any revenue problems created. Has this inequity and
tax neglect helped drive lower <b>middle class families</b> out of
the city to PG County? This should be studied and analyzed. [Our Council chose to lower high income taxes, and dribble in this low income benefit over six years.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Issue 7)</b> Another concern
involving COLA's is Homeowner exemptions. While there have been
increases in the <b>Homestead Exemption</b> amounts over the years,
this too seems not to have kept up with inflation. Analyzing several
cases known to me, it appears that the Homestead Exemption percent
is only about 2/3rds what it was years ago. The 50% Property Tax
reduction allowed for senior citizens is now threatened by the
maximum allowed Household Income. A $100,000 maximum was established
in 1992. For 2013, the CPI calculator shows $166,892. However, The
Age-in-Place and Equitable Senior Citizen Real Property Act of 2011
only increased it to $125,000. If children with good incomes come to
live and care for Mom and Dad in their failing years, they are
seriously penalized if they still have to maintain their original
home. Once again, the <b>middle class</b> is being hurt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Issue 8)</b> Another concern, also
related to D&E's is the Exemption for “over 65” or “blind.”
After caring years for my husband who died of Alzheimers, I can tell
you blind care would have been much easier. Let us lead the nation
by allowing an Exemption for anyone who is medically certified as
being at least as handicapped as a blind person, i.e., wheelchair
bound, dementia, etc.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
While studying posts by the TRC, I was
thoroughly puzzled by inclusion of Figure II-h showing “Current Law
and Changes Recommended by the D.C. Tax revision Commission as Shares
of 1998 Family income for all Taxpayers” and 3 more related
Figures. This seemed to be part of a recent report of TRC
recommendations, and I wondered why you did not use the 1-30-13 ITEP
Table 1 <a href="http://media.wix.com/ugd/ddda66_6f6f0613c3d1429897333cae3b573130.pdf" target="_blank">which is also attached.</a> If the 1998 Recommended total
taxes is what I saw, then it is clear it recommended that the middle
89% should pay the most, ranging from 10.1% to 11.3%, while the
richest 1% would pay 9.4% and the poorest 20% pay 8.9%. If this is
actually the current thinking that is even worse. The Institution
for Taxation & Economic Policy (ITEP) uses 2010 income levels
which shows (after a Federal deduction offset) that the middle 20%
paid the most—11%. On either side 9.8% and 9.4% was paid. Thus
the <b>middle class</b> again paid the most. The poorest 20% paid
6.6%, but the <b>richest 1% were the winners</b>, paying only 6.3%.
Surely this Commission can do better.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In sum, I strongly urge you to do your
best to <b>reverse national and local efforts</b> causing the
systematic evisceration of <b>Middle Class prosperity</b> and hope
for those even farther behind economically.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
* * * * * *</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have covered a number of these issues
in detail in blog articles at: gleeaikin.blogspot.com.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
[See the Dec. 28, 2015 post:<a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/12/index-of-all-posts-newest-to-oldest.html" target="_blank"> </a><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/12/index-of-all-posts-newest-to-oldest.html" target="_blank">INDEXof all Posts</a>, Newest to Oldest, Dates, Titles]</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Articles related to taxes are dated in
red, and the articles in early 2012 are related to <b>DC taxes</b>.
There is an October 21, 2012 post on saving Social Security, which
also is oriented toward <b>saving the Middle Class.</b> [Several tax articles have been added since this Testimony was given.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
G. Lee Aikin, 11-11-13,
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="mailto:gleeaikin@yahoo.com">gleeaikin@yahoo.com</a></u></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Att: Letter from Ted Walker to
Councilmember Muriel Bowser [See link at <b>Issue 4</b>.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
See other side for two charts [See link for <b>ITEP Table 1</b>].</div>
G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-48036255606520173912016-07-11T21:21:00.000-07:002019-05-04T17:18:23.443-07:00David Grosso & Anita Bonds Bill Removes ANC Chairs From FOIA Requirements<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">FOIA, or <a href="https://www.foia.gov/" target="_blank">Freedom of Information Act</a> is a law giving you the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Information_Act_(United_States)" target="_blank">right to access information </a>from the federal government. It has been described as the law to keep citizens in the know about our government. State and local governments also have such laws, sometimes called "Sunshine" laws. <a href="http://dc.gov/page/freedom-information-act-foia" target="_blank">Washington DC has one</a>, but Councilmembers Grosso and Bonds have introduced a bill titled <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B21-0697?FromSearchResults=true" target="_blank">Advisory Neighborhood Commission Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016</a> (B21-0697) which they say is meant to make it easier for the city’s volunteer commissioners to govern as elected officials. Unfortunately, this bill includes provisions, explained in detail below, which would exempt ANCs and commissioners from FOIA requirements. Other suggestions provide ways to increase ANC record keeping and email capacity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I should note that I, <b>G. LEE AIKIN</b>, am running for At Large member of DC Council in the Nov. 8, 2016 General Election. At Large Council member David Grosso also plans to run again for At Large in this election. Should I be elected, I will support shining all the SUNSHINE possible on all our publicly elected officials. Thus I believe ANC Chairs and actions should continue to be subject to FOIA requirements, but modest stipends to make their record keeping jobs easier should be approved. [Note: While I did not win, I did come in third behind the two winners in a field of six, while spending under $6,000.]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There have been troubling cases involving ANC failures and possible criminal activity. This <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/29/dc-anc-members-break-the-rules-without-redress/" target="_blank">Sept. 2011 article</a> explains that i</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">n June, the D.C. auditor determined </span><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/william-shelton/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px; text-decoration: none;">William Shelton</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;"> as ANC5B Chairman withdrew $30,000 from the ANC account, spending it on payments for a Lexus and purchases at Bloomingdale’s. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">He also </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">began paying a friend, </span><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/patsy-staten/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px; text-decoration: none;">Patsy Staten</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">, $25 an hour to answer phones about 25 hours a week. </span><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/patsy-staten/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px; text-decoration: none;">Ms. Staten</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;"> signed her own timesheets. In repeated calls to the </span><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/anc/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px; text-decoration: none;">ANC</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;"> office during those hours, no one ever picked up the phone.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;"><a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/article/13012565/anc-breakdown-shakedown" target="_blank">This 1997 article details a number of problems</a> ranging through malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance. The disturbing actions of Mary Treadwell (Barry), ANC1B, are described in detail in this article and the article in the next paragraph. Other issues including possible shakedowns for favorable testimony are mentioned, as are comments/actions by politicians like Jack Evans, Phil Mendelson, and former Mayor Anthony Williams.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;"> A good friend and black activist who was helping the elderly <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=50&newwindow=1&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=Clifton+Terrace+issues+with+Mary+Treadwell+Barry&oq=Clifton+Terrace+issues+with+Mary+Treadwell+Barry&gs_l=hp.12...1519.13302.0.17604.49.41.0.0.0.0.555.6127.2-5j8j3j1.17.0....0...1c.1.64.hp..32.9.3159.0..0j0i131j0i22i30j33i21.kphQnm2zSOA" target="_blank">tenants at Clifton Terrace </a>described this scene to me. "Discussions had been hot and heavy and Ms. Treadwell began rummaging in her handbag. Suddenly a pistol popped out and landed on the conference table. I put my hands under the table and said, 'Do you really think I would come here and <b>I </b>wouldn't be prepared? Now put that gun away and lets finish our work.'" The above link was to the general Google page for Clifton Terrace and Ms. Treadwell. There were too many articles for me to decide which was the best to link here. If you find one you really like, link it in the Comments below.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">All that being said, the ANCs do perform important functions. ANC representatives can face <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/03/30/even-after-2-decades-ancs-fall-short-of-a-dc-dream/0ed6ea4b-7d51-4cef-8ea6-62a0b3f83042/" target="_blank">significant problems as described </a>in this 1997 article, and most deserve both our support and our sympathy. Nevertheless, Sunshine and FOIA are important safeguards for us to have.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">- - - - - - - - - - - </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">[7-13-16] Apparently there are ANC's in full agreement with the need for Sunshine. Here is a resolution submitted and approved unanimously by a quorum of ANC 4C Commissioners. The ANC Secretary will forward this Resolution to the full Council for consideration.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
RESOLUTION BY ANC 4C
IN SUPPORT OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ADVISORY</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMISSIONS OMNIBUS ACT OF 2016 WITH REGARD TO</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
TRANSPARENCY IN ANC
OPERATIONS.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
WHEREAS, ANC4C
deeply appreciates the determined efforts of Councilmember Anita
Bonds</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and her colleagues
to improve the ways in which Advisory Neighborhood Commissions
function,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
including through
the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016;</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
WHEREAS,
transparency is important for an accountable government, and that
proactive and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
reactive disclosure
builds public trust in all levels of government, including Advisory</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Neighborhood
Commissions; and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
WHEREAS, while broad
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests can occasionally pose an</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
undue burden on
individual Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, relatively few FOIA</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
requests are filed
each year; and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
WHEREAS, there is no
adequate centralized public repository for all documents that ANCs
are</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
required to
disclose, such as meeting minutes, increasing the need for FOIA
requests; and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
WHEREAS, the the
director of the Office on Open Government has committed to providing</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
guidance to ANCs
regarding FOIA compliance and best practices; and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
WHEREAS, the
Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016 could</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
be improved in the
following ways:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1.ANC records,
including but not limited to email, recordings, and
other <span style="line-height: 100%;">materials related to
ANC business should be subject to open records requests, subject to </span><span style="line-height: 100%;">exemptions in DC
open records law.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2.The communications
division of the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, as</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
provided for in the
legislation, should be charged with processing FOIA requests and
assisting</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
with compliance,
taking much of the burden off of individual commissioners.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3.FOIA requests
should be filed electronically through the city's central FOIA portal
instead</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of with individual
ANCs. This will ensure that requests are fully documented and allow
the</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
OANC and the public
to track the status of a FOIA request, improving consistency and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
accountability.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4.ANCs should be
required to publish minutes and other documents that are required to
be</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
disclosed on a
central calendar at open.dc.gov. This kind of proactive disclosure
would reduce</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the need for FOIA
requests and make ANC operations more transparent.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[Closing legal language has been omitted.]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Signed: Vann-Di M Galloway, Chairman, ANC 4C and</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Michael Halpern, ANC Commissioner, SMD4C04</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">- - - - - - - - - - -</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">[7-11-16] - Rumor has it that Grosso and Bonds have received enough flak from voters that they are having second thoughts about this bill. Stay tuned. I hope they will keep the good parts and get rid of the anti-Sunshine parts.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- - - - - - - - - - -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Comment from a former ANC member.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">The problem is most of the ANC's only talk to a few residents. They don't put out flyers other than through emails, they don't post notices of their monthly meeting in the neighborhood and ANC5E only gives the community five minutes on their agenda. Neither of the Council members putting this bill forward show up at their neighborhood ANC meetings, and if they did they would see most ANC members as self serving, instead of representing their 2,000 constituents. There should continue to be transparency in how they operate and the FOIA should prevail.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helveticaneue" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">- - - - - - - - - - - </span><br />
<b>Grosso to shield ANC from FOIA</b><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_22499"></a>
Jeffrey Anderson, who wrote for the <i>City Paper</i> about
the D.C. Superior Court decision in Vining v. Barnes, sent a tweet
asking how the Bonds-Grosso bill could be legal, given the court's
decision in the 2014 case that all public business is subject to FOIA
regardless of the ownership of the device (smart phone, etc.) upon
which it is conducted. Part of that decision stated explicitly
that ANCs are elected officials and thus I'd still like to see a
lawyer weigh in, though.</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_27017">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26965">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here's a full
account from the Sunlight Foundation of the provision of the
Bonds-Grosso bill that would reduce government accountability.<br />
Andrea Rosen<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26999">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26982"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26983"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26984"></a>
<br />
<a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2016/07/07/d-c-bill-threatens-local-government-accountability/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">D.C.
bill threatens local government accountability</span></span></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_25735">
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_25734">
<address class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26996"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26995"></a>
by <a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/team/aadeleke/" target="_blank">Azeezat
Adeleke</a> (<a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/policy/" target="_blank">policy</a>)</address>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26988"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_26997"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_27003"></a>
JULY 7, 2016, 4:11 P.M.<br />
Washington, D.C., boasts a unique system
of neighborhood governance, but a proposed bill would eliminate
the rights of District residents to hold their most local officials
accountable.<br />
<br />
In a July 6 hearing, Councilmember Anita
Bonds explained that the <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B21-0697?FromSearchResults=true" target="_blank">Advisory
Neighborhood Commission Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016</a> (B21-0697) is
meant to make it easier for the city’s volunteer
commissioners to govern as elected officials.<br />
<br />
If you
are unfamiliar with the role of the advisory neighborhood
commissions (ANCs), they are the most local elected
representatives in the District of Columbia. Most people might know
that the federal district is split into eight wards, each with
its own D.C. councilmember, but they may not realize that D.C.
is also divided into 30 ANCs, with a total of 299 commissioners
elected from single-member districts. The
ANCs describe themselves as “the body of government
with the closest official ties to the people in a
neighborhood.”<br />
<br />
Each of the commissioners is elected,
on a volunteer basis, to represent an average of 2,000 residents.
ANC commissioners address important issues such as zoning, economic
development and liquor licensing. Some of the reforms in the
omnibus bill would improve the governing capacity, but
one provision would exempt ANCs and commissioners from the
District’s Freedom of Information Act.<br />
<br />
A short provision,
nestled toward the end of B21-0697, declares that an ANC “shall
not be considered an agency, an independent agency, or a
subordinate agency.” In doing so, the drafters — Councilmembers
Bonds and David Grosso — would erase the FOIA requirement with
one fell swoop. Another portion of the bill states that ANC
commissioners may “choose to transmit” certain information
for publication on their websites or social media. The bill would
also entrench current law, which exempts ANCs from the
requirements of the D.C. Open Meetings Act.<br />
<br />
“The
motivation behind this provision is to alleviate an impractically
high administrative burden that takes an inordinate amount of time
from commissioners’ primary function and duties,” Bonds
said.<br />
<br />
In response, open government advocates,
community members, and some ANC commissioners cried foul.<br />
<br />
In
their testimony, witnesses from Sunlight, the D.C. Open Government
Coalition, the D.C. Office of Open Government and other groups
argued that the ANC commissioners do not need a free pass
from FOIA, but more capacity to comply with its guidelines.
That capacity comes from other provisions in the same bill,
including those that expand storage in commissioners’ official
email inboxes and allow them to receive a $500 yearly stipend
to support their time on the job.<br />
<br />
Alex Howard, a
Sunlight senior analyst, and LaVita Tuff, a member of the D.C. Open
Government Coalition Board of Directors and a policy analyst at
Sunlight, testified against this provision.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2016/07/06/sunlight-foundations-alex-howard-testifies-before-d-c-city-council-committee/" target="_blank">HIS
REMARKS</a>, Howard argued that there is “no compelling need”
for the anti-FOIA provision of the bill. Tuff emphasized that
the bill would weaken constituents’ power to hold their elected
officials accountable, especially when those officials get to
choose what the public gets to know.<br />
<br />
Barbara Kahlow of the
West End Citizens Association, a non-ANC civic group, testified
that FOIA allows residents access to ANC spending records, an
essential means of keeping commissioners honest. Recent
history highlights why D.C. needs this: In 2012, a former ANC
commissioner pled guiltyto fraud and using $28,000 in
public funds for his personal whims. In 2015, the Office of the
D.C. Auditor reported that some ANCs made illegal
disbursements while others failed to maintain
meeting minutes — or evidence that public meetings happened
at all.<br />
<br />
Mike Silverstein, commissioner for ANC 2B06 in
Dupont Circle, came as a dissenting voice, arguing that FOIA
requirements could discourage potential candidates from
running.<br />
The plurality of witnesses, however, criticized
the provision as a step in the wrong direction, away
from transparency and toward government where decisions happen
in the shadows. ANC Commissioners Mark Eckenwiler, ANC 6C04
near Union Station, and Kathy Henderson, ANC 5D05 near
Brentwood, agreed that the anti-FOIA provision should be
removed.<br />
<br />
“It’s appalling to suggest that ANCs
should be exempted from FOIA,” Eckenwiler said.<br />
<br />
In
her testimony, Tuff highlighted a contradiction in the legislation.
Those who support the legislation, including Councilmember
Bonds, emphasized that the bill would increase respect for ANC
members as elected officials. But, according to Tuff, “The
bill demands that agencies keep ANCs informed, but seeks a
blanket exclusion from the Freedom of Information Act that would
effectively deprive neighborhood residents of the ability to
oversee their elected representatives.”<br />
<br />
To this end,
Sunlight worked with Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Grosso to draft
the <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B21-0577?FromSearchResults=true" target="_blank">STRENGTHENING
TRANSPARENCY AND OPEN ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT ACT</a> of 2016,
which would mandate that ANCs conform to the Open Meetings
Act.<br />
<br />
This bill follows the <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B20-0471?FromSearchResults=true" target="_blank">ADVISORY
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONS TRANSPARENCY AMENDMENT ACT OF 2013</a>.
As Sunlight <a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2013/09/25/complete-local-legislative-data/" target="_blank">WROTE</a> at
the time, that bill would have held ANCs to a higher standard by
requiring them to release a variety of documents to the
public, including meeting minutes, bank transactions and
policy decisions. That bill did not come to a
vote.<br />
<br />
Residents have already made clear that they want
transparency: Gottlieb Simon, executive director of the Office
of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, testified that the number
of FOIA requests to ANC commissioners has climbed in recent
years.<br />
<br />
Traci Hughes, director of the Office of Open
Government, said that her office is eager to assist ANCs in meeting
compliance requirements. Howard, of Sunlight, made the same point,
emphasizing that Sunlight would be happy to help build
capacity on this issue.<br />
<br />
In his testimony, Robert Vinson
Brannum, former president of the D.C. Federation of
Civic Associations, made the overarching point: “ANC
commissioners deserve to be respected as elected officials.”
But if they want that respect, they have to earn it. And that
begins with accountability to their voters.<br />
<br />
D.C.
residents can join the call for accountability by <a href="http://dccouncil.us/files/user_uploads/event_testimony/2016_06_03_18_00_12.pdf" target="_blank">sending</a> a written
statement on this hearing by July 20 at 5 p.m., when the
public record will close. A third and final hearing on this bill
will happen after the council’s summer recess. In the
meantime, D.C. residents can contact the staff and members of
the Council on Housing and Community Development <a href="http://dccouncil.us/committees/committee-on-housing-and-community-development" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2016/07/07/d-c-bill-threatens-local-government-accountability/" target="_blank">http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2016/07/07/d-c-bill-threatens-local-government-accountability/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
- - - - - - - - - - -</div>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;">
Can they
legally do this? Especially after Kirby's (Kirby Vining) recent litigation against
Dianne Barnes? Anyone have insight on the legality of such a bill?</blockquote>
<br />
I remember
hearing scuttlebutt a couple years back about the money DC was
spending in litigation on ANC FOIA cases. That must be partly the
impetus for this bill.<br />
MB<br />
- - - - - - - - - - -<br />
<br />
A member of Friends of McMillan
Park <<a href="mailto:friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com</a>> wrote:<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0.79in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_27025"></a>
You may be interested to know that the DC counsel is considering a
bill that would exempt ANC commissioners from foia requests. There
is an article in urban turf about it dated July 7<sup>th</sup>.
ES</blockquote>
- - - - - - - - - - - <br />
On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 6:21 AM, d.c. forrd,
<<a href="mailto:dc4reality@gmail.com" target="_blank">dc4reality@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br />
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_27033">
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_27032">
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_27031">
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1468047925488_27029">
<blockquote style="margin-left: 0in;">
Hey folks,</blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;">
<b>Here's
your chance to be the next McMillan.Leaks explorer. Let's
see what you can dig out of the haystack
>><a href="http://www.savemcmillan.org/foia" target="_blank">http://www.savemcmillan.org/foia</a></b></blockquote>
<br />
We are beginning to raw dump
PDF files which came by way of DC agencies through the DC Freedom
of Information Act.<br />
<blockquote style="margin-left: 0in;">
If you find any goodies,
smoking guns, amazing facts or trite government hacks playing
with language and our park -- identify by sending us the PDF
title, page, and citation. </blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>McMillan.Leaks!<br /><a href="http://www.savemcmillan.org/foia" target="_blank">http://www.savemcmillan.org/foia</a></b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;">
Thanks.
DC for Reasonable Development, 202-810-2768, <a href="http://dc4reason.org/" target="_blank">dc4reason.org</a></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></blockquote>
G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-42944557722300987492016-05-15T16:26:00.001-07:002018-12-09T16:15:48.950-08:00Statehood for DC, Mayor Fast Tracks Her New Constitution for Nov. 8, 2016 DC Voter Approval<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Important Information for ALL DC Voters</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For many years, we of the<b> DC Statehood Green Party</b> have been working to achieve the same rights held by all our US citizens--the right to vote for Congressional representatives, the right to spend our own tax money, and <a href="https://medium.com/govtrack-insider/new-columbia-admission-act-would-make-washington-d-c-the-51st-state-58eb307dc8de#.6utn4qwdc" target="_blank">all other rights reserved for US states</a>. Comments inserted by me in information from others will be in brackets [ ]. This is a fast moving series of events and will be updated, so come back again. Also add Comments, especially if you have information from the past or present we should know. As a result of the Primary Election I am now the DC Statehood Green Party ballot candidate for <b>At Large</b> (you can vote for 2) on the Nov. 8, 2016 ballot appearing as <b>G. Lee Aikin</b>.* <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Given the latest version of the Mayor's Constitution, this may be the last election that Statehood Greens, Republicans, Libertarians or Independents have a possibility of being elected to the Council.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">[10/28/16] - </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[10/28/16] The</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/statehood/publication/attachments/Constitution-of-the-State-of-Washington-DC.pdf" style="font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">Council's revised Constitution</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, dated Oct. 18, 2016, is now available for your review. The provision stating that a real Constitutional Convention MUST be held within 2 year after we receive Statehood appears on Page 39, ARTICLE VII, Sec. 4, a. For many people this removes the major barrier to voting YES on Statehood. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> However, the Statehood Green Party will meet on Nov. 3 to make the Party's final decision. So far as I know this Constitution no longer contains protection of <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">minority party rights</span> with a guaranteed set-aside in the legislative body.</span><br />
<br />
The <b>New Columbia Statehood Commission</b> was created by the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=50&newwindow=1&safe=off&q=New+Columbia+Statehood+Commission%2C+Proposed+DC+Constitution%2C+most+recent&oq=New+Columbia+Statehood+Commission%2C+Proposed+DC+Constitution%2C+most+recent&gs_l=serp.12...276345.288756.0.291417.35.35.0.0.0.0.200.3968.2j29j1.32.0.foo%2Cbruas%3D1%2Cbrapml%3D2...0...1c.1.64.serp..4.20.2608...30i10k1.28SrK2YQ8yI" target="_blank">New Columbia Statehood Initiative</a>, Omnibus Boards and Commissions, and Election Transition Reform Amendment Act of 2014 (DC Act 21-070). The officers and current members of the <a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/page/new-columbia-statehood-commission" target="_blank">Commission </a>are Mayor (Muriel Bowser), Council Chairperson (Phil Mendelson), and two Senators and Representative of the DC Shadow Congressional Delegation (Paul Strauss, <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/hill-blotter/not-everyone-loves-the-new-columbia-statehood-commission/" target="_blank">Michael D. Brown,</a> and Franklin Garcia). These people were not elected to write a new Constitution.<br />
---------------<br />
[9/28/16] - A lot has happened in the past few days, so look this weekend for more details or perhaps a new post that includes recent testimony. Many of us testified vigorously against the Constitution as currently presented. Since spring an Article VII, Sec. 3. c. has been added saying NO Constitution Convention MAY be called until FIVE years after we get Statehood. The large majority of people testifying at the so-called 3 days of Constitutional Convention all agreed we should start out in early 2017 to refine the Constitution. This will be impossible if the Council does not remove the above Article VII addition. The various Constitutions available are all undated. We must have a DATED document to study as the one we will vote on. Otherwise who knows what could be slipped in without our knowledge and true vote. The Council should call for ONE vote on Statehood, and a separate vote on the Constitution. Until these changes are made we Statehood Greens will strongly urge a <b>NO</b> vote on Nov. 8th.<br />
---------------<br />
[8/18/16] - <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This past Wednesday evening I, and another member of our DCSGP attended an official event of the New Columbia Statehood Commission. This event was titled "51st State Speakers Bureau Training. The purpose was to develop "a volunteer group of speakers....to educate citizens about the Statehood Process." Then we were told that there would be <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">a single vote, with 4 parts</b>. If any one part was a strong NO then people might choose to vote NO for Statehood. As a member and ballot candidate for the DC Statehood Green Party I have been a strong supporter of Statehood. However, it immediately became clear that a number of people there were concerned that to vote for the measure meant to include approving the Constitution which DC's Mayor had begun with a top down process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1982 DC voters through a bottom up process (2 years work by a number of elected people on a long Constitutional Convention) had approved a Constitution that included having 40 elected Delegates. I immediately pointed out that at the recent 3 so-called Constitutional Convention meetings (they were actually just big hearings with 3 minute witness testimony) 75% to 90% of the testifiers were against the Mayor's proposed 13 member Legislature and/or the top down process. The people running the Wednesday meeting immediately said my 3 days of observations were not a correct evaluation of sentiment. They also pointed out that the <a class="edited-link-editor" href="http://statehood.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/statehood/publication/attachments/NCSC-Constitution-State-of-New-Columbia.pdf" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26304" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Mayor's Constitution had now been revised</a> to have <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26386" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: #fdf869;">21 members</span>. I have copied this information from the new Constitution linked above.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[8/24/16] - While attempting to clarify whether or not "on a partisan basis" means there is no longer a 2 Delegate set aside for non Democrats, I was also alerted to<span style="color: #ffe599;"> </span><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">look at Article VII. </span> Oh, I was also told that NO, the set aside is absent in both Constitutions, although some spoke up for using the term "on a NON-PARTISAN basis", which was overruled. I was also informed that our Council will have 2 hearings, Sept. 27, 11pm, [</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1;">The Committee of the Whole will hold a Public Hearing on the following Legislation: </span><a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B21-0826" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #164e90; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; text-decoration: none;">B21-826</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1;">, Constitution of the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment Act of 2016. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1;">Those who wish to testify are asked to email the Committee of the Whole at</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1;"> </span><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1;">cow@dccouncil.us</strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1;">, or call Evan Cash, Committee Director at (202) 724-8196, and to provide your name, address, telephone number; organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Friday, September 23, 2016. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony.]</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and Oct. 6, 6pm. [Same information as above, except "</span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">Witnesses testifying on this bill at the September 27th hearing will not be allowed to testify a second time at this hearing."</u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;"> deadline for those wishing to testify is </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">October 2, 2016</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">] </span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">Some may wish to attend the second hearing to give moral support to those who feel we have had this Constitution forced down our throats.</span></div>
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<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26665" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">ARTICLE I: THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Sec. 2. Composition; election of members; vacancies </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> a. The House of Delegates shall consist of <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: #fdf869;">21 members</span>: </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26671" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> 1. The Speaker of the House of Delegates who shall be elected <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_23337" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: #e4ac64;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_23276" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">on a partisan basis</span> </span>at large by the qualified voters of the State of New Columbia. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26631" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> 2. Four members shall be elected <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_24696" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: #e4ac64;">on a partisan basis</span> at large by the qualified voters of the State of New Columbia. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26635" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> 3. Sixteen members shall be elected <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_24695" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: #e4ac64;">on a partisan basis</span> by the qualified voters, two from each of the 8 legislative districts of the State of New Columbia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26636" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"> b. The term of office for Delegates shall be 4 years, and shall begin at noon on January 2nd of the year following their election. Delegates shall be elected in accordance with the schedule established in Article VIII, Sec. 1(b) of this Constitution. [This Article appears to call for the existing staggered dates of election for existing office holders, and use of a staggered schedule for new Delegates.]</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "helveticaneue" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26765" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this meeting I had stated that given the fact that voting for Statehood also meant that we would be voting for the Mayor's Constitution, <span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I felt I could not approve a YES vote without the guidance of our DC Statehood Green Party. </span> How ironic that after all the years we have worked for Statehood I should even have to ask such a question because of lack of a democratic process.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26862" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then I read the above ARTICLE 1, Sec. 2 (a). What exactly does <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26931" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #cd232c;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1471459993842_26930" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">elected on a partisan basis</b></span> actually mean. My interpretation is that it means <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">we loose the set asides</span> for representatives elected from other than the Democratic (???) Party. If my interpretation is correct (and I most profoundly hope it is NOT), then perhaps all <b>Statehood Green, Republican, and Libertarian Party members/or lovers of true Democracy</b> might be inclined to vote AGAINST this November's measure if there is no clarification in the included approval of the above language. [8/21 - I have now checked the April Constitution and the same "elected on a partisan basis" is there with no mention of set asides. This week we minority parties need clarification from the BOEE legal staff on what exactly this means.] See below exactly what the <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #cd232c;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">single vote</b></span> will approve (it approves all 4 parts including the Constitution). Thus if you vote YES you are approving all 4 parts:</span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 19.5px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you want the District to become the 51st state?</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you approve the state constitution?</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you agree to the boundaries?</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you commit to a representative form of government?</li>
</ul>
<div>
ARTICLE VII: MISCELLANEOUS [I will list all that is in latest version of the Constitution and <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">highlight </span>the parts that were added since the Lincoln Cottage distributed version.]</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sec. 1. Openness and transparency</div>
<div>
The government of the State of New Columbia shall operate on principles of openness,
transparency and democratic participation. Specific obligations regarding participation
and transparency may be established by Act of the House of Delegates and administrative
orders of the Governor. [Unchanged]</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sec. 2. Construction of Constitution </div>
<div>
a. To the extent that any provisions of this Constitution are inconsistent with the provisions
of any other laws of the State of New Columbia, the provisions of this Constitution shall
prevail and shall be deemed to supersede the provisions of such laws. </div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> b. The use of partisan or nonpartisan with respect to elections under Articles I and II shall
determine only when the name of a political party may appear next to the name of a
candidate on the ballot but shall not limit in any way the authority of the House of
Delegates to establish any type of primary or runoff system it may find appropriate.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> [All New]</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">c. In interpreting this Constitution, the courts are not bound by the interpretation given by
federal courts to identical or similar language in the United States Constitution, but shall
interpret this Constitution in light of its purposes and the laws, values, and traditions of
the State of New Columbia.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> [All New]</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sec. 3. Constitution amending procedure </div>
<div>
a. The Constitution may be amended by an Act passed by the affirmative vote of <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">two-thirds</span>
of the members of the House of Delegates and ratified by a majority of the qualified
voters who vote in a ratification referendum. [Highlighted portion previously said "a majority"]</div>
<div>
b. Ratified constitutional amendments take effect either on the date the elections agency
certifies the ratification, or the date prescribed by the amendment, whichever is later. </div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> c. On or about the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the Admission Act, the House of
Delegates may call for a Constitutional Convention to assess the transition from a federal
district to a member of the Union. If the House of Delegates elects to call a
Constitutional Convention, the House of Delegates shall, by Act, establish the subjects
and procedures therefor. Any amendments resulting from such a Constitutional
Convention must be ratified by a majority of the qualified voters who vote in a
ratification referendum.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> [All New]</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sec. 4. Effective date </div>
<div>
This Constitution shall take effect upon passage of an Admission Act to admit New
Columbia as a state of the United States of America with the same rights as other states,
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;">unless otherwise provided therein.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> [Change highlighted]</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
[There are a number of alterations that need more thought and feedback. Personally, should we be forced to accept the Constitution with the highlighted changes, not to mention others, I think 5 years might be too long to wait on a true Constitutional Convention to rework the parts that appear to eliminate any set asides for non majority party At Large representatives. All Statehood Greens, Republicans, Libertarians, and Independents please give all this careful thought.]</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am also updating the calendar further down with new material received on Wednesday.</span></div>
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<div>
[7/20/16] - Mayor Bowser is now in Cleveland attempting to persuade Republicans that the party of Lincoln should not deprive more citizens than are in the states of Vermont or Wyoming of their voting rights. The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/republican-conventioneers-target-hillary-clinton--and-dc-statehood/2016/07/19/dfb91d90-4d9c-11e6-aa14-e0c1087f7583_story.html?wpisrc=nl_buzz&wpmm=1" target="_blank">Washington Post also reports</a> that DC Republican Party executive director, Patrick Mara, said the DC delegation stood and booed on the convention floor when <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/2016-republican-platform-full-text_us_578bce03e4b03fc3ee513eb9" target="_blank">the platform</a> was approved without Statehood for DC. He blasted the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/2016-republican-platform-full-text_us_578bce03e4b03fc3ee513eb9" target="_blank">Republican party platform</a> as outdated, pointing out "the party has some partially fossilized members" and doesn't "see progress until they are fully fossilized." DC Shadow Senator Paul Strauss noted that VP pick Gov. Mike Pence "once spoke in favor" of DC Statehood (2007) when he referred to our lack of representation as a "historic wrong." Donald Trump says he does not yet have a position on Statehood. Hillary Clinton vowed last month to push forcefully for DC statehood if elected and Democrats approved statehood in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/2016-democratic-platform_us_5776c9a9e4b09b4c43c06bb5" target="_blank">their party platform.</a> This draft will be voted on in the Democrat's convention in Philadelphia.</div>
---------------<br />
[7/13/16] - Comments from people the day after Council voted to have Statehood on the November 8 ballot, and for the Council to write the Constitution rather than the people.<br />
<br />
* Every one of the group of 5 have esteemed, experienced attorneys advising them. All have been to this rodeo before. That no one directly answers our questions at any hearings or the press conference on Monday makes it clear there is a lot lying below the surface. We need to find a way to make a statement they will understand. We will have to suspend logic and facts thinking "outside the box" so to speak.<br />
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* From Perry Redd, DC Statehood Green Party. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fine...on the ballot, one question:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468653216870_13515" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;">Statehood</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Y/N. Allowing THIS 13-member Council--or</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;">ANY</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Council--to make a corporate decision for a state full of people is an exercise in insanity; that shall never work, only a</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468653216870_13513" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;">democratic</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">means and methodology is acceptable. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am in agreement with Grosso, that a</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">serious</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PR campaign has to undergird a drive toward DC statehood; $100 million</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"feels"</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">wrong, yet is overdue. I imagine a $100 million makes up for all the piss-poor investments in the statehood fight. The concern about his PR cronies is wholly valid and can be overcome</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">IF</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, we the people, insist that </span><i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468653216870_13532" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468653216870_13531" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">we locally get 40% of the PR contracts</b></i><br />
<i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br /></b></i>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-style: italic;">* </b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">From Kesh at DC4Democracy </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px;">DC COUNCIL ON SUMMER RECESS - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The DC Council broke for summer recess yesterday not with a bang, but a whimper. They did not vote on Paid Family Leave or Just Hours, two major proposals that will improve the lives of DC workers. They also failed to schedule a hearing on DC Fair Elections (public financing). The Council did unanimously adopt the Advisory Referendum on statehood without any substantive changes. Voters will be asked to approve a constitution that the DC Council is in the process of drafting, and most likely will not be finalized by the election on November 8. Our pleas for a proper constitutional convention appear to have fallen on deaf ears, and we are extremely disappointed in our elected officials.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> We would like to recognize </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468653216870_13719" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px;">Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px;">CM Silverman</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> for their efforts to simplify the referendum language. We find it troubling that no other Councilmembers recognize the fundamental problems with the current process.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Despite our disappointment, we look forward to participating in the Council hearings this Fall on the proposed constitution, and hope that many DC for Democracy members will join us. We will also continue to explore other avenues for a proper, legitimate, and democratic process for drafting a new constitution. Suggestions are welcome at dcfordemocracy@gmail.com.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
-----------------<br />
[7/12/16] - AP reports that Tuesday's unanimous vote by the DC Council is part of Mayor Bowser's strategy to pursue the "Tennessee model" for statehood. If approved, the referendum would also give the Council authority to write the Constitution for the "state of New Columbia." While lawmakers praised the referendum effort, Ind. Council member David Grosso sounded a note of caution. He said earlier Tuesday that the referendum won't influence Cogress and will give people "false hope" unless it's backed by a major public relations campaign at a cost of $100million or more. [Wow, $100M, I wonder who he has in mind for that largess? A campaign contributor. The Council hasn't even been able to mobilize under $1million for that effort. I think there is language in the Home Rule charter that forbids using our tax money for that purpose. More research needed.]<br />
Ann Loikow reported the following: T<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">he Council's resolution is unchanged, except for correcting the date of the Statehood Commission's meeting to approve the Constitution (June 28, not June 13). The Council expects to hold hearings and amend the Constitution between the time they return from summer recess (Sept. 19) and Nov. 8. Given that they need two readings, two weeks apart and proper notice for a hearing (probably don't have time for much more than 1-2 days of hearings) and a markup, they only have 6 weeks. Also, there needs to be at least a week, maybe for the BOEE to print the Constitution and send it to the voters so they can have any idea what it is before they have to vote to ratify it on Nov. 8. As a result don't expect to have much citizen input. Instead, it will be more of the 3 minute rule with Phil cutting folks off and a Constitution written by an oligarchy of 13 people (plus the 5 member Statehood Commission and the Mayor's legal committee, which is heavy with DC Appleseed people). In other words, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">No democracy for the people of D.C. ....</span><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">voting yes on the referendum (you only get one vote for all 4 items) means you are for everything, including giving a blank check to the Council on the constitution. </b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Ann</span><br />
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<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
PS: Here is the full debate and vote on the referendum resolution as filmed today by Stephen Kolb who is making a documentary on our effort to get statehood. Stephen is a resident of Ward 6.</div>
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Here’s today’s arguments, statements and the vote -</div>
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<div class="yiv0310336866" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468720355345_23122" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="yiv0310336866" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
Enjoy and pass it on to all your constituents and friends.</div>
<div class="yiv0310336866" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468720355345_23126" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<a class="yiv0310336866" href="https://youtu.be/rGaOa2UO3x8" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468720355345_23123" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/rGaOa2UO3x8</a></div>
<div class="yiv0310336866" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468720355345_23126" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
Stephen L Kolb, Amer. Soc. of Media Photographers, MPA, SAG-AFTRA, AEA</div>
<div class="yiv0310336866" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1468720355345_23126" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
Producer:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/he%20Council's%20resolution%20is%20unchanged,%20except%20for%20correcting%20the%20date%20of%20the%20Statehood%20Commission's%20meeting%20to%20approve%20the%20constitution%20(June%2028,%20not%20June%2013).%20The%20Council%20expects%20to%20hold%20hearings%20and%20amend%20the%20constitution%20between%20the%20time%20they%20return%20from%20summer%20recess%20(Sept.%2019)%20and%20Nov.%208.%20Given%20that%20they%20need%20two%20readings,%20two%20weeks%20apart%20and%20proper%20notice%20for%20a%20hearing%20(probably%20don't%20have%20time%20for%20much%20more%20than%201-2%20days%20of%20hearings)%20and%20a%20markup,%20they%20only%20have%206%20weeks.%20Also,%20there%20needs%20to%20be%20at%20least%20a%20week,%20maybe%20for%20the%20BOEE%20to%20print%20the%20constitution%20and%20send%20it%20to%20the%20voters%20so%20they%20can%20have%20any%20idea%20what%20it%20is%20before%20they%20have%20to%20vote%20to%20ratify%20it%20on%20Nov.%208.%20As%20a%20result%20don't%20expect%20to%20have%20much%20citizen%20input.%20Instead,%20it%20will%20be%20more%20of%20the%203%20minute%20rule%20with%20Phil%20cutting%20folks%20off%20and%20a%20constitution%20written%20by%20an%20oligarchy%20of%2013%20people%20(plus%20the%205%20member%20Statehood%20Commission%20and%20the%20Mayor's%20legal%20committee,%20which%20is%20heavy%20with%20DC%20Appleseed%20people).%20In%20other%20words,%20voting%20yes%20on%20the%20referendum%20(you%20only%20get%20one%20vote%20for%20all%204%20items)%20means%20you%20are%20for%20everything,%20including%20giving%20a%20blank%20check%20to%20the%20Council%20on%20the%20constitution.%20No%20democracy%20for%20the%20people%20of%20D.C.%20....%20%20Ann%20%20PS:%20Here%20is%20the%20full%20debate%20and%20vote%20on%20the%20referendum%20resolution%20as%20filmed%20today%20by%20Stephen%20Kolb%20who%20making%20a%20documentary%20on%20our%20effort%20to%20get%20statehood.%20Stephen%20is%20a%20resident%20of%20Ward%206.%20%20From:%20Stephen%20Kolb%20%3Csteve@mackolb.com%3E%20%20Subject:%20%20Today's%20vote!%20Date:%20July%2012,%202016%207:48:40%20PM%20EDT%20%20Here%E2%80%99s%20today%E2%80%99s%20arguments,%20statements%20and%20the%20vote%20-%20Enjoy%20and%20pass%20it%20on%20to%20all%20your%20constituents%20and%20friends.%20%20https://youtu.be/rGaOa2UO3x8" target="_blank"> http://WhoCaresAboutDC.com</a> [go here to see video of all Statehood Comm. meetings, hearings, and interviews] <a href="http://stevekolbmedia.com/">http://stevekolbmedia.com</a></div>
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[6/17-18/16] - Having just attended and spoken at two more Constitution Convention meetings at Woodrow Wilson High School, it appears a considerable majority of the people testifying don't want the Mayor's proposed 13 delegates fixed in stone. Many spoke in favor of a general vote for Statehood on Nov 8th, with a statement of intention to form and hold a properly constituted real Constitutional Convention immediately afterwards allowing it to be acted on early in the next administration. <br />
In a last gesture to "democracy" Council Chair Phil Mendelson "magnanimously" said all written testimony had to be received by midnight that evening, and that spoken, written and email testimony would receive equal weight. Other hearings (and that is really what these 3 meetings were) allow a considerably longer time to submit written testimony after the oral testimony. The Mayor has already lost credibility by loosing 3 regular supporters in the Primary Election. Does she really want the Council Chair to further tarnish her credibility? And do we want 3 lame duck Council members controlling this Constitution process?<br />
The Washington Post has published two stories about the will of the people: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dc-leaders-are-thinking-small-on-statehood/2016/06/17/43ee30ce-28e1-11e6-ae4a-3cdd5fe74204_story.html">https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dc-leaders-are-thinking-small-on-statehood/2016/06/17/43ee30ce-28e1-11e6-ae4a-3cdd5fe74204_story.html</a>, and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/this-is-no-way-to-draft-a-constitution/2016/06/17/9778f2ea-29d3-11e6-b989-4e5479715b54_story.html">https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/this-is-no-way-to-draft-a-constitution/2016/06/17/9778f2ea-29d3-11e6-b989-4e5479715b54_story.html</a><br />
This second link already has eleven comments, while the first has 4. I was particularly impressed by the list of flaws below presented in one of the comments. I added <b>bold </b>to some I particularly like:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 18px; white-space: nowrap;">wdccruise</span><br />
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<a href="http://washingtonpost.com/opinions/this-is-no-way-to-draft-a-constitution/2016/06/17/9778f2ea-29d3-11e6-b989-4e5479715b54_story.html?outputType=comment&commentID=washingtonpost.com/ECHO/item/9a6ceda1-e5e7-4b91-8b7a-f21dc6db1547" style="box-sizing: content-box !important; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">6/18/2016 3:56 AM EDT</a></div>
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<span style="color: #42474a; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Not only is the process a sham but so is the "Constitution". Some highlights: </span></div>
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<span class="echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-text" style="box-sizing: content-box; color: #42474a; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">o The City Council becomes the House of Delegates. No bi-cameral legislature, no change in the number of members. <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The City Councilmen simply become "Delegates". <b>No election</b> for the positions are held. <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The mayor magically becomes the governor.<b> No election</b> for the position is held. <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o Elections for governor and delegates are <b>required to be "partisan"</b> which is obviously to keep Democrats in control. <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The governor and delegate speaker <b>can't hold other jobs</b> (in the "constitution"???) <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o Inexplicably, the governor and delegates must be voters but not citizens. <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o There is no role specified for the ANCs other than that they are "advisory" <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o Inexplicably the "constitution" states that the governor must appoint an Administrator and Chief Operating Officer. <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The "constitution" contains the CFO's job description including that he must prepare "tax maps". <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The "constitution" strangely references the Home Rule Act even though it is declaring itself a state which, one would suppose, would not be subject to the HRA. <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The "Constitution" spends many paragraphs describing how a total of<b> 6% of the annual budget </b>is to be deposited into what are <b>essentially slush funds</b> that can -- and will -- be used for any purpose. <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The "constitution" specifically states that the District can issue <b>revenue bonds for "sports</b>" or "any other undertaking that the House of Delegates determines to be for a public purpose." This is obviously to allow the governor<b> to subsidize billionaire sports-team owners and other favored business entities. </b><br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The citizens are specifically <b>prevented from approving a referendum that gets rid of a tax or stops spending they don't like.</b> <br style="box-sizing: content-box !important;" />o The citizens <b>can amend the "Constitution" <i style="box-sizing: content-box !important;">but only if the delegates first approve the amendment!</i></b> Silly wabbit, bet you thought citizens could impose term limits!</span></div>
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[6/13/16] - <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_39842" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">I have just returned from the so-called Constitutional Convention held in Ward 8. It was scheduled to end at 8pm, but continued until 9pm to allow the many people who had signed up to speak for 3 minutes to do so. Most speakers supported the idea of a number of delegates similar to other small states (at least 40 as decided and approved by voters in the <a class="edited-link-editor" href="http://www.dc51.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/1982-Constitution-for-the-State-of-New-Columbia.pdf" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">1982 Constitution</a>, note this document does not say 1982 and if someone can find a better link, please send it out), also a bicameral (2 house) legislature was recommended by a number of people since only one state is not bicameral. No one I heard (and I was late) favored keeping the same 13 that has been so problematic for our rights, as 7 votes are so easy to influence or even buy. Everyone liked the idea of some name other than New Columbia which has the same initials as North Carolina. The Douglass Commonwealth, honoring abolitionist Frederick Douglass, was popular, retaining our well known DC initials. [</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40386" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">Commonwealth is a designation used by four of the 50 states of the United States in their full, official state names. The four are: </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40387" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">Kentucky</b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40388" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">, </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40389" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">Massachusetts</b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40390" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">, </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40391" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">Pennsylvania</b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40392" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">, and </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40393" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">Virginia</b><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40708" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">. It is also used by our sister victim of statelessness, Puerto Rico. </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40709" style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_43015" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_44340" style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">Constitutionally, there is no</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40713" style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><a class="edited-link-editor" href="http://ask.metafilter.com/231881/What-does-it-mean-to-be-a-Commonwealth-state" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_41521" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> difference between a state and a commonwealth</a>.]</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_40716" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_41001" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_41000" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Others recommended forming a proper Constitutional Convention and doing serious comparison with the 1982 Constitution. Tonight was simply a hearing with 3 minutes per speaker. The two additional days of Friday 6 to 10pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm on June 17 and 18 are also really only hearings. They will be held at <a class="edited-link-editor" href="http://www.greatschools.org/washington-dc/washington/105-Wilson-High-School/#Contact_this_school" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1465786929661_42103" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Woodrow Wilson High School</a> (see map), 3950 Chesapeake St., NW. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 19.2px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I am particularly concerned at the scheduling for Friday and Saturday. On Friday the </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">parts covered are: Article II - The Executive Branch (14 pages), Article IV - Budget & Financial Management (8 pages), and Article V - Borrowing (12 pages). This gives a total of <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">34 pages</b> to be covered in perhaps 4 hours. This Monday we spent 3 hours+ covering <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">21 pages</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> On Saturday the parts covered are: Article III - The Judicial Branch (5 pages), Article VII - Miscellaneous (2 pages), and VIII - Transfer of Offices (9 pages). This is a total of <b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466125662365_11723" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">16 pages </b>possibly also with 4 hours allocated. In other words they are giving us the same amount of time to cover more than twice as much material, which is some of the most important aspects of the government--<b>Mayor and Money.</b> Also given past history, parts that are often vulnerable to malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance and undue influence by developers and gentrifiers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Although specific articles of the proposed Constitution were supposed to be discussed on specific days, in fact testimony was all over the map with personal feelings, opinions and history, and statements on whatever part of the Constitution most concerned the testifier who you will remember had only 3 minutes to speak.</span></div>
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[6/3/16] - Here is on scene report by Keshina Ladduwahetty from DC4D:<br />
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<span id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464975516930_111581" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> Thank you all for taking the time to respond to DC4D's statement on the Statehood Initiative. </span></div>
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A number of us attended the first statehood town hall last night, and I wanted to share what I learned:<br />
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<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13035" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">The town halls are somewhat like Council hearings; individuals testify for 3 minutes, organizations for 5. Last night, Sen. Brown & Rep. Garcia presided for most of the meeting; the Mayor showed up only at the very end and heard only Ann Loikow's testimony. The entire session is videotaped and you don't need to hand in printed copies. There is opportunity for Q&A afterwards.</li>
<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13035" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Sen. Brown spoke very publicly about the fact that he and the other members of the Shadow Delegation are not playing a decision making role on the Commission. </li>
<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13035" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">The Mayor's own legal counsels (Barry Priceworth & Betsy Cavandish) don't seem to know the answer to the critical question of whether the November referendum will contain a single compound question that includes the constitution, or whether it will contains 4 separate questions (on statehood, boundaries, type of government, and constitution). However, they confirmed the impression I got that the Council will control the wording of the referendum.</li>
<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13035" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">12 people testified last night (in order): myself (Kesh), Josh Burch, Jesse Lovell, Anise Jenkins, Adam Gluckman, Anne Anderson, Harold Hunter, Taboo, Guy Durant, Dan Schramm, John Capozzi, Stan Mayes, Ann Loikow. Most of us voiced serious concerns about the process, particularly the lack of a proper constitutional convention</li>
<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13035" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">The "constitutional convention" is now going to be on 3 separate dates: the evening of June 13 (the night before the primary!), the evening of June 17, and the morning of June 18 at Wilson HS. I repeatedly asked for further details about how it is going to be organized, but got no answers. </li>
<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13035" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">The Commission will vote on the final version of the Constitution on June 24th (6 days after the last public meeting)</li>
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I hope all of you take the opportunity to testify at the <a class="yiv9332780389edited-link-editor yiv9332780389enhancr2_88745aa8-99eb-0f29-f906-0b7c404d3fc7" href="http://statehood.dc.gov/page/next-steps-and-upcoming-events" id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464975516930_121457" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">remaining town halls</a> (this Saturday June 4th, next Tuesday, June 7, next Wednesday, June 8th, as well as June 13, 17 & 18) and <a class="yiv9332780389edited-link-editor yiv9332780389enhancr2_ed4fffa2-dea3-2f53-5a75-e529f5e19bec" href="http://dcforms.dc.gov/webform/submit-comments-new-columbia-draft-constitution" id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464975516930_129577" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">online</a>. I think <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Saturday, June 18</b> is particularly important as it is the final public meeting and likely will have the highest attendance. It is extremely important that we use these opportunities to voice our support for the goal of the Statehood Initiative as well as our concerns about the process. In my opinion, the most useful points to make are:</div>
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<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13648" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><b id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464975516930_129619" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Referendum</b>: word the November referendum in the simplest way possible. Ideally, it would be a simple yes/no to statehood to ensure overwhelming support. At a minimum (if the Commission decides to include other questions, such as a new constitution), voters should be able to vote separately on each question. </li>
<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13648" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><b id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_14895" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Call for a Proper Constitutional Convention</b>: 1) insist on a proper constitutional convention, with elected delegates, as a requirement for a legitimate constitution. 2) include in the new draft constitution an explicit call for an elected constitutional convention within a specific timeframe. [end] A more detailed report by DC4D is near the end of this post.</li>
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<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13648" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">------------------ [can't get these extra dots to go away] new topic below</li>
<li id="yiv9332780389yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464954842595_13648" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">At the </span><a href="http://www.open-dc.gov/meeting/new-columbia-statehood-commission-meeting" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">April 29th meeting</a><span style="background-color: transparent;">, where all 5 members (above) were present, 15 minutes for public comment were allowed which the Mayor noted for future addressing. Statehood Green Party member, David Schwartzman indicated that although statehood was long overdue, he favored the bottom-up process of the 1982 Convention, and we ought to choose between the process outlined in the </span><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">New Columbia Admissions Act,</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> or hold a new Constitutional Convention after Nov. 8 with elected [not appointed] delegates. Importance of getting MD and VA support was emphasized, and Jesse Lovell, Secretary of the DC Statehood Commission, outlined such support received. Asked was information on the affect of this new effort on the </span><a href="http://www.rollcall.com/news/norton-introduces-d-c-statehood-bill-despite-new-hurdles" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">current New Columbia Admission Act</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> in Congress. Also questioned was why we are drafting a new Constitution when the one in 1982 was voted and approved by DC residents. [There are legal changes which needed to be incorporated, but absolutely no legal reason to reduce the number of delegates to our current 13 Council number.]</span></li>
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Beverly Perry, the Mayor's Senior Advisor, presented the Legal Advisory Committee's recommendations. These included promoting stability by keeping DC's current governing structure, simplify and modernize the Constitution, and empower the [current] legislature and executive to govern in the interests of the people who elected them [and paid for their campaigns].<br />
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We the people were first presented with a draft copy of this new 2016 Constitution at the Lincoln Cottage at the Soldiers Home, upper North Capital St., an area with poor public transportation. This chilly rainy day meeting on May 6, 2016, was held in a large tent, but was well attended including by many who had participated in the 1982 and 1987 working groups. After detailed explanation of the proposed action, the Mayor called on many people including those who had a number of objections. People were concerned about bypassing the 2 years of work on the <a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/statehood/page_content/attachments/1982%20Constitution%20for%20the%20State%20of%20New%20Columbia.pdf" target="_blank">1982 Constitution</a> (this 36 page document has not date printed on it), as well as work in <a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/statehood/page_content/attachments/New%20Columbia%201987%20Constitution.pdf" target="_blank">1987</a>. Concerns were also raised about the sudden speed required by this approach, and limiting the Delegates to <b>only 13</b> (thus, with no change in power of gentrifiers), rather than the higher numbers previously agreed (over 2 years of many meetings) which are closer to the pattern of other states. In 1982 it was 40 delegates, and 25 in 1987.</div>
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Here is the schedule for the fast track process proposed by Mayor Bowser on 4/15/2016 (Emancipation Day) and supported by Council Chairman, Phil Mendelson. You can visit: <a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/">statehood.dc.gov</a> for updates. The significant input by the people ends on June 24th. After that all work is by the existing power structure, and we must monitor to demand our interests be served. Also there is no information on location and times after June 24. I will add this as well as the To Be Determined (TBD) information if it is provided.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6QP_toYiQU" target="_blank">4/21/16</a> - Convene meeting of New Columbia Statehood Commission, <b>W</b>ilson<b> B</b>ldg., 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. [details on time and place of events already held are omitted, others are <b>TBD</b>, to be determined]</div>
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<a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/release/new-columbia-statehood-commission-members-vote-new-dc-statehood-plan" target="_blank">4/26 </a>- Presentation of statehood strategy at Council breakfast, WB.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6QP_toYiQU" target="_blank">4/29</a> - Convene meeting of New Columbia Statehood Comm, WB.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6QP_toYiQU" target="_blank">5/6 </a>- (video follows 4/29) New Columbia Statehood Comm. Draft Constitution release, Lincoln Cottage.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6QP_toYiQU" target="_blank">5/9</a> - Presentation of DC Statehood Advisory Referendum to ANCs, UDC.</div>
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5/12 - Working Group Kickoff Event, Gallaudet Univ.</div>
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<b>5/16-19</b> - <b>Working Group Organizational Meetings</b>, locations & times below, and call in info.:</div>
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5/16 - Advocacy Working Group meeting, WB, G-9, 6:30 pm.</div>
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5/17 - All 8 Wards Working Group meeting, WB, G-9, 6:00 pm.</div>
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5/18 - Cleveland/Philadelphia Conventions Working Group meeting, WB, G-9, 12:00 pm. </div>
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<b> D</b>ial <b>I</b>n: 866-761-6796, <b>P</b>articipant <b>C</b>ode: 7440840</div>
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5/19 - Communications Working Group meeting, WB, G-9, 12:00 pm. </div>
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DI: 866-423-3721, PC: 4809024</div>
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5/20 - All Americans for DC Statehood meeting, WB, G-9, 6:00 pm. </div>
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DI: 866-761-6796, Access Code: 7440840<br />
5/25 - <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">All 8 Wards workgroup meeting, WB, G-9, 6:00 - 7:30pm. [follow-up]</span></div>
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5/26 - New Columbia Statehood Comm. convenes public engagement meeting, location WB, G-9, 6:30-9pm.</div>
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At the 5/17 meeting we were told changes to the meetings below are<a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/page/next-steps-and-upcoming-events" target="_blank"> on their site. </a> I have listed what I have found at the bottom of the page. Wards are not indicated. At the meeting it was said people could go where they wanted. For unclear locations go by what is at the bottom of page <a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/page/next-steps-and-upcoming-events" target="_blank">or at link</a>.</div>
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5/31 - Ward 3 Town Hall to discuss draft constitution, Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave., NW, 6:00-8:00pm. (unclear where and when)</div>
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6/1-10 - DC Council Public Engagement Hearings/Roundtables, WB, Rooms & times TBD.</div>
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6/1 - Ward 6 Town Hall to discuss draft constitution, Southwest Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Pl., SW, 6:00 to 8:00pm. (unclear where and when)</div>
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6/2 - <b>Town Hall, </b>Wards 5 & 7<b>,</b> to discuss draft constitution, Birtie Backus/UDC-CC, 5171 South Dakota Ave., NE, 6:00 - 8:00pm. (unchanged)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">6/4 - </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><b>Town Hall, </b>Wards 6 & 8<b>, </b>to discuss draft constitution, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thurgood Marshall Academy, 2427 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., SE from 1:00 - 3:00pm. (Wards 7 & 8 combined)</span></span></div>
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6/7 - <b>Town Hall, </b>Wards 1 & 2, to discuss draft constitution, African American Civil War Museum, 1925 Vermont Ave., NW, 6:00 - 8:00pm. RSVP: http://june7statehood.eventbrite.com</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">6/8 - </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><b>Town Hall, </b>Wards 3 & 4<b>,</b> to discuss draft constitution,</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Raymond Recreation Center, 3725 10th Street, NW, from 6:00 - 8:00pm. RSVP: http://june8statehood.eventbrite.com</span></span></div>
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6/9 - Working groups present recommendations to the New Columbia Statehood Comm., Student Center, UDC, 4200 Connecticut Ave., NW, 6:30-9:00pm.<br />
6/13 - Added day for <b>Constitutional Convention</b>, DC Taxicab Commission, 2235 Shannon Pl., SE, 6:00pm. [These will not actually be Conventions, but more like hearings.]</div>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">6/14
– <b>Primary Election day</b>, at your designated Precinct.</span></span></div>
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6/17-18 - New Columbia Statehood Comm. convenes <b>Constitutional Convention</b>, 6:00 - 10:00pm, and 6/18, 9:00am - 1:00pm. Both days at Woodrow Wilson High School, 3950 Chesapeake St., NW. [these times will make it<b> hard for our seniors </b>to attend both sessions given the late Friday and early Saturday timing. We need their wisdom, especially if they took part in the 1982 and 1987 process.]</div>
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6/28 - Convene meeting of New Columbia Statehood Commission to <b>approve emergency legislation</b>, including Constitution, [From the Mayor: <span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone attended the New Columbia Statehood Commission Constitutional Convention. The Commission received over 500 comments, in person and online, on the draft constitution.</span><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1467093994653_14084" style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue", "segoe ui", helvetica, arial, "lucida grande", sans-serif;">TOMMOROW 6/28 at 6:30</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif;">, join the NCSC at the John A. Wilson Building in Room G-9 (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW) as they consider recommendations received from the public town halls, online testimony, and the Constitutional Convention and finalize the New Columbia Constitution. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1467093994653_14092" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">All public comments on the draft constitution are available at <span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/statehood/publication/attachments/Summary%20Public%20Comments%20Received%20on%20New%20Columbia%20Draft%20Constitution.pdf" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Statehood.DC.Gov</a></span>. RSVP today at:<a href="http://june28statehood.eventbrite.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1467093994653_14091" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://june28statehood.eventbrite.com</a>. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We hope you can join!]</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">The Resolution was introduced by Chairman Mendelson and approved by entire Council for handling by the Committee of the whole.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1467093994653_14080" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">For live updates from all NCSC events follow <a href="https://twitter.com/DCstatehood51" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1467093994653_14096" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">@DCStatehood51</a> on Twitter!] </span></div>
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6/30 - Mayor, on behalf of the New Columbia Statehood Commission (NCSC), will submit the NCSC Resolution to Council. [<b>Will there be public hearings? </b>Perhaps in the fall?]</div>
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7/5 - Council approves resolution for Statehood. [Didn't happen.]</div>
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7/8 - <b>Advisory Referendum filed with Board of Elections. </b>[Didn't happen so far as we know, but see: <a href="http://dcstatehoodyeswecan.org/j/">http://dcstatehoodyeswecan.org/j/</a>, and especially comments by Ann Loikow near the bottom.]<br />
7/11 - Mayor on behalf of the NCSC submited the NCSC Resolution to Council.<br />
7/12 - <b>Advisory Referendum on the State of New Columbia Admissions Act Resolution of 2016 </b>will be considered by the Council, which may hold off on approving the Constitution. See<a href="http://dcstatehoodyeswecan.org/j/" target="_blank"> link</a> with additional link to language of this resolution number PR12-0839. Then again it might be a done deal. Time and place TBA. It was approved that day.</div>
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7/28 - Board of Elections to hold hearing to certify referendum language [We should try to attend this hearing].</div>
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8/4 - Board of Elections will submit language to DC register and notify Mayor and Chairman.</div>
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8/12 - Assuming publication, <b>10 day window opens for objections and request for hearing</b>.<br />
8/17 - Speakers Bureau Training, 6:00 to 7:00pm, Wilson Bldg., Rm. G-9.<br />
8/23 - Speakers Bureau Training, 6:00 to 7:00pm, WB, G-9 This might be changed to 6:30pm.<br />
9/7 - Speakers Bureau Training, 6:00 to 7:00pm, TBD.<br />
9/10 - Speakers Bureau Training, Saturday, 11:00am to 12:00pm. TBD.</div>
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9/15 - Board of Elections certifies the Advisory Referendum to be placed on 11/8 ballot.<br />
9/27 - Council Committee of the Whole (COW), 11:00am. Wilson Bldg., Rm. 500. Hearing to consider: <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B21-0826" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #164e90; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; text-decoration: none;">B21-826</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1;">, Constitution of the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment Act of 2016.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1;">10/6 - COW, 6:30pm, WB, Rm. 500. Hearing to consider item from 9/27. No repeat testifiers allowed.</span></div>
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11/8 - Election Day, when <b>DC voters will vote on the Advisory Referendum</b>.</div>
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1/21/2017 - Petition submitted to new President and new Congress.</div>
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At the Lincoln Cottage, we were then invited to take part in the next meeting on May 12th held at Gallaudet University. That event was also well attended. When comments were called,the first was from Anise Jenkins asking whether funds would be available to help low income activists go to the various political Conventions this summer. I asked whether we should add outreach to the foreign embassies in DC given that ALL other major capitals have full citizens' rights and also whether there would be cooperation with Puerto Rico since they suffer similarly. Another comment emphasized the reduction of the 1982 and 1987 delegate numbers to new 13 number maintaining the status quo. He also explained the much larger delegations and bicameral nature of most all state legislatures. I believe this was by the man quoted below: [NOTE - my Blogger refuses to allow me to enlarge the material below]</div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1463266277062_6848" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"I went last night to the DC Statehood working group meeting at the Kellogg Center at Gallaudet. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The New Columbia Statehood Commission (NCSC) is having city wide meetings to go over the draft of the new Statehood Constitution and to get feedback and make improvements to the Draft Constitution. The Next Ward 5 meeting is [listed above]: </span><span style="background-color: inherit; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 21px;">[Observations by Guy Durant]</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; line-height: 21px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">"My thoughts on last night's meeting are the following:</span></span></div>
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<ol id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1463266277062_6873" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: block; list-style: decimal; margin: 2px 0px; padding: 0px 40px;">
<li id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1463266277062_6872" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1463266277062_6871" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1463266277062_6870" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">I am and always will be a Strong DC Statehood supporter, but how we get there is very important too.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">I was very glad to see all our Statehood Elected Representatives present last night. The mayor also spoke briefly and then left before the working groups met.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">The working groups are very important and below is a summary of groups you can join to get engaged in on promoting Statehood and to help get the Constitution ready for everyone to vote on the November Ballot.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">We have a lot of work to do to get a <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">"Bicameral" Legislature</b> added to the current draft of the constitution. That is a <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">key missing piece that should be put into the new Statehood Constitution</b> to be in line with every other state (except 1).</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; line-height: 21px;">I have attached my proposal and rationale for giving the ANCs the voting rights they deserve by <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">starting</b> with making the 40 ANC Chairs our 2nd Bicameral voting body. I call them the "Assembly Neighborhood Congress Chairs" (<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">ANCC</b>). </span></span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 21px;">Yes, the current Non-Voting ANC structure remains in the draft constitution, but that is not enough. We need them to have a vote.</span></span></li>
<li id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1463266277062_6877" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1463266277062_6876" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1463266277062_6875" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">I would love to have all the ANC members be a full voting body, but I got push back from even including any ANC members as a 2nd voting body. There are many who want the current draft limiting the legislature to just 13 members to stand. I am against the Status Quo size of DC government and want greater representation and distribution of power.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">I feel the current 13 legislatures is way too small for any state and in fact, we would be the SMALLEST State Legislature in the Nation by a huge factor. The smallest state legislature in America has 49 voting members and<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> <u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">the national average is 148 voting legislators.</u></b></span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">My proposal is that we have 13 senators plus 40 "ANCC" voting members to give us a total of <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">53 voting legislators</b>. We would no longer be the smallest legislature, but we should definitely be BiCameral. 49 States have Bicameral legislative bodies. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">The DC Statehood Website is where you can get more involved and signup to leave your comments and to participate in meetings. <a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://statehood.dc.gov/</a></span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; display: list-item;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">With enough feedback on the Constitutional Draft, you can make a difference and you should be excited that we are doing this as a City Wide effort. I hope to see everyone (Especially ANC members) get involved in the Statehood Meetings.</span></span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Reference: <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Population_represented_by_state_legislators" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">https://ballotpedia.org/Population_represented_by_state_legislator</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">rightguydc wrote: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">FYI.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> With a total of 60 lawmakers, the </span><b style="color: #222222; max-height: 999999px;">Alaska Legislature</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> is the smallest bicameral state legislature in the United States and the second-smallest of all state legislatures (only the 49-member unicameral </span><b style="color: #222222; max-height: 999999px;">Nebraska Legislature</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> is smaller). </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> I strongly support making DC a Bicameral government with legislative power for our 40 ANC Chairs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">To:</b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>DC Statehood <<a href="mailto:statehood@dc.gov" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background-color: transparent; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:statehood@dc.gov">statehood@dc.gov</a>><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Sent:</b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>Sunday, May 8, 2016 6:02 PM<br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Subject:</b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>DC Statehood: You Are Invited to Join a Working Group</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Hello: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">We thank you for signing up at</span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">statehood.dc.gov</a><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">to join a working group. On</span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday, May 12<sup style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">th</sup><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">the New Columbia Statehood Commission (NCSC) will be holding the first working group meeting for all those interested in participating. This meeting will take place at</span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">6:30PM on Thursday, May 12<sup style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">th</sup><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>at the Kellogg Center at Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002.<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">The NCSC established working groups to enact the advisory referendum plan for Statehood. The five working groups will be comprised of residents, advocates, and elected officials who will work to execute a multi-pronged strategy to achieve statehood. They will meet regularly, hold public sessions, and present the results of their work in the months leading up to the November advisory referendum.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">The<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">five working groups</b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>are:<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><u>Advocacy Committee:</u> </span></span></span></b><span style="text-align: justify;">The Committee will engage the business community in an effort to identify, leverage, and direct resources that enhance statehood activities. The Committee will make the case for why DC statehood is good for business and necessary for a growing and resilient DC. The Committee will develop outreach strategies that will support the creation of a sustainable movement for statehood.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> <b>Goals</b><b style="font-weight: normal;">:</b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Engage in activities that enhance resources for a successful statehood campaign. Educate the business community about the benefits statehood will have for their business and increase support.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><u>All 8 Wards Committee:</u> </span></span></span></b><span style="text-align: justify;">The Committee is responsible for citywide grassroots outreach, public education, and volunteer recruitment. The Committee will be responsible for recruiting community members to attend roundtables and the Constitutional Convention.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> <b>Goa</b></span></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><b>l:</b><b style="font-weight: normal;"> </b>C</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">onvene public engagement meetings and recruit volunteers in each Ward.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">All Americans for DC Statehood Committee:</u> </span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;">The Committee will execute a 50-State strategy, recognizing that Washington, DC will need the support of residents of other states in its pursuit of statehood. It will recruit support from advocates across the country and establish leaders in every state to bolster a national grassroots effort. The Committee will work with the Statehood Delegation to secure DC Statehood endorsements from national organizations focused on voting rights, civil rights, and social justice. The Committee will also engage national advocacy groups, alumni networks of DC colleges and universities, the faith community, think tanks, and international human rights groups. This Committee will work to engage Members of Congress from around the country to speak on the floor of the House and Senate about DC statehood and engage in other activities to amplify the statehood message.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Goal: </span></b><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Create a plan that creates and also educates key supporters from every state.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Cleveland/Philadelphia Convention Committee:</u> </span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;">The Committee will generate ideas and create plans that will be used to build awareness of DC’s disenfranchisement at national political conventions. The Committee will focus on strategies that educate Convention Delegates about the injustice of denying DC statehood.</span></span></div>
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<i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Republican National Convention – Cleveland, OH – July 18-21, 2016</span></span></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Democratic National Convention – Philadelphia, PA – July 25-28, 2016</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Goal: </span></b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Engage with convention delegates and create plans that utilize candidates, delegates, elected officials, media, party officials, and convention themes to raise national awareness of DC statehood.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Communications Committee:</u> </span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;">The Committee will help raise the profile of the statehood campaign and ensure continued public awareness. The Committee is responsible for drafting media materials, overseeing press inquiries, and creating a digital media campaign to promote statehood.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></b><b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Goal: </span></b><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Raise awareness by producing media advisories, op-eds, a pocket constitution, fact sheets, and other educational material.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">You can sign up to join a working group at<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span><a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://statehood.dc.gov</a><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>.<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sincerely, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Beverly Perry</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Senior Advisory to Mayor Bowser</span></span></div>
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<b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #c00000;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #c00000;"><a href="http://statehood.dc.gov/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">STATEHOOD.DC.GOV</span></a></span></span></b></div>
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I will continue to research information related to our Statehood effort:<br />
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<span id="yiv2988720144yui_3_16_0_1_1438316322045_13759"> Wyoming (pop. 582,658, all 2013) has 30 Senators (4 years) and 60 House (2 years) paid $150 per day when in session. Vermont (626,630) has 30 Senators (2) and 150 House (2) paid $676.50 per week in session. These two states have fewer people than DC. Two states with slightly more are North Dakota (723,393) S 47 (4), H 94 (4), $167/day in session; and Alaska (735,132) S 20 (4), h 40 (2), $50,400 per year.</span></div>
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<span id="yiv2988720144yui_3_16_0_1_1438316322045_14604">I have also checked the pay of nearby or very small states: Maryland, $45,207 annual; Virginia, S $18,000, H $17,640 yearly; Delaware, $44,541; Rhode Island, $15,171; and Connecticut, S $38,689, H $28,000. Some have no per diem, some have mileage, many are only paid for days or weeks worked. It appears our 13 Council members are seriously overpaid and in the past, 1982 and 1987, planners of a Constitution for the 51st state, New Columbia, felt we needed a lot more elected Delegates (Council members). How this should be structured has made for considerable interesting discussion in the past and promises to make for more in the immediate future. Our Mayor is currently promoting a fast track Constitution for final approval in early July to appear on the Nov. 8th General Election ballot. Her preference is keeping the current easy to influence 13 members.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The statement below is by DC4Democracy which has studied the proposed Constitution carefully. <a href="http://www.dcfordemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/dc4d-statehood-stmt.pdf" target="_blank">This link</a> my be easier to read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Officers</b>: Chair
Kesh Ladduwahetty, Treasurer
Andra Wicks, Assistant Treasurer
Dan Wedderburn, Ombudsman
Jeremiah Lowery, Secretary
Noah Van Gilder, Political Director
Keith Ivey, Communications Chair
Jeremy Koulish, Membership Chair
Jonathan Silverman, At-Large Member
Andrea Rosen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The following is a statement by DC for Democracy on the 51st State
Commission’s statehood proposal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> DC for Democracy commends the 51st State Commission for bringing
new momentum to the statehood movement through its plan. We
support the concept of a statehood referendum to coincide with the
November presidential and congressional elections. We also welcome
revisiting the question of our new state constitution.* These are all
positive elements of the proposal that we fully support.
We are strongly in favor of holding a statehood referendum this
November to affirm the desire of D.C. residents for the full rights of
citizenship through statehood. We are not in favor of including a vote
on a new state constitution in the November referendum. Rather, we
suggest that voters assent to a process for convening a constitutional
convention with elected delegates that will have the proper authority to
create a new state constitution. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The reasons for our recommendation are as follows: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The proposed “Tennessee Plan” is not substantively different from
the current New Columbia Admission Act. The obstacles to the
current bill are not concerns about the 1987 constitution, but mainly
political considerations. A referendum that affirms D.C. voters’
desire for statehood and authorizes a proper constitutional
convention will provide sufficient momentum for statehood next
year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• We agree that a new state constitution is needed, given the various
issues with the 1982 and 1987 constitutions and the third of a
century that has passed since voters last ratified a constitution.
However, it is not necessary to finalize this constitution by
November. We can simultaneously mobilize support for statehood
nationally and on Capitol Hill while we conduct a proper
constitutional convention to draft a new state constitution in 2017.
* The New Columbia Admission Act currently references the 1987 Constitution, which has not been ratified
by D.C. voters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The proposed process for developing a new constitution does not pass muster. The
authority for drafting and finalizing the constitution rests solely with the five-member
51st State Commission. The proposed “constitutional convention” is not a convention
at all, but simply a public meeting with no real authority. The D.C. Council has no
formal role in drafting or amending the constitution. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• A rushed and undemocratic process to draft a new constitution before November risks
undermining support for the referendum. It would be disastrous if the referendum fails
to pass overwhelmingly. The inclusion in a single question of multiple sub-questions on
the constitution, boundaries, and form of government risks raising concerns in the
minds of the public. Even if voters approve the new constitution, the rushed process
risks undermining the legitimacy of the new state government.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In our initial review of the draft constitution, we are concerned by specific provisions,
including: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The size of the House of Delegates, far smaller than the legislatures of any state of
comparable population </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The filling of vacancies for at-large members of the House of Delegates by appointment
by the central committees of political parties or by the House of Delegates, rather than
simply leaving the seat vacant until the special election
• The inclusion of the federal bill of rights in the new constitution, complete with outdated
language and concepts </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• What appears to be a line-item veto of the budget by the governor </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The constraints on the House of Delegates in expanding its scope in renewing
contracts and in expanding the powers of the State Board of Education </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• Constraints on the replenishment of emergency and contingency reserve funds </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The organization of independent agencies and boards </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The debt cap of 17% </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The constraints on the ballot initiative process to appropriate funds </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The constitutional amendment process, which has no provisions for amending the
constitution through a referendum by the people or a constitutional convention, but
requires that all amendments originate with the legislature </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The proposed boundaries of the State of New Columbia </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The new state constitution is a serious matter of great concern to the people and should be
handled through a proper and legitimate constitutional convention before it is submitted to
the voters for ratification.
We urge the 51st State Commission to address these concerns by simplifying the
November referendum to affirm D.C. voters’ desire for statehood and authorize a proper
constitutional convention.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We also urge the 51st State Commission to establish three new working groups: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• Constitutional Review working group: to study the 1982 and 1987 Constitutions, as well
as the Home Rule Charter and the proposed new draft. This working group should be
tasked with identifying the key differences among these documents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• Constitutional Convention working group: to study past constitutional conventions,
including the 1982 convention, and propose a proper process (including a schedule) for
a Constitutional Convention. This working group can take into account the political
realities following the November election, which will have a significant impact on the
timeline. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• Boundaries working group: to finalize the boundaries of the new state </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> DC for Democracy members have worked diligently to promote statehood for the last
seven years as active members of the D.C. Statehood Coalition. We are wholeheartedly
committed to achieving statehood. We offer these recommendations because we agree
with the 51st State Commission’s larger goal of building momentum for statehood this year
and wish to remove any obstacles to success in that effort.
We look forward to working with the 51st State Commission towards our common purpose
of advancing statehood in this critical period. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Updated: June 1, 2016
www.dcfordemocracy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*Paid for by ELECT G. LEE AIKIN, campaign committee, P.O. Box 53222, Washington, DC</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">20009, Don Wharton, Treasurer. Campaign contribution check payable to ELECT G. LEE AIKIN may be mailed to:</span><br />
G. Lee Aikin<br />
P.O. Box 53222<br />
Washington, DC 20009<br />
A copy of our report is filed with the Director of Campaign Finance of the DC Board of Elections.<br />
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-83479730513724047632016-04-19T00:28:00.000-07:002016-05-30T22:00:09.883-07:00DC Statehood - The Only Solution to 200 Years of Disenfranchisement<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">[5/30/16] A Memorial day Reminder on why it is grossly unfair that we do not have Statehood. My late husband spent 4 years fighting in Korea, suffered PTSD as a result, moved to DC and for 45 years never had his full citizenship rights. It is outrageous that 5,000 of our citizens have been casualties in the last 100 years without ever enjoying their full citizenship rights. An additional 30,000 living veterans still do not have these rights. Statement from our nonvoting Delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, follows:</span><br />
<blockquote id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3414" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 1em;" type="cite">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3413" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<div class="yiv2284826234WordSection1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3412" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<div align="center" class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3419" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3418" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3417" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 14pt;">Norton Resolution Honors D.C. Servicemembers Who Died Serving Their Country without Full Voting Rights<i style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"></i></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3442" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3441" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) noted that just before Members recessed for Memorial Day, the House voted last Wednesday to overturn a referendum overwhelmingly passed by District of Columbia residents. Therefore, this year Norton introduced a resolution honoring the sacrifices of D.C. servicemembers who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces without full and equal rights.</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3421" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3420" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">“Memorial Day reminds us of how much we owe to each and every American who died while serving their nation, none more so than District of Columbia residents,” Norton said. “From the nation’s beginnings, the sons and daughters of the District have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country without the full and equal rights enjoyed by their fellow Americans. The very least Congress can do to honor their memories is to give the District of Columbia full voting representation and ultimately statehood.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3461" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3460" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Norton’s full resolution is below. </span></div>
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<b> RESOLUTION</b><br />
<blockquote id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3414" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 1em;" type="cite">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3413" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<div class="yiv2284826234WordSection1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3412" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3423" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3422" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Recognizing the lack of full voting rights in Congress for active duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and their families who are District of Columbia residents.</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3630" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3629" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas on the last Monday of May, our Nation observes Memorial Day, a Federal holiday commemorating the men and women who died in the service of their country;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3425" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3424" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas the service and sacrifice of the active duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and their families is unparalleled;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3627" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3628" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas the civilian population of the United States has the honor and privilege of being protected by the active duty service members, National Guard members, and reservists;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3669" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3668" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas the active duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, and veterans have risked life and limb to protect the American people and uphold the rights and freedoms of the people of the United States;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3626" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3625" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas approximately 30,000 veterans are residents of the District of Columbia and lack full voting rights in Congress;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3624" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3623" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas residents of the District of Columbia fought to create the United States, and have served in every war since;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3437" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3436" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas 243 District of Columbia residents have been casualties of the Vietnam War, more than 10 states;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3439" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3438" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas 547 District of Columbia residents have been casualties of the Korean War, more than 8 states;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3466" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3465" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas 635 District of Columbia residents have been casualties of World War I, more than 3 states;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3464" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3463" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas 3,575 District of Columbia residents have been casualties of World War II, more than 4 states;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3643" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas 192,406 District of Columbia residents have served in the military since World War I;</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3642" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3641" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas residents of the District of Columbia, including active duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, and veterans are denied full voting representation in the House of Representatives and the Senate; and</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3640" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3639" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas Congress should pass H.R. 317, the New Columbia Admission Act, which would grant full and equal voting representation and control over local affairs to the District of Columbia by making it the 51st State: Now therefore, be it</span></div>
<div class="yiv2284826234MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3633" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1464669215917_3632" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 12pt;">Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the lack of voting rights in Congress for active duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and their families who are District residents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">[4/18/16] An on the spot message by Anise Jenkins from Capitol Hill where demonstrators are now being arrested.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Right now, hundreds of people are sitting-in on the steps of the US Capitol demanding an equal voice and an equal vote. As this email is being written, they are being taken away by police, one by one, because Congress would rather arrest over 1,000 people than simply do its job to end the corruption of big money in politics and guarantee our right to vote.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With the corporate media refusing to pay attention to this burgeoning movement, we need your help to spread the word. Share this [information] to tell the world what is happening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By the close of today--after an eight-day barrage of nonviolent sit-ins--we will have committed the largest act of civil disobedience of this 21st century in America. The weather is changing in this country. The American people are no longer going to allow the corrupt political establishment to go forward unopposed; we are no longer going to allow our voices to be silenced or our communities to be forsaken by a Congress that is bought and sold to the highest bidder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Going forward, every candidate and every politician will have a choice: side with the people and commit to fundamental reforms that would give us a real democracy, or expect growing grassroots resistance at your fundraisers, your debates, your campaign events, and ultimately, at the polls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have no time for this corrupt status quo that results in so much destruction and pain. Our planet has no time. Our people have no time. We are taking mass nonviolent action to make 2016 a referendum on whether we have a democracy that can address the moral crises of our time or a plutocracy that sacrifices the public good for private profit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Help us catapult this message into every corner of our nation..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[Late evening news, almost 1,000 people have been arrested in DC in this week's Capitol Hill actions. Democracy will not be denied when people are willing to give their bodies for their cause.]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[4/15/16] - <a href="https://news.google.be/news/more?ncl=dI-9GEWkY_tnyvM&authuser=0&ned=us" target="_blank">Mayor Bowser </a>has decided to take up the Statehood standard. She wants the people to weigh in on this idea. In 1982 and again in <a href="https://walkernewsdesk.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/state-of-new-columbia-1987-enacted-constitution.pdf" target="_blank">1987 a DC Constitutional Convention</a> was held and voted for by the people. These two events were developed and voted from the bottom up. What the Mayor proposes is top down and should be viewed with great suspicion. I have included<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_statehood_movement" target="_blank"> several links</a> for you to view while I learn more about what the status is of the past Conventions, and <a href="http://www.tylerpaper.com/TP-News+National/234312/washington-dc-fighting-for-statehood-in-a-new-way-with-annual-district-of-columbia-budget" target="_blank">what the Mayor is trying to do </a>and why. S-132, the <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s132/text" target="_blank">New Columbia Admissions Act</a>, was introduced in 2013,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , "freesans" , sans-serif; line-height: 16.2px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b style="font-size: 14pt;">Legislator Wants to Put Money Into Statehood Fight </b>[The first 7 paragraphs come from </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.2px;"><a href="http://dcist.com/2013/03/dc_legislator_wants_to_put_money_in.php">http://dcist.com/2013/03/dc_legislator_wants_to_put_money_in.php</a>. If you are the author(s) of the remainder of this segment let me know if you want credit or it removed or left as is.]</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 16.2px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> [This o</span></span></span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 16.2px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ccurred late in the Mayorship of Vince Gray. By that time I had already run for Shadow Representative to Congress. In the process I gave careful thought to how I would reach out to 435 members of the House, whereas our two Shadow Senators only had to contact 50 Senators each. I had also been very disturbed by our several recent Special Elections which cost us taxpayers around $1 million per election. I realized one problem was the lack of any step in general politics between unpaid ANC representatives and Councilmembers receiving around $130,000 to start. Thus, we have been electing people to a well paid job mainly based on their capacity to raise campaign money, rather than our ability to study their effectiveness.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 16.2px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> My idea for correcting this vacuum was to create 8 Shadow Representative slots, one for each Ward, each paid $35,000 as the bill described below suggests for one person. This would cost an additional $245,000, about 1/3rd per year what the recent Special Elections have cost us. An alternative would be to pair wards to have a total of 4 representatives (for example, Wards 1 & 4, 2 & 3, 5 &6, and 7 & 8), and have 4 At Large representatives. There could be a pay differential. Perhaps $30,000 and $40,000, or even $25,000 and $45,000. The results should be the same--an opportunity to proved effectiveness before the largess of a $130,000 salary and the ego that goes with it.]</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">If </span>you're one of the three members of the elected D.C. Statehood Delegation, there aren't many perks that come along with the job. You're an unpaid advocate for a tough cause, and though you've got a title like "representative" or "senator," no one in Congress will formally recognize you as one of their own. Maybe the only benefit is an office in the Wilson Building—albeit in the basement.</div>
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Now Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) wants to make the job pay off a little more. Today he introduced legislation that would offer each member of the delegation—Shadow Representative <a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-02/lifestyle/35452821_1_city-council-candidates-nate-forum" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none;">Nate Bennett-Fleming</a> and Shadow Senators Michael Brown and Paul Strauss—a $35,000 annual salary and $75,000 each for staffing and another $75,000 per person for programming. Additionally, the bill would allow the D.C. Council to spend $550,000 annually on a "lobbying and media campaign" for statehood. All told, the city would be putting just over $1.1 million a year into the fight for statehood.</div>
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Were the bill to pass, it would add some muscle to a fight that has largely suffered from lack of resources over the years. Up through 2008, Congress prohibited D.C. from spending any money on the fight for voting rights and statehood. As a consequence, the only money the statehood delegation had access to was donations made by D.C. taxpayers; from 2006 through the second quarter of fiscal 2012, it had taken in over $145,000.</div>
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For former Shadow Representative Mike Panetta, the idea is a start. "I think it would be good to have a stipend and some allocated budget for the delegation. I felt like the whole time I was in office I was trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents on everything I did. If we are serious about putting a 51st star on the American flag it's going to take a serious commitment of time, energy, and financial resources. Funding these office would be a good start, but it's only a down payment on what's really needed," he wrote in an email.</div>
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Ward 5 statehood activist Josh Burch <a href="http://the51st.org/2013/03/04/a-high-five-for-dc-statehood-or-is-it/" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none;">largely agrees</a>, writing today that if Orange is serious about promoting statehood, he should up the amount of money offered—and mandate that the $550,000 for the council be used for grants to organizations working to promote self-determination, voting rights and statehood. (The council recently offered up such a grant for $200,000.) Burch also said he worried how Orange's plan would work with a recent proposal by Mayor Vince Gray to <a href="http://dcist.com/2013/02/gray_proposes_creation_of_new_state.php" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none;">create a 51st Statehood Commission</a> with a paid executive director and staff.</div>
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"While we need more people and resources committed to the statehood cause, I’m not sure we need the mayor acting on one track, the shadow delegation on another, and then the Council on another. Maybe it’s a case of the more the merrier but I do worry with too many cooks in the statehood kitchen we’ll have competing and/or conflicting messages," wrote Burch.</div>
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A bill that would make D.C. the 51st state has been introduced in both the <a href="http://dcist.com/2013/01/norton_again_introduces_dc_statehoo.php" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none;">House of Representatives</a> and <a href="http://dcist.com/2013/01/senate_statehood_bill.php" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none;">Senate</a>.<br />
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I share the feeling of several other statehood supporters that the bill’s funding levels ultimately will prove insufficient (and, in fact, are obviously low), but the amount is a start. This is why the Council’s failure to include in the budget even the amount requested in Bill 171 is so disheartening—and also infuriating. Remember, we talking about less than one one-hundredth of a penny for every dollar in the FY2014 D.C. Budget. The District will recoup all those moneys in the long run. Dr. Andrew Brimmer, a former Member of the Federal Reserve Board proclaimed in 1984 that the question was not whether D.C. could afford to be a state, but more appropriately, could we afford not to be a state.</div>
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[NOTE PLEASE: I support the ‘Pro-Statehood Groups’ Consensus Substitute’ Amendment, developed since the hearing, which significantly improves the bill. I include below my own amendment suggestions, now superseded by the Substitute, only to complete the record.]</div>
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I request that the Committee of the Whole send to the Council such legislation as to ensure that</div>
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1. The full authorization (and appropriation as appropriate) of $1,155,000 as described in the Statehood Advocacy Act, Bill B20-0171, subject only to the changes listed below.</div>
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2. Amend Section 3a to delete the reference to a “Congressional Affairs firm to lobby congress” and replace it with the same amount to be spend on District neighborhood groups for mobilization and advocacy efforts involving their contacts nationwide.</div>
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3. Amend both Section 3a (after amendment) on neighborhood groups and Section 4 on a Media Firm to provide that selection of such groups and firm, and their expenditures shall be as authorized by the Statehood Delegation [not the Statehood Commission], provided also that any firms and groups that have contracts with or receive funds from (other than for promoting D.C. Statehood) D.C. Government, D.C. officials, or any D.C. political campaign, would be barred from receiving such expenditures. I note that D.C. law already prohibits expenditures from being made for political purposes.</div>
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4. Amend Sections 5(a), (b), (c), & (e) to delete the reference to “voting rights” from the phrase “promoting statehood and voting rights”. Statehood is the only way to obtain equal voting rights that cannot be taken away.</div>
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5. Amend section 1-129.10 of the D.C .Code to insert the phrase “on D.C. Statehood or related matters, or” after the phrase “(1) To influence legislation, other than”. This section appears to be based on Council legislation not congressional rides and I fear it may act to thwart the very intend of the legislation—which is to influence legislation for statehood.</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">A POTENTIALLY DELICATE MATTER</span></div>
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Over many years I have been a vocal supporter of the Chairman, including working the polls during at least four of his campaigns for At-Large Councilmember and Chairman. During the last At-Large primary I was one of the key votes for his endorsement by the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club against an openly gay candidate. I was proud to do that, and proud also to tell another opponent—in his face, surrounded by others outside the polls on Election Day—“Shame on you for running against Phil Mendelson.” That opponent was D.C. Shadow Statehood Senator Michael D. Brown, whose work and eloquence on statehood I had long admired.</div>
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Nonetheless, I honestly challenged—again, to Mr. Brown’s face—his decision to run against Councilmember Mendelson, who—in my view—has proven such a masterful legislator on so many issues. (Mr. Brown claimed he was running to focus attention on efforts, and nonefforts in effect, by the Council to obtain D.C. Statehood.)</div>
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Mr. Chairman, I would personally be loath to believe—as I have heard asserted by some—that your failure to include funding for the Statehood Delegation offices established by D.C. voters and any alleged insensitivity to statehood reflects personal pique at Mr. Brown for running against you.</div>
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Mr. Chairman, I am confident that you are too intelligent a legislator to overlook this opportunity to advance the interests of D.C. Americans and too dedicated a public official to let any such personal motivations interfere with your responsibilities. You can sweep all that away by leading the Council’s efforts to fully fund—as soon as possible, via whatever legislative vehicle available—the Statehood Delegation offices and efforts outlined in the Statehood Advocacy Bill (with the suggested areas of amendment).</div>
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I express my appreciation to the author and all of the cosponsors of the legislation and I hope they—and indeed, all the other Councilmembers as well, for Statehood affects everyone in D.C.—will similarly fully fund the Statehood Delegation offices and efforts outlined in the bill (with the suggested areas of amendment). To really make Statehood happen, the Council needs to actively support it and fully fund (including staff up) the Statehood delegation. District voters have elected to lobby Congress on their behalf.</div>
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Of course, the choice is up to the Councilmembers. With all respect, I pledge that District voters are indeed watching. The growing neighborhood involvement in lobbying for D.C. Statehood reflects in part a new generation of activists committed to be treated in D.C. just as Americans elsewhere are. That means Statehood. The growing presence of the D.C. Flag on tattoos, hats, t-shirts and much else also reflects a new commitment to taking pride in D.C. and seeing that it’s treated with equality and fairness. The choice, whether to genuinely support Statehood or not, again, is yours. I’m sure that Councilmembers will make the right one.<br />
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Indeed, Michael D. Brown has provided one of the examples of why we deserve Statehood: In 2012, D.C. Senator Michael D. Brown was re-elected as shadow senator with more votes (206,911) than the senators elected that year in <strong>Wyoming </strong>(<strong>Barrasso</strong>: 184,531) and <strong>North Dakota</strong> (<strong>Heitkamp</strong>: 161,337). He also received more votes than the sitting Senators from <strong>Alaska</strong> (<strong>Begich</strong>: 151,767 votes in 2008; <strong>Murkowski</strong>: 101,091 votes in 2010), <strong>Wyoming (Enzi</strong>: 189,046 votes in 2008), <strong>North Dakota </strong>(<strong>Hoeven</strong>: 181,689 votes in 2010), <strong>Vermont</strong> (<strong>Leahy</strong>: 151,281 votes in 2010), and <strong>Delaware </strong>(<strong>Coons</strong>: 174,012 votes in 2010).</div>
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<span id="yiv7311984245yui_3_16_0_1_1456589708817_4939" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36548"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36547" style="font-weight: bold;">Earlier information provided by:</span></b> A. Loikow <aloikow@verizon.net><br /><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Saturday, February 27, 2016 1:34 AM<br /><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> 130th cosponsor to H.R. 317; reach out to Senate Judiciary Committee members</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/ruben-hinojosa/H000636" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36546" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [D-TX-15]</a><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36545" style="color: #420278;"> became the 130th cosponsor of H.R. 317, the New Columbia Admission At, on February 2, 2016! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span id="yiv7311984245yui_3_16_0_1_1456589708817_6309" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">The House cosponsors are from 33 states and 4 territories/colonies and include 126 voting members or 29% of the Hous'se voting members, plus D.C.'s Delegate who introduced the bill.</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36544" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36543" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">In the Senate, counting the sponsor, there are 20 senators or 20% of the Senate on the bill. This is more than have ever cosponsored a D.C. statehood bill.</span></div>
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Please consider joining us in working to get more cosponsors on both bills this year. We will be setting up lobby days on the Hill. The next big one will probably be Emancipation Day (April 16). In addition, please get your family, friends and coworkers who live in a state to contact their Congressional delegations and ask them to cosponsor the New Columbia Admission Act (H.R. 317 in the House and S. 1688 in the Senate). If they are already on the bill, please thank them. The full list of sponsors and cosponsors is below.</div>
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The bottom line is that Congress needs to hear from their constituents, as well as from D.C. residents, that we all consider it a fundamental American value that ALL Americans have the right to self-government and equal rights and that it is time to end the stain on American democracy that over 680,000 Americans living in our national capital are denied liberty, i.e. the right to govern themselves. After over 200 years, it is long past time to make them full American citizens.</div>
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Please read and act on Josh Burch's suggestions below:</div>
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<a href="http://the51st.org/2016/02/15/supreme-injustice/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://the51st.org/2016/02/15/supreme-injustice/</a> (bolding added)</div>
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<a href="http://the51st.org/2016/02/15/supreme-injustice/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Supreme Injustice</a></h2>
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<span class="yiv7311984245meta-prep yiv7311984245meta-prep-author" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted on</span> <a href="http://the51st.org/2016/02/15/supreme-injustice/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #777777; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="9:23 pm"><span class="yiv7311984245entry-date" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">February 15, 2016</span></a> <span class="yiv7311984245by-author" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="yiv7311984245sep" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</span> <span class="yiv7311984245author yiv7311984245vcard" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="yiv7311984245url yiv7311984245fn yiv7311984245n" href="http://the51st.org/author/jburch51/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #777777; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="View all posts by jburch51">jburch51</a></span></span></div>
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The vacancy on the Supreme Court warrants a call to action for statehood advocates. <b id="yiv7311984245yui_3_16_0_1_1456589708817_6322">Let’s remind members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (and others) that we deserve to have two Senators to vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices, all federal judges, and our own local judges too!</b></div>
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On the minority side of the committee (the Democrats) Senators Leahy, Durbin, Schumer, Franken, and Coons are all cosponsors of the D.C. statehood bill (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">S. 1688</a>) but<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36466"> Senators Feinstein, Klobuchar, Whitehouse, and Blumenthal are silent on the statehood legislation.</b> We need to remind them that if they believe in the tenets of fairness and equality they must then support the right of 672,000 Americans to be treated equally as the 51<sup style="border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">st</sup> state in the union. Because we are not a state we have no check on the federal judiciary or even our own local judiciary, both of which are counter to the principles of our country.</div>
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<b>Please reach out to the following staff to remind them that our voices and votes deserve to be heard in the judicial confirmation process.</b> Ask that their bosses support equality for the people of D.C. by cosponsoring <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">S. 1688, the New Columbia Admission Act</a>:</div>
<table class="yiv7311984245yahoo-compose-table-card" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36470" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); display: table; margin: 0px -1px 24px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: 639px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36469" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 638px;">
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36473" style="border: 0px; display: table-row; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143"><strong style="border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Senator</strong></td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68"><strong style="border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">State</strong></td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135"><strong style="border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Staff</strong></td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36472" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><strong style="border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Staff Email</strong></td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36468" style="border: 0px; display: table-row; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143">Blumenthal, Richard</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68">CT</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135">Don Bell</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36467" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><a href="mailto:Don_bell@blumenthal.senate.gov" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36471" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:Don_bell@blumenthal.senate.gov">Don_bell@blumenthal.senate.gov</a></td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36475" style="border: 0px; display: table-row; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143">Feinstein, Diane</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68">CA</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135">John Watts</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36474" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><a href="mailto:John_watts@feinstein.senate.gov" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:John_watts@feinstein.senate.gov">John_watts@feinstein.senate.gov</a></td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; display: table-row; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143">Klobuchar, Amy</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68">MN</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135">Ben Driscoll</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><a href="mailto:Ben_driscoll@klobuchar.senate.gov" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:Ben_driscoll@klobuchar.senate.gov">Ben_driscoll@klobuchar.senate.gov</a></td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; display: table-row; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143">Whitehouse, Sheldon</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68">RI</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135">Lara Quint</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><a href="mailto:Lara_quint@judiciary-dem.senate.gov" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:Lara_quint@judiciary-dem.senate.gov">Lara_quint@judiciary-dem.senate.gov</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Let’s lift our voices together to say that excluding the people of D.C. from the confirmation process of Supreme Court Justices, all federal judges, & our own local judges is a supreme injustice for which the only permanent remedy is statehood for people of D.C.</div>
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Josh Burch,Brookland, DC<br />
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36557" style="color: #850004; font-size: 18px;">_______________________</b></div>
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<span style="color: #850004; font-size: 18px;"><b>Cosponsors:</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 18px;"> H.R.317 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)</span><span style="color: #535353;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626;">Party</span></b> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22party%22%3A%22all%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Democratic </span><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[130] </span></a><b><span style="color: #262626;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626;">Cosponsors by U.S. State or Territory</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22California%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">California </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[22] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22New+York%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">New York </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[16] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Florida%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Florida </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[7] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Illinois%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Illinois </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[6] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Maryland%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Maryland </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[6] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Texas%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Texas </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[6] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Massachusetts%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Massachusetts </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[5] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Connecticut%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Connecticut </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Georgia%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Georgia </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Michigan%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Michigan </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Minnesota%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Minnesota </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22New+Jersey%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">New Jersey </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Ohio%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Ohio </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22North+Carolina%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">North Carolina </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[3] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Pennsylvania%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Pennsylvania </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[3] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Virginia%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Virginia </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[3] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Arizona%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Arizona </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Colorado%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Colorado </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Hawaii%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Hawaii </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36521" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Missouri%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Missouri </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Oregon%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Oregon </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Rhode+Island%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Rhode Island </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36477" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Washington%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Washington </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Wisconsin%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Wisconsin </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Alabama%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Alabama </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Guam%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Guam </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Indiana%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Indiana </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Kentucky%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Kentucky </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Louisiana%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Louisiana </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Mississippi%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Mississippi </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22New+Mexico%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">New Mexico </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36529" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Northern+Mariana+Islands%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Northern Mariana Islands </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Puerto+Rico%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Puerto Rico </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22South+Carolina%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">South Carolina </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36510" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Tennessee%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Tennessee </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36522" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Vermont%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Vermont </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Virgin+Islands%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><u style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Virgin Islands </span></u><u style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
I have tried repeatedly to eliminate the long string of vertical dates from this section.<br />
If you slip down past it there is a slightly updated version that is quicker to view.<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv7311984245MsoNormalTable yiv7311984245yahoo-compose-table-card" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36482" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; display: table; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36481" style="width: 670px;">
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<b>Cosponsor</b></div>
</td><td style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<b>Date Cosponsored</b></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: transparent; color: #420278; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/alma-adams/A000370" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]*</a></span></b></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36538" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/karen-bass/B001270" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36537" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36536">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/joyce-beatty/B001281" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sanford-bishop/B000490" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/earl-blumenauer/B000574" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36480" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/madeleine-bordallo/B001245" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36479" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36478">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/corrine-brown/B000911" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Brown, Corrine [D-FL-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/g-k-butterfield/B001251" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/andre-carson/C001072" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/matt-cartwright/C001090" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/judy-chu/C001080" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36525" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/david-cicilline/C001084" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36524" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36523">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/katherine-clark/C001101" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/yvette-clarke/C001067" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/wm-clay/C001049" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/emanuel-cleaver/C001061" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/james-clyburn/C000537" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/steve-cohen/C001068" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gerald-connolly/C001078" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-conyers/C000714" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36509" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/joe-courtney/C001069" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36508" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36507">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/joseph-crowley/C001038" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-14]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36541" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/elijah-cummings/C000984" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36540" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36539">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/danny-davis/D000096" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/susan-davis/D000598" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/peter-defazio/D000191" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36485" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/diana-degette/D000197" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36484" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36483">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36528" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-delaney/D000620" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36527" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36526">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/donna-edwards/E000290" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Edwards, Donna F. [D-MD-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/keith-ellison/E000288" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/eliot-engel/E000179" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sam-farr/F000030" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/chaka-fattah/F000043" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Fattah, Chaka [D-PA-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/lois-frankel/F000462" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/marcia-fudge/F000455" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/alan-grayson/G000556" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/al-green/G000553" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/alcee-hastings/H000324" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/james-himes/H001047" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sheila-jackson-lee/J000032" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/hakeem-jeffries/J000294" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36506" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/eddie-johnson/J000126" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36505" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36504">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/henry-johnson/J000288" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/robin-kelly/K000385" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/ann-kirkpatrick/K000368" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/brenda-lawrence/L000581" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-larson/L000557" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/barbara-lee/L000551" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sander-levin/L000263" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Levin, Sander M. [D-MI-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-lewis/L000287" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/ted-lieu/L000582" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/daniel-lipinski/L000563" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36488" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/alan-lowenthal/L000579" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36487" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36486">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/michelle-lujan-grisham/L000580" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/stephen-lynch/L000562" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jim-mcdermott/M000404" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jerry-mcnerney/M001166" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gregory-meeks/M001137" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gwen-moore/M001160" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jerrold-nadler/N000002" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/beto-o-rourke/O000170" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/william-pascrell/P000096" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36503" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/donald-payne/P000604" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36502" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36501">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/pedro-pierluisi/P000596" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Pierluisi, Pedro R. [D-PR-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/stacey-plaskett/P000610" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mark-pocan/P000607" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jared-polis/P000598" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/charles-rangel/R000053" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-13]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/cedric-richmond/R000588" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bobby-rush/R000515" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gregorio-sablan/S001177" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-sarbanes/S001168" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/janice-schakowsky/S001145" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-scott/S000185" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/david-scott/S001157" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/louise-slaughter/S000480" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jackie-speier/S001175" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/terri-sewell/S001185" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36491" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mark-takai/T000473" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Takai, Mark [D-HI-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36490" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36489">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mark-takano/T000472" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bennie-thompson/T000193" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mike-thompson/T000460" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/niki-tsongas/T000465" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36500" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/chris-van-hollen/V000128" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD-8]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36499" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36498">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/juan-vargas/V000130" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-51]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/marc-veasey/V000131" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/maxine-waters/W000187" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bonnie-watson-coleman/W000822" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/peter-welch/W000800" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/frederica-wilson/W000808" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jared-huffman/H001068" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-yarmuth/Y000062" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/grace-napolitano/N000179" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/debbie-wasserman-schultz/W000797" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-23]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/14/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jose-serrano/S000248" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Serrano, Jose E. [D-NY-15]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/carolyn-maloney/M000087" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/luis-gutierrez/G000535" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/janice-hahn/H001063" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Hahn, Janice [D-CA-44]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/marcy-kaptur/K000009" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/theodore-deutch/D000610" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-21]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
01/27/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/donald-beyer/B001292" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
02/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/raul-grijalva/G000551" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
02/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/michael-capuano/C001037" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-7]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
02/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/tim-ryan/R000577" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
02/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/james-mcgovern/M000312" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
02/09/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36494" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/frank-pallone/P000034" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36493" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36492">
02/10/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/timothy-walz/W000799" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
02/11/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36587" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/steve-israel/I000057" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3]</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36586" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36585">
03/10/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/betty-mccollum/M001143" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
03/16/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/julia-brownley/B001285" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
03/19/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36497" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/grace-meng/M001188" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]</span></a></div>
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04/13/2015</div>
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<tr style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/rosa-delauro/D000216" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]</span></a></div>
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04/13/2015</div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-brady/B001227" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Brady, Robert A. [D-PA-1]</span></a></div>
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04/13/2015</div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/scott-peters/P000608" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]</span></a></div>
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04/14/2015</div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mark-desaulnier/D000623" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]</span></a></div>
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04/15/2015</div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/derek-kilmer/K000381" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]</span></a></div>
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04/22/2015</div>
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<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36581" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36580" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36579">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/nita-lowey/L000480" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17]</span></a></div>
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04/28/2015</div>
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<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36578" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36577" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36576">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/paul-tonko/T000469" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]</span></a></div>
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04/28/2015</div>
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<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36564" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36563" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; display: table-cell; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36562">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36560" style="background: transparent; color: #420278; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/anna-eshoo/E000215" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36561" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18]</a></span><br />
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<span id="yiv7311984245yui_3_16_0_1_1456589708817_4939" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36548"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36547">From:</span></b> A. Loikow [Some information below is different than that above]<br /><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, February 27, 2016 1:34 AM<br /><b>Subject:</b> 130th cosponsor to H.R. 317; reach out to Senate Judiciary Committee members</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/ruben-hinojosa/H000636" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36546" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [D-TX-15]</a><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36545" style="color: #420278;"> became the 130th cosponsor of H.R. 317, the New Columbia Admission At, on February 2, 2016! </span><span style="color: #010101; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span id="yiv7311984245yui_3_16_0_1_1456589708817_6309" style="color: #010101; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">The House cosponsors are from 33 states and 4 territories/colonies and include 126 voting members or 29% of the Hous'se voting members, plus D.C.'s Delegate who introduced the bill.</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36544" style="color: #010101; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36543" style="color: #010101; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">In the Senate, counting the sponsor, there are 20 senators or 20% of the Senate on the bill. This is more than have ever cosponsored a D.C. statehood bill.</span></div>
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Please consider joining us in working to get more cosponsors on both bills this year. We will be setting up lobby days on the Hill. The next big one will probably be Emancipation Day (April 16). In addition, please get your family, friends and coworkers who live in a state to contact their Congressional delegations and ask them to cosponsor the New Columbia Admission Act (H.R. 317 in the House and S. 1688 in the Senate). If they are already on the bill, please thank them. The full list of sponsors and cosponsors is below.</div>
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The bottom line is that Congress needs to hear from their constituents, as well as from D.C. residents, that we all consider it a fundamental American value that ALL Americans have the right to self-government and equal rights and that it is time to end the stain on American democracy that over 680,000 Americans living in our national capital are denied liberty, i.e. the right to govern themselves. After over 200 years, it is long past time to make them full American citizens.</div>
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Please read and act on Josh Burch's suggestions below:</div>
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<a href="http://the51st.org/2016/02/15/supreme-injustice/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://the51st.org/2016/02/15/supreme-injustice/</a> (bolding added)</div>
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<h2 class="yiv7311984245entry-title" id="yiv7311984245yui_3_16_0_1_1456589708817_6318" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://the51st.org/2016/02/15/supreme-injustice/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Supreme Injustice</a></h2>
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<span class="yiv7311984245meta-prep yiv7311984245meta-prep-author" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted on</span> <a href="http://the51st.org/2016/02/15/supreme-injustice/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #777777; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="9:23 pm"><span class="yiv7311984245entry-date" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">February 15, 2016</span></a> <span class="yiv7311984245by-author" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="yiv7311984245sep" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</span> <span class="yiv7311984245author yiv7311984245vcard" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="yiv7311984245url yiv7311984245fn yiv7311984245n" href="http://the51st.org/author/jburch51/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #777777; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="View all posts by jburch51">jburch51</a></span></span></div>
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The vacancy on the Supreme Court warrants a call to action for statehood advocates. <b id="yiv7311984245yui_3_16_0_1_1456589708817_6322">Let’s remind members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (and others) that we deserve to have two Senators to vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices, all federal judges, and our own local judges too!</b></div>
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On the minority side of the committee (the Democrats) Senators Leahy, Durbin, Schumer, Franken, and Coons are all cosponsors of the D.C. statehood bill (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">S. 1688</a>) but<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36466"> Senators Feinstein, Klobuchar, Whitehouse, and Blumenthal are silent on the statehood legislation.</b> We need to remind them that if they believe in the tenets of fairness and equality they must then support the right of 672,000 Americans to be treated equally as the 51<span style="border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">st</span> state in the union. Because we are not a state we have no check on the federal judiciary or even our own local judiciary, both of which are counter to the principles of our country.</div>
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<b>Please reach out to the following staff to remind them that our voices and votes deserve to be heard in the judicial confirmation process.</b> Ask that their bosses support equality for the people of D.C. by cosponsoring <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">S. 1688, the New Columbia Admission Act</a>:</div>
<table class="yiv7311984245yahoo-compose-table-card" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36470" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); margin: 0px -1px 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 639px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36469" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 638px;">
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36473" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Senator</span></td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">State</span></td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Staff</span></td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36472" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Staff Email</span></td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36468" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143">Blumenthal, Richard</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68">CT</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135">Don Bell</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36467" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><a href="mailto:Don_bell@blumenthal.senate.gov" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36471" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:Don_bell@blumenthal.senate.gov">Don_bell@blumenthal.senate.gov</a></td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36475" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143">Feinstein, Diane</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68">CA</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135">John Watts</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36474" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><a href="mailto:John_watts@feinstein.senate.gov" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:John_watts@feinstein.senate.gov">John_watts@feinstein.senate.gov</a></td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143">Klobuchar, Amy</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68">MN</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135">Ben Driscoll</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><a href="mailto:Ben_driscoll@klobuchar.senate.gov" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:Ben_driscoll@klobuchar.senate.gov">Ben_driscoll@klobuchar.senate.gov</a></td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="143">Whitehouse, Sheldon</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="68">RI</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="135">Lara Quint</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="267"><a href="mailto:Lara_quint@judiciary-dem.senate.gov" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:Lara_quint@judiciary-dem.senate.gov">Lara_quint@judiciary-dem.senate.gov</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Let’s lift our voices together to say that excluding the people of D.C. from the confirmation process of Supreme Court Justices, all federal judges, & our own local judges is a supreme injustice for which the only permanent remedy is statehood for people of D.C.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Josh Burch,Brookland, DC</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36559" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36558" style="color: #850004; font-size: 18px;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36557">_______________________</b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #850004; font-size: 18px;"><b>Cosponsors:</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 18px;"> H.R.317 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)</span><span style="color: #535353;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626;">Party</span></b> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22party%22%3A%22all%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Democratic </span><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[130] </span></a><b><span style="color: #262626;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626;">Cosponsors by U.S. State or Territory</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22California%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">California </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[22] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22New+York%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">New York </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[16] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36476" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Florida%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Florida </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[7] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Illinois%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Illinois </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[6] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Maryland%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Maryland </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[6] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Texas%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Texas </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[6] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36511" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Massachusetts%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Massachusetts </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[5] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36520" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Connecticut%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Connecticut </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36519" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Georgia%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Georgia </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36518" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Michigan%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Michigan </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Minnesota%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Minnesota </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36517" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22New+Jersey%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">New Jersey </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Ohio%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Ohio </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[4] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22North+Carolina%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">North Carolina </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[3] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Pennsylvania%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Pennsylvania </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[3] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36530" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Virginia%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Virginia </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[3] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Arizona%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Arizona </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Colorado%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Colorado </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Hawaii%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Hawaii </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36521" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Missouri%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Missouri </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Oregon%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Oregon </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Rhode+Island%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Rhode Island </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36477" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Washington%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Washington </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Wisconsin%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Wisconsin </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[2] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Alabama%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Alabama </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Guam%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Guam </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Indiana%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Indiana </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Kentucky%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Kentucky </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Louisiana%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Louisiana </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Mississippi%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Mississippi </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22New+Mexico%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">New Mexico </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36529" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Northern+Mariana+Islands%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Northern Mariana Islands </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Puerto+Rico%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Puerto Rico </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22South+Carolina%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">South Carolina </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36510" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Tennessee%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Tennessee </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36522" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Vermont%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Vermont </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv7311984245MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #420278;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/317/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Virgin+Islands%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #420278; text-decoration: none;">Virgin Islands </span></u><u><span style="color: #878787; text-decoration: none;">[1] </span></u></a></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></div>
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<div id="yiv3394959884yui_3_16_0_1_1456589708817_6319">
<div align="right" class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37118" style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv3394959884MsoNormalTable yiv3394959884yahoo-compose-table-card" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36713" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36712" style="width: 670px;">
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37116"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37115" style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37114">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37125">Cosponsor</b></div>
</td><td style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<b>Date Cosponsored</b></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37108"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37107" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37106">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37112"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/alma-adams/A000370" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37111" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37110" style="color: #420278; font-weight: normal;">Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]*</span></a></b></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37100"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37099" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37104">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/karen-bass/B001270" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37103" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37102" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37131"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37130" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37129">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/joyce-beatty/B001281" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37128" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37127" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sanford-bishop/B000490" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37146"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37145" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37150">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/earl-blumenauer/B000574" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37149" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37148" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/madeleine-bordallo/B001245" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36734"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36733" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36732">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/corrine-brown/B000911" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37142" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37141" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Brown, Corrine [D-FL-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37136"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37135" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37134">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/g-k-butterfield/B001251" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37139" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37138" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/andre-carson/C001072" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/matt-cartwright/C001090" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/judy-chu/C001080" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36776"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36775" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36774">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/david-cicilline/C001084" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/katherine-clark/C001101" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/yvette-clarke/C001067" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/wm-clay/C001049" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/emanuel-cleaver/C001061" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/james-clyburn/C000537" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/steve-cohen/C001068" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gerald-connolly/C001078" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-conyers/C000714" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/joe-courtney/C001069" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/joseph-crowley/C001038" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-14]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36716"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36715" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36714">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/elijah-cummings/C000984" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/danny-davis/D000096" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/susan-davis/D000598" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36711"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36710" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36709">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/peter-defazio/D000191" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/diana-degette/D000197" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36719"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36718" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36717">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-delaney/D000620" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/donna-edwards/E000290" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Edwards, Donna F. [D-MD-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/keith-ellison/E000288" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/eliot-engel/E000179" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sam-farr/F000030" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36773"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36772" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36771">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/chaka-fattah/F000043" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Fattah, Chaka [D-PA-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/lois-frankel/F000462" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/marcia-fudge/F000455" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/alan-grayson/G000556" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/al-green/G000553" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/alcee-hastings/H000324" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/james-himes/H001047" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sheila-jackson-lee/J000032" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/hakeem-jeffries/J000294" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/eddie-johnson/J000126" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36779"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36778" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36777">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/henry-johnson/J000288" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36722"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36721" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36720">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/robin-kelly/K000385" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/ann-kirkpatrick/K000368" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/brenda-lawrence/L000581" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-larson/L000557" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/barbara-lee/L000551" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sander-levin/L000263" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Levin, Sander M. [D-MI-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-lewis/L000287" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/ted-lieu/L000582" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/daniel-lipinski/L000563" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/alan-lowenthal/L000579" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36725"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36724" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36723">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/michelle-lujan-grisham/L000580" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36731"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36730" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36729">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/stephen-lynch/L000562" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jim-mcdermott/M000404" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jerry-mcnerney/M001166" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gregory-meeks/M001137" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36782"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36781" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36780">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gwen-moore/M001160" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jerrold-nadler/N000002" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/beto-o-rourke/O000170" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/william-pascrell/P000096" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/donald-payne/P000604" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/pedro-pierluisi/P000596" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Pierluisi, Pedro R. [D-PR-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36728"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36727" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36726">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/stacey-plaskett/P000610" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mark-pocan/P000607" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jared-polis/P000598" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/charles-rangel/R000053" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-13]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/cedric-richmond/R000588" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36770"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36769" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36768">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bobby-rush/R000515" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gregorio-sablan/S001177" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
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<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-sarbanes/S001168" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/janice-schakowsky/S001145" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-scott/S000185" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36785"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36784" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36783">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/david-scott/S001157" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/louise-slaughter/S000480" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jackie-speier/S001175" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/terri-sewell/S001185" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mark-takai/T000473" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Takai, Mark [D-HI-1]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36788"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36787" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36786">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mark-takano/T000472" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36737"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36736" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36735">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bennie-thompson/T000193" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mike-thompson/T000460" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/niki-tsongas/T000465" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/chris-van-hollen/V000128" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD-8]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36767"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36766" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36765">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/juan-vargas/V000130" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-51]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/marc-veasey/V000131" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/maxine-waters/W000187" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bonnie-watson-coleman/W000822" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/peter-welch/W000800" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36791"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36790" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36789">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/frederica-wilson/W000808" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36740"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36739" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36738">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jared-huffman/H001068" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-yarmuth/Y000062" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/grace-napolitano/N000179" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/debbie-wasserman-schultz/W000797" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-23]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/14/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jose-serrano/S000248" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Serrano, Jose E. [D-NY-15]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36764"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36763" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36762">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/carolyn-maloney/M000087" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/luis-gutierrez/G000535" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/janice-hahn/H001063" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Hahn, Janice [D-CA-44]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/marcy-kaptur/K000009" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/theodore-deutch/D000610" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-21]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
01/27/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/donald-beyer/B001292" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
02/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36743"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36742" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36741">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/raul-grijalva/G000551" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
02/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/michael-capuano/C001037" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-7]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
02/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/tim-ryan/R000577" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
02/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/james-mcgovern/M000312" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
02/09/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/frank-pallone/P000034" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
02/10/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36761"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36760" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36759">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/timothy-walz/W000799" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
02/11/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/steve-israel/I000057" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
03/10/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/betty-mccollum/M001143" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
03/16/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/julia-brownley/B001285" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
03/19/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/grace-meng/M001188" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36758"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36757" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36756">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/rosa-delauro/D000216" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-brady/B001227" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Brady, Robert A. [D-PA-1]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36967"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36966" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36965">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/scott-peters/P000608" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #420278;">Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/14/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36919"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36918" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36917">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mark-desaulnier/D000623" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36922" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36921" style="color: #420278;">Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/15/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36928"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36927" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36926">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/derek-kilmer/K000381" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36925" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36924" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/22/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36755"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36754" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36753">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/nita-lowey/L000480" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36931" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36930" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/28/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36752"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36751" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36750">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/paul-tonko/T000469" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36977" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36976" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/28/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36817"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36816" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36815">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/anna-eshoo/E000215" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36980" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36979" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
04/28/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36814"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36813" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36812">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/tulsi-gabbard/G000571" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36811" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36810" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
05/05/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36826"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36825" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36824">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/michael-honda/H001034" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36823" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36822" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-17]</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36942" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36941">
07/13/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36809"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36808" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36807">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/zoe-lofgren/L000397" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36806" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36805" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37035" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37034">
09/16/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36746"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36745" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36744">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/kathleen-rice/R000602" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36892" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36891" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4]</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37066" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37065">
09/16/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36888"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36887" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36886">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/c-a-ruppersberger/R000576" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36902" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36901" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
09/24/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36884"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36883" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36882">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/daniel-kildee/K000380" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36881" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36880" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
10/01/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36878"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36877" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36876">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/james-langevin/L000559" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36875" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36874" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
11/04/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36907"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36906" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36905">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/richard-nolan/N000127" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36961" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36960" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
11/17/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36749"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36748" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36747">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/david-price/P000523" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37097" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37096" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal">
12/03/2015</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36872"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36871" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36870">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/nydia-velazquez/V000081" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36869" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36868" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36994" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36993">
01/12/2016</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36860"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36859" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.5in;" valign="top" width="468"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36864">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/ruben-hinojosa/H000636" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36863" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36862" style="color: #420278;">Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [D-TX-15]</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36989" style="border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178pt;" valign="top" width="178"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36991">
02/02/2016</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36866">
</div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><b><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%7D&resultIndex=1" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">S.1688</span></a><span style="color: #030303;">, New Columbia Admission Act— 114th Congress (2015-2016)</span></b></span></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37056" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<b><span style="color: #030303;">Sponsor:</span></b><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37063" style="color: #030303;"> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/thomas-carper/C000174?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]</span></a> (Introduced 06/25/2015)</span></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<b><span style="color: #030303;">Committees:</span></b><span style="color: #030303;"> Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs</span></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37032" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<b><span style="color: #030303;">Latest Action:</span></b><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37031" style="color: #030303;"> 06/25/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/all-actions?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%7D&resultIndex=1&overview=closed" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">All Actions</span></a>)</span></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36998" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36997"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36996" style="color: #030303;">Cosponsors: 19 (includes 17 original; plus sponsor = 20 Senators from 15 states or 20% of Senate)</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37060" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<b><span style="color: #030303;">Party</span></b><span style="color: #030303;">: <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22party%22%3A%22Democratic%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Democratic [18] </span></b></a><b> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22party%22%3A%22Independent%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Independent [1] </span></a></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #030303;">Cosponsors by U.S. State</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37029" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Maryland%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Maryland [2] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Massachusetts%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Massachusetts [2] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22New+York%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">New York [2] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Vermont%22%7D" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37028" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37027" style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Vermont [2] </span></a></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22California%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">California [1] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Delaware%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Delaware [1] </span></a><span style="color: #030303;">[plus sponsor =2] <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Illinois%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Illinois [1] </span></a></span></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Minnesota%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Minnesota [1] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Missouri%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Missouri [1] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Nevada%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Nevada [1] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22New+Jersey%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">New Jersey[1] </span></a></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Ohio%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Ohio [1] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Virginia%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Virginia [1] </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Washington%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff;">Washington [1]</span><u><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;"> </span></u></a><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1688/cosponsors?resultIndex=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s1688%5C%22%22%5D%2C%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Wisconsin%22%7D" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Wisconsin [1] </span></a></div>
<div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">* = Original cosponsor</span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv3394959884MsoNormalTable yiv3394959884yahoo-compose-table-card" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37003" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37002" style="width: 669px;">
<tr><td style="background: rgb(239, 239, 239); border-color: rgb(29, 29, 29) rgb(109, 109, 109) rgb(109, 109, 109); border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<b><span style="color: #030303;">Cosponsor</span></b></div>
</td><td style="background: rgb(239, 239, 239); border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(29, 29, 29); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<b><span style="color: #030303;">Date Cosponsored</span></b></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/tammy-baldwin/B001230" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/barbara-boxer/B000711" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37025"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/cory-booker/B001288" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37024" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37023" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37001"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/sherrod-brown/B000944" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37000" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/christopher-coons/C001088" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/richard-durbin/D000563" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Durbin, Richard [D-IL]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/al-franken/F000457" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/kirsten-gillibrand/G000555" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/patrick-leahy/L000174" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/edward-markey/M000133" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37017"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/patty-murray/M001111" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37016" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37015" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37010"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37009" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37007"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/charles-schumer/S000148" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]*</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37006" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37005" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/elizabeth-warren/W000817" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/benjamin-cardin/C000141" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/harry-reid/R000146" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/barbara-mikulski/M000702" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]*</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">06/25/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/claire-mccaskill/M001170" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">07/23/2015</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37013"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37156" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 405pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/timothy-kaine/K000384" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #386eff; text-decoration: none;">Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]</span></a></div>
</td><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_37012" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(109, 109, 109); border-right-width: 1pt; border-spacing: 2px; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 182pt;" valign="top" width="182"><div class="yiv3394959884MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt;">
<span style="color: #030303;">12/18/2015</span></div>
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-32843898772315642972016-04-05T00:17:00.000-07:002016-04-09T22:40:24.874-07:00DC Budget Oversight Hearings on Fiscal Year 2016-2017 (April)<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>TESTIFY -- How to Make Your Mark on What Matters to YOU</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are in Budget Season, and now is the time to find out what our Mayor and big business plan to have us pay for with our tax money. If you care about anything listed here, plan to prepare a speech or a short paper (usually 3 minutes is allowed for oral presentation). Don't be afraid, they are careful with inexperienced community people. Personal experiences make good testimony. The usual pattern is for Council members to say a few (or many?) words, the you the public testify, and then Administration staff testify. Council members, should they actually attend, may ask anyone questions. Note: the date has been corrected to to 2016-2017. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You contact the person/number/email listed for the specific hearing a few days ahead of time. The contact site says "Persons wishing to testify about the performance of any of the foregoing agencies may contact...." Tell them which hearing you wish to be heard at. Confirm the starting time and ask how many people have signed up ahead of you. Also ask if other hearings are scheduled ahead of your interest. If you work or cannot spend a long time sitting, you can estimate when you should arrive. For example I am #17 for a hearing starting at 9:30. There are 2 other topics ahead of mine. The person signing me up thought 11:00 would be early enough, but 12:00 could be risky. Bring ID. Leave sharp objects home. Enter in the rear of the Wilson Bldg. at 14th St., NW and Pennsylvania Ave. (SE corner).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a cautionary tale, there was the evil person who signed up 70 people in a row to testify at the Nov. PSC hearing on Exelon. When none of them showed up people who thought it would be safe to come in the afternoon were furious when they found the hearing over by lunchtime and no opportunity to testify. If not on the list one can wait until the end and usually be allowed to testify. Written testimony can normally be submitted for an additional two weeks (just ask). Information can be expanded upon. You may hear something that gives you new ideas. When giving written testimony, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bring 15 copies for the hearing secretary and extras for your friends/supporters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Don't be afraid, be a doer not a moaner. </b>If people tell me they find this information useful, I may do it every month that important things are happening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some hearings are held before <b>COW</b>, no not the bovine, but The Committee of the Whole (all the Council members), others are before single committees (committees usually have 4 or 5 Council members). I will list Committee, Time & place, contact for getting on witness lists, and Offices or agencies testifying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>APRIL, 2016, </b>most, but not all are <b>Budget Oversight Hearings</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>COW</b>: Wed. 4/6/16, 9:30 am, Room 500, Evan Cash 202-724-7002, cow@dccouncil.us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Zoning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Planning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Deputy Mayor for Planning & Econ. Development (DMPED)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on the Judiciary</b>: Wed. 4/6/16, 10:00 am, Room 412, Katherine Mitchell, kmitchell@dccouncil.us, 202-727-8275</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Criminal Justice Coordinating Council</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Youth Rehabilitation Services</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Victim Services & Justice Grants</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Human Rights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Health & Human Services</b>: Wed. 4/6/16, 10:00am, Room 120, Malcolm Cameron, mcameron@dccouncil.us, 202-741-0909</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> *Dept. of Behavioral Health</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>COW</b>: Thurs. 4/7/16, 9:30 am, Room 412, cow@dccouncil.us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Univ. of the District of Columbia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Human Resources</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Employee Appeals</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Public Employee Relations Board</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on the Judiciary</b>: Thurs., 4/7/16/ 10:00 am, Room 500, Katherine Mitchell, kmitchell@dccouncil.us, 202-727-8275</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Metropolitan Police Department</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Police Complaints</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Housing & Community Development</b>: Thurs. 4/7/16, 11:00 am, Room 120, Oscar Montiel, omontiel@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8198</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Advisory Commission on Caribbean Community Affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of African American Affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Latino Affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office on African Affairs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Health & Human Services</b>: Fri. 4/8/16, 10:00 am, Room 412, Malcolm Cameron, mcameron@dccouncil.us, 202-741-0909</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Health Care Finance</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Housing & Community Development</b>: Fri. 4/8/16, 10:00 am, Room 120, Oscar Montiel, omontiel@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8198</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Religious Affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Veterans Affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Women's Policy & Initiatives</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Transportation & The Environment</b>: Fri. 4/8/16, 11:00 am, Room 500, Aukima Benjamin, abenjamin@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8062</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * District Dept. of Transportation</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>COW</b>: Mon. 4/11/16, 10 am, Room 412, cow@dccouncil.us (not listed but perhaps Evan Cash, 202-724-7002)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Executive Office of the Mayor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of the City Administrator</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of the Secretary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of the Senior Advisor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Contracts Appeals Board</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Contracting & Procurement</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of the Chief Technology Officer</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Health & Human Services</b>: Tues. 4/12/16, 10:00 am, Room 500, Malcolm Cameron, mcameron@dccoouncil.us, 202-741-0909</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Department of Health</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on the Judiciary</b>: Tues. 4/12/16, 10:00 am, Room 412, Katherine Mitchell, kmitchell@dccouncil.us, 202-727-8275</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Fire & Emergency Medical Services Dept.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Unified Communications</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Education</b>: Tues. 4/12/16, 10:00 am, Room 123, on line at: http://bit.ly/EdOversight16, or 202-724-8061</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Public Charter School Board</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * State Board of Education</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Transportation & The Environment</b>: Tues. 4/12/16, 11:00 am, Room 412, Aukima Benjamin, abenjamin@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8062</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Energy & Environment</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Finance & Revenue Public Hearing on B21-402</b>: Wed. 4/13/16, 9:30 am, Room 500, Sarina Loy, 202-724-8058, sloy@dccouncil.us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * B21-402, the "Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community, Inc. Real Property Tax Exemption and Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2015"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Finance & Revenue</b>: Wed., 4/13/16, 10:00 am, Room 500, Sarina Loy, sloy@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8058</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of the Chief Financial Officer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * DC Lottery & Charitable Games Control Board</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Real Property Tax Appeals Commission</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Commission on the Arts & Humanities</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Education</b>: Wed., 4/13/16, 10:00 am, Room 120, on line at:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://bit.ly/EdOversight16, or 202-724-8061 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * DC Public Library System</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Housing & Community Development</b>: Wed., 4/13/16, 11:00 am, Room 123, Oscar Montiel, omontiel@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8198 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Housing & Community Development</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Housing Production Trust Fund</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Rental Housing Commission</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Health & Human Services</b>: Wed., 4/13/16, 10:00 am, Room 412, Malcolm Cameron, mcameron@dccouncil.us, 202-741-0909</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Health Benefit Exchange Authority</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Child & Family Services Agency</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on the Judiciary</b>: Thurs., 4/14/16, 10:00 am, Room 500, Katherine Mitchell, kmitchell@dccouncil.us, 202-727-8275</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of the Attorney General</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Administrative Hearings</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Board of Ethics & Government Accountability</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Board of Elections</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Campaign Finance</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Education</b>: Thurs., 4/14/16, 10:00 am, Room 412, on line at: http://bit.ly/EdOversight16, or 202-724-8061</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * DC Public Schools (Public Witnesses only)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>COW</b>: Thurs., 4/14/16, 10:00 am, Room 120, cow@dccouncil.us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Metropolitan Washington Council of Government</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Council of the District of Columbia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * District of Columbia Auditor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * New Columbia Statehood Commission</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Budget & Planning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * DC Retirement Board/Funds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Retiree Health Contribution</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Comm. on Transportation & The Environment</b>: Thurs., 4/14/16, 11:00 am, Room 123, Aukima Benjamin, abenjamin@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8062</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Parks & Recreation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Public Works</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">[I will list the hearings for following weeks over the next few days. So check back. Next work week will run from Monday thru Thursday. Friday, April 15th is </span><b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Emancipation Day and a Holiday</b><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">. Therefore taxes will be due on Monday, April 18th. Come celebrate freedom at Freedom Plaza in front of the Wilson Building, 14th St, NW and PA Ave. Gather at 9:30 to prepare for a parade down Pennsylvania Ave. and other events in celebration.]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><b>Comm. on Health & Human Services</b>: Mon., 4/18/16, 10:00 am, Room 500, Malcolm Cameron, mcameron@dccouncil.us, 202-741-0909</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> * Dept. of Disability Services</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> * Office of Disability Rights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><b>Comm. on Education</b>: Mon., 4/18/16, 10:00 am, Room 412, on line at: http://bit.ly/EdOversight16, or 202-724-8061</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> * Office of State Superintendent of Education</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><b>Comm. of the Whole</b>, regular meeting: Tues., 4/19/16, 10:00 am, Room 500</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><b>Comm. on Health & Human Services</b>: Wed., 4/20/16, 10:00 am, Room 500, Malcolm Cameron, mcameron@dccouncil.us, 202-741-0909</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> * Dept. of Human Services</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><b>Comm. on Business, Consumer & Regulatory Affairs</b>: Wed., 4/20/16, 10:00 am, Room 412, Peter Johnson, pjohnson@dccouncil.us, 202-727-6683</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Insurance, Securities & Banking</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Office of Tenant Advocate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Dept. of Small & Local Business Development</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> * Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-36114325032311558732016-04-02T23:17:00.001-07:002019-01-12T23:12:35.115-08:00Exelon PEPCO Buyout, A Potential Lawsuit?<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[12/18/18] The PSC now has a <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/article/21037739/greer-gillis-and-willie-phillips-join-dc-public-service-commission" target="_blank">new chair, and a new member</a>. The new Chair is Willie Phillips who was one of the 2 Commissioners who voted to allow the Exelon takeover of <a href="https://www.rtoinsider.com/pepco-dc-influence-18310/" target="_blank">PEPCO</a>. Elissa Silverman said that alone was enough reason to reject him, but the Council voted 8 to 5 to approve him and Greer Gillis. <a href="https://dcist.com/story/18/12/17/d-c-council-set-to-vote-on-bowsers-controversial-appointee-to-powerful-utility-commission/" target="_blank">Ms. Gillis </a>has an engineering degree but lacks experience in regulatory and rate setting issues. She did not apply for the position but was approached by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/in-dc-not-just-the-president-needs-a-valerie-jarrett---dc-mayor-leans-on-confidant-too/2015/11/30/4a8c4bca-92d5-11e5-a2d6-f57908580b1f_story.html?utm_term=.03fc41abc8ff" target="_blank">Beverly Perry top aide to the Mayor</a>. She replaces former Chair Betty Ann Kane who vigorously opposed the Exelon takeover. The Perry link points out a successful Exelon takeover would bring her as much as $375,000 above her current $800,000 stake in PEPCO. Dozens of comments in this 2015 link condemn cozy money centered politics and recommend that anyone the Mayor supports should be voted against.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> An important issue for the future is that of undergrounding some or all our electrical lines. It has been reported that to place all electrical lines underground could cost at least $3 billion. That would be a major gift to certain construction companies with strong supporters now on the Council. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2012/07/25/why-most-cities-dont-bury-power-lines/?utm_term=.ab54b76e6bff" target="_blank">Arguments against total undergrounding </a>point out that in some areas of the city, buildings are far apart and overhead wiring would be easier and cheaper to maintain and repair. In the past poor "vegetation managment" has caused power outages in storms. This can be prevent by proper tree trimming, a good low tech job opportunity the city should support. The link points out that the cost can be 5 to 10 times higher to go underground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The DC Federation of Civic Associations has recently complained that just before Thanksgiving the DC Council announced a meeting on the PSC issue to occur the Monday after Thanksgiving. They pointed out that with dozens of member organizations it was impossible and unfair to expect them to take part with such short notice. Short timing meeting announcements is a classic tactic to deny citizen participation. One often employed in this city. Here are some quotes from DCFCA's Dec. 5, 2018, letter to Chairman Mendelson and Members of the DC Council.</span><br />
"We were not able to participate in the Comm. on Business & Economic Development's (CBED) Roundtable on the Mayor's nominations to the PSC, held on Monday Nov. 26th. The Comm. did not publish this meeting on the Council website until Wed., Nov. 21st - the day before Thanksgiving. Nor did the Comm. distribute its notice to any lists that included our organization, such as <a href="mailto:dcdpcs@subscriptions.dc.gov">dcdpcs@subscriptions.dc.gov</a>, and we represent thirty-plus civic associations....<br />
"We are utility ratepayers too and we believe we should have some say in who will represent us on the PSC.... As citizen ratepayers we require at least a two-week advance notice (to plan leave from work, to meet to review the backgrounds of nominees, etc.) to prepare to testify on appointments to Commissions of this importance to our communities.<br />
"This experience is reminiscent to four years ago (June 2014) when CBED handled nominations to the PSC in exactly the same way, as if ample public notice didn't really matter.... How can we trust a nominee to represent our, the public interest, as utility ratepayers, if that nominee agrees to be part of a process that effectively suppresses public participation in their appointment?...<br />
"Accordingly, we are asking for the following:<br />
1. That the Council instruct the CBED to schedule a formal Hearing for the Mayor's Nominees to the PSC after making ample public notice (with a minimum of ten (10) business days) and making relevant materials widely available to the public. [GLA - I don't know if this happened.]<br />
2. That the Council adopt rules requiring formal Council Hearings for appointments to key DC Boards, Committees and Commissions, particularly those that regulate monopoly utilities providing water, power and telecommunications services to DC. [GLA - We <b>must</b> make this happen.]<br />
"Thank you for your attention to this matter....<br />
Sincerely, Graylin W. Presbury, President, DC Federation of Civic Associations"<br />
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My earlier posts describe in vivid detail the game playing around the PSC vote on Exelon's takeover.<br />
<a href="https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/exelonpepco-takeover-psc-hearing-nov-17.html" target="_blank"> https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/exelonpepco-takeover-psc-hearing-nov-17.html</a> This post details game playing by pro Exelon forces and testimony by DC Statehood Green Party members. Stockmarket fluctuations for PEPCO and Exelon and possible reasons behind them are shown.<br />
<a href="https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-psc-community-hearing-witness-list.html">https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-psc-community-hearing-witness-list.html</a> The PSC printed some 50 pages of over 250 expected testifiers. List included 70 names submitted by one person, who did not testify. I condensed the list to 13 pages for people wishing to take notes.<br />
<a href="https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/01/exelonpepco-merger-is-it-good-for-dc.html" target="_blank"> https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/01/exelonpepco-merger-is-it-good-for-dc.html</a> Here the possible earthquake dangers and costs are discussed including testimony.<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">[2016] Many of us have been extremely disappointed by the Public Service Commission's 2 to 1 decision to move forward with Exelon's takeover of Pepco. However <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2016/03/28/clean-energyproponents-ask-psc-to-reconsider-pepco.html" target="_blank">we are not giving up yet</a>, and below you will see a number of steps being taken and information for arguments to use in conducting the continued fight by you, our activists. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>DO NOT GIVE UP!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">[7/6/16] Several new developments. Councilman Vincent Orange has called for an Exelon hearing at 2pm, Wednesday, July 13, Rm 500 at the Wilson Bldg. Call Faye Caldwell at 202-727-6683 to testify. In addition to 10% rate increases caused by Exelon in Maryland, Pepco has now asked for an $85.5million increase in DC. This totally wipes out the $79million in Exelon's promised benefits to DC people and organizations. Hopefully, our Office of the People's Counsel and other appropriate organizations will fight this tooth and nail. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> [Subsequent to loosing his Council post in the Primary Election, Orange was named head of the DC Chamber of Commerce. He also wanted to remain on the Council until new members were seated in Jan. 2017. Outrage over double dipping (2 salaries) and conflict of interest (C of C members have frequent business matters affected by Council votes) <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/vincent-orange-to-resign-from-dc-council-after-fury-over-chamber-of-commerce-job/2016/08/05/155294d2-5b2f-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html?utm_term=.c46d07f0545e" target="_blank">led to his speedy resignation</a> from the Council. He was replaced by Robert White who had won the Democrat primary and was subsequently elected on Nov. 8th by a wide majority.]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[6/15/16] </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">he Public Service Commission (PSC) will announce its decision on the request for reconsideration of the Exelon-Pepco merger on </span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #222222;"><span class="yiv5168897222aBn" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><span class="yiv5168897222aQJ" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; position: relative; z-index: -1;"><b>Friday, June 17 at 3 p.m. </b>Let's try to be there to show the PSC that we still care about this issue. Please respond here if you can help pull together a plan for Friday. </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">RSVP here: </span><a href="http://goo.gl/forms/wWWew5o8cT8mBCJH2" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466024938521_25965" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1155cc; cursor: text !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://goo.gl/forms/ wWWew5o8cT8mBCJH2</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"></u></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The PSC is at </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466024938521_25970" style="color: #525353; text-align: center;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466024938521_25969" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">1325 G Street, N.W. Suite 800. Not surprisingly the PSC voted 3 to 0 to deny the request for reconsideration. Chairwoman Betty Ann Kane supported this denial strictly on technical grounds as she said she still believes going to bed with Exelon is a very bad idea.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #525353; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: xx-small;">[6/6/16] <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/some-go-to-jail-not-jack-_b_10249700.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/some-go-to-jail-not-jack-_b_10249700.html.</a> I recently came across this article on the subject of several NY lawmakers going to jail for conflict of interest by holding outside jobs and using them improperly to sway legislation. The author then goes on to explain in considerable detail how Jack Evans (Ward 2 Councilman) was involved in helping the Exelon/Pepco deal succeed for big business. A number of other earlier potential misuses of his influence for outside clients doing business with DC are also described.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[5/4/16]</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Concerned scientists have new information on what may cause unexpected and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3573759/Giant-chunks-Earth-s-mantle-FALLING-causing-quakes-southeastern-coming-warn-researchers.html" target="_blank">unpredictable earthquakes in the eastern United States</a>. The link provide has many maps, detailed reporting, and many comments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[4/28/16] In <a href="http://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/the-nrc-seven-petitioning-the-nrc-over-safety" target="_blank">an important development</a> regarding the nuclear safety issue, <a href="http://www.regblog.org/2016/04/28/simeone-nrc-staff-push-agency-to-address-escalating-safety-concerns/" target="_blank">7 staff members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission </a>had petitioned the NRC to either fix serious electrical issues in almost all nuclear plants immediately, <a href="http://www.regblog.org/2016/04/28/simeone-nrc-staff-push-agency-to-address-escalating-safety-concerns/" target="_blank">or else shut them down.</a> This link has a list of <a href="http://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/the-nrc-seven-petitioning-the-nrc-over-safety" target="_blank">all major nuclear plants</a> which are clickable for detailed information. In addition to various Exelon plants our earthquake threatened North Anna plant in Virginia is listed. Detailed comments point to serious issues with the competence, integrity, compliance, and transparency of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Did our PSC receive tainted safety information? Would this invalidate their decision. Something for our Attorney General and People's Counsel to examine carefully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Here is a link regarding <a href="http://www.nirs.org/factsheets/lesanduraniumenrichment.htm" target="_blank">uranium enrichment services.</a> Not surprisingly companies like to develop these deposits in small job hungry communities. I was surprised to discover that there are <a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article24742024.html" target="_blank">significant uranium deposits in an area of rural Virginia</a> which the owner would love to develop. I was not surprised to discover that Virginia <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/uranium-company-sues-virginia-over-the-right-to-mine-huge-deposit/2015/08/05/360063e6-3ba8-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html#comments" target="_blank">Governor McAuliffe, is now facing a lawsuit </a>to get rid of Virginia's current ban on uranium mining. This rather technical article describes the geology and provides some of the reasons why <a href="http://www.virginiaplaces.org/energy/mininguranium.html" target="_blank">Virginia decided to ban mining</a>. This site's most recent May 31, 2016 article includes <a href="http://www.paradoxvalleyusa.com/news/?page_id=94" target="_blank">current Exelon problems</a>, especially in Illinois and with Three Mile Island plant in PA. A number of other nuclear related articles follow. This article describes a complex on again off again attempt by <a href="http://atomicinsights.com/update-one-woman-crusade-to-encourage-exelon-to-restore-the-zion-nuclear-power-plant-and-operate-it-in-her-backyard/" target="_blank">Exelon to operate or dismantle</a> a nuclear plant to its own, but no one else's benefit. Ten years from now will we discover that Exelon's invasion of the DC/MD was a first step toward gaining access to Virginia's major uranium deposit???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[4/22/16] If you notice that your Pepco bill is a little lower this month, it is because the "Exelon Rate Credit" of $54.59 has been subtracted. It is a little hard to figure out when you look at a bill, but look for the box on Page 2 called "Electric Distribution and SOS Supply Summary - Pepco." The head of the <a href="http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/22/dc-agency-chides-pepco-exelon-merger/" target="_blank">Office of the People's Counsel</a>, has weighed in with strong objections to the Public Service Commissions 2 to 1 approval of Exelon's buyout.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Friday, the 22nd Ms. Mattavous-Frye filed an <a href="http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/22/dc-agency-chides-pepco-exelon-merger/" target="_blank">"application for reconsideration,"</a> asking the PSC to either reopen the case and permit all parties an opportunity to comment...as required by PSC rules, or reject the merger as "procedurally improper."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Is Exelon rushing to pay the Pepco shareholders, and the ratepayers the $54.59 to make it legally more difficult to reverse their takeover of Pepco?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[4/20/16] Already it begins. </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/pepco-seeks-10-percent-rate-increase-from-maryland-customers/2016/04/19/c98c48da-063e-11e6-a12f-ea5aed7958dc_story.html" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;" target="_blank"> Announcements of a rate hike</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of 10% for PEPCO customers now owned by Exelon has been requested. They say this is to make up for the cost of installing Smart Meters which was supposed to</span><i style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> save money</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. Something fishy here! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> "'Today's announcement confirms what we had feared and why we're still fighting,' Anya Schoolman, executive director of the Community Power Network, a regional group opposing the merger, said in an email. 'Area ratepayers are going to [be] the ones who pay the price for Exelon's takeover of Pepco.'" As many of us predicted all along.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Among <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/pepco-seeks-10-percent-rate-increase-from-maryland-customers/2016/04/19/c98c48da-063e-11e6-a12f-ea5aed7958dc_story.html" target="_blank">90 angry comment to the story</a>, this from<b> starling 1</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">"'We thought it was prudent to hold off on filing [for a rate increase]...while the merger </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">proceeding was </span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: nowrap;">ongoing to allow all all parties to focus their resources on the merger </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: nowrap;">applications,' said Kevin </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: nowrap;">McGowan, Pepco's vice president for regulatory policy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> Translation: We didn't want to admit what we really planned to do until after we got what </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">we wanted."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> And <b>Nosh 1</b> has this comment [for all those "civic" groups and businesses who greedily </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">urged the DC Public Service Commission (and no doubt other PSCs) to approve the merger </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">to ensure their little payoffs. Will those goodies cover their future electric bills?]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> "Seriously? I mean, everyone not on the take knew this merger would result in higher bills, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">despite [what] the $7billion 'merger-machine' was trying to cram down our throats. <b>Less </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"><b>competition, higher prices.</b> That was the motto of the opponents and that's what happens </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">EVERY SINGLE TIME something like this happens.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> But I gotta admire the ballsy brass they have in asking for a rate hike less than 2 weeks </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">after the merger goes through. 'This has absolutely nothing to do with the merger.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> Yeah, OK...if that is true, then this happens to be the worst marketing timing snafu in </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">corporate America. You would think that one of the 12,000 employees of the company </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">would have raised their hand at the meeting when this was being discussed and said, 'you </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">know guys, we just polished off this hard fought merger two weeks ago where we promised</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">everyone that it would benefit them with economies of scale and lower costs, maybe now is a </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">bad time to try to do this?'</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> But no...I am sure that conversation never happened."</span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: nowrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Exelon was so eager to get this officially packaged and delivered that within a week of the </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">final </span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: nowrap;">DC PSC approval all the Pepco stockholders had been paid for their stock. This does </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: nowrap;">not mean we should stop engaging in the actions urged below.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">[4/7/16] An interesting campaign is developing as a followup from Power DC as one area to use to continue fighting Exelon's agenda. This is also a worthwhile fight in its own right. Councilmember Mary Cheh has introduced legislation to expand DC's Renewable Portfolio Standards to mandate a more ambitious target for the share of the Pepco standard offer that must come from renewables. A coalition is forming around it to campaign for passage, which includes many members of Power DC. Further action is planned soon, and I will announce it here when I know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Dear activist friends, </b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As you know, we received disappointing news last week. The </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Public Service Commission</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">’s split decision to allow Exelon to take over Pepco was a shocking mistake. We are continuing the fight. But we can’t do it alone. That is why we are calling on </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Attorney General Karl Racine</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and the </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Office of the People’s Counsel</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> to join us in challenging the Public Service Commission’s erroneous decision.</span><br />
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<a href="http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=qvOC2r0sN6ydAnrQa7cG7L9JkxI%2Bvkgg" id="yui_3_16_0_ym18_1_1459393492315_13703" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym18_1_1459393492315_13702"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Click here to tell the AG’s office and OPC to stand up for D.C. residents.</span></b></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grid 2.0 has filed a motion for the PSC to reconsider its decision. This automatically stays the Commission's ruling. Should the PSC reject this motion, (which we expect it will), we’ll still have an opportunity to appeal through the court system.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We know Exelon will fight our efforts tooth and nail, which is why we need the AG’s office and OPC to fulfill their role as public advocates and fight this bad decision with us.</span></div>
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<a href="http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=TaE9qF578j24GWpA17S7Kb9JkxI%2Bvkgg" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stop Exelon. Urge AG Racine and OPC to join our fight!</span></b></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our fight against Exelon and for an affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy grid was always a long shot. That we’ve gotten this far is a testament to the support we’ve received from people like you. Attorney General Racine and the Office of People's Counsel have said this deal is not in the public interest. Ask them to stand up for their principals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you, Basev Sen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Dear Green Neighbors, by Basav Sen </b></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">You've probably all heard the bad news - in a decision that defies logic, the Public Service Commission approved the Exelon-Pepco merger. Corrupt back-room deals and big money yet again triumphed over facts, reason, and democracy.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">But it is most definitely not over yet. You'll be hearing lots more from <b>Power DC</b> over the next few months. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">First, we will be pressing the <b>Attorney General</b> and the <b>Office of People's Counsel</b> to do their job by appealing the decision to US District Court. Given the inconsistency of the PSC's process, we may have a chance there. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">I will send out an action alert going to the AG and the OPC soon.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Also, Power DC will drive individuals and organizations to support the Fair Elections campaign calling for public financing of elections as way to reduce the corrupting influence of big money in DC politics. (Making the shenanigans around the merger the poster-child for corruption in DC.) </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">There are a couple of other follow-up steps as well, that I will inform the list about as we're closer to going public with it.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">I'd just like to end by saying, don't feel discouraged! There's plenty we can still do to make Exelon profoundly regret ever trying to buy Pepco.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Question</b>: Why is <a href="https://greenneighborsdc.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Green Neighbors</a> opposed to the merger? [Notes from their meeting of March 21, 2016]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Answer</b>: Our group got involved in it because of Exelon’s record on solar. They have taken positions against net metering, in which a property owner installs solar panels and sells the excess energy back into the grid. </span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Exelon has proposed penalizing people for installing solar </span><span style="background-color: white;">panels. Exelon is also trying to kill the subsidies for wind energy at the federal level. Exelon is the biggest owner of nuclear facilities in the country, which gets huge subsidies. Then we found out about other issues: especially Exelon’s history of raising rates in other places, needing to make money to shore up their risky nuclear energy business by buying public utilities and jacking up rates.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the PSC originally rejected the merger, the Mayor reached a backroom deal with the companies. The PSC was responding to that settlement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Exelon as producer and not just distributor of energy is conflict of interest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Edison Electric Institute that Exelon is part of participates a lot with ALEC. [<a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_03/alec_and_the_bad_law_industry036305.php" target="_blank">This link </a>explains why ALEC is such a bid thing. A number of <a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_03/alec_and_the_bad_law_industry036305.php" target="_blank">very informative comments</a> here. ALEC inspired "stand your ground law" helped kill <a href="https://news.vice.com/article/three-years-since-trayvon-martins-killing-stand-your-ground-laws-are-alive-and-well-in-america" target="_blank">Trevon Martin</a>.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">27 out of 40 ANCs have passed resolutions against the merger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DC Public Power has formed to try and get DC to have our own public utility. Mary Cheh has done a great job in exposing the problems with the Pepco-Exelon merger. She also put in an amendment to have a study on public power. It was rejected but she’s going to introduce it again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If DC rejects the merger it will be dead in other jurisdictions – MD, DE and NJ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(UPDATE: On March 23 the PSC reversed its original decision and approved the merger by a 2 to 1 vote. <a href="http://www.powerdc.org/" target="_blank">Power DC </a>is coming up with action plans in response.)</span></div>
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[I tried to find the person who wrote this to ask permission to post, but no success. I will be happy to edit, delete, or give credit. <b>I have no information on the accuracy of these projections</b> but feel it states real potential issues which can make a good basis for further research and discussion. By all means add comments if you have <b>actual facts with sources</b>. Hopefully this is a worst case guess, and our situation will not be so bad as described here. I asked several knowledgeable people to review this "failed" scenario, and include one evaluation immediately below the following.]<br />
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Thursday, March 3, 2016, <b> UTC-5, pat b wrote</b>: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">Irv asks "What a 'failed' merger DC looks like." </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">OK... That's a vague question, so I'll try and frame my answer.</span><br />
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"Assuming Exelon buys Pepco, for the price involved and assuming it was pretty close to the original deal in line with what the other states agreed to. [Here is what is what might happen. I have added additional comments in brackets. gla]</div>
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With Exelon HQ in Chicago, more and more Pepco managers are either pulled to Chicago to work direct for their bosses or removed and replaced <span style="line-height: 15.86px;">by managers who come 'Seagulling' in.. The organization finds itself with less local management or the inability to make decisions in a timely manner, </span><span style="line-height: 15.86px;">because Monday-Friday are Travel days...</span></div>
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The larger problem is that with management further away, all the costs look higher and the problems smaller and with a 7 Billion dollar merger to <span style="line-height: 15.86px;">pay for they need to cut costs at Pepco by 35%, so, how do they do that? Like all modern MBA's, they slash expenditures on spares, they sell off </span><span style="line-height: 15.86px;">as many trucks and assets as they can to raise cash, they lay off 2nd, 3rd shift workers, who get shift differentials and union contracts, in favor</span></div>
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of more contract support from Asplundh and Walker, and the other contractors. </div>
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Things will on a regular day be fine, but if you have a Derecho, well, 30 days to get power back on, will be normal.... <span style="line-height: 15.86px;">because Pepco workers won't be around to work 2nd/3rd shift, and the contractors will be slicing between their contract work and Pepco support. </span><span style="line-height: 15.86px;">[If we have a major hurricane, Derecho, or snow/ice storm we will be less able to help neighboring states, and they will be less likely to help us. Since Exelon is also likely to make cuts in MD, NJ, and DE, it could get really bad in an emergency.] </span></div>
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Meanwhile, with fewer managers around getting the business processes together especially, because Exelon will decide as part of the <span style="line-height: 15.86px;">cost cuts to dump all the Pepco IT, so expect your billing to transition to Exelon IT. Well, you think your bills are busted now on solar charges, </span><span style="line-height: 15.86px;">imagine some pointy-haired boss in Chicago, trying to manage the<a href="http://www.dcsun.org/srecs/" target="_blank"> DC SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Credit)</a> program accounting.... [Darn, and we were just getting PEPCO to work with our solar people.]</span></div>
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So expect every month bills to be busted [have problems], and you hit some 800 number that rolls to a call center in West Africa, because Bangalore is too expensive.</div>
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Now, All Mergers are sold assuming revenue Growth and cost cuts, so figure the Exelon biz plan assumes a ridiculous growth rate, say 11%/year. W<span style="line-height: 15.86px;">ell, the reality is LED lighting, is slashing consumption by 20%, and small PV [solar] is chowing up [providing?] another 30% of demand, so Exelon has half the business </span><span style="line-height: 15.86px;">base to load this onto to... [A friend knowledgeable about solar had serious issues with these estimates and those below.]</span></div>
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So either your Grid fixed charges double or the cost of Electricity supplied doubles. The second one is a death spiral, because it makes PV (photo voltaic) look <span style="line-height: 15.86px;">even better, so, they have to jack Grid charges. That has a big impact on the poor. People with a studio, or a 1 BR start paying a lot more then </span><span style="line-height: 15.86px;">someone with a Big house in Potomac, proportionally, and the person with a 1 acre lot has room for a 15 KW solar array and battery. </span><span style="line-height: 15.86px;">So expect to see more cost shifting into Dense urban areas, because they have less option to go solar... [Actually, DC with many flat roofs and the height limitation has more solar suitable roofing than many urban areas.]</span></div>
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<b>Finally and here is the real reason why Exelon is so desperate to do this merger......</b></div>
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Exelon has a bunch of nuke stations which are <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/exelonpepco-takeover-psc-hearing-nov-17.html" target="_blank">all headed into end of life</a> [see figures for license expiration dates in Illinois]. Exelon has less then 33% the money needed to decommission them. <span style="line-height: 15.86px;">Decommissioning a nuke is the Hell phase of a nuke. It's all cost, zero revenue, it's long tedious and full of ways to get fines. [And heaven help us if there is an accident.]</span></div>
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The Experience of decommissioning is that the actual costs over-run planned costs by 1.5-2.2 so in reality Exelon has very little money set aside <span style="line-height: 15.86px;">towards these shutdowns, so what can they do? Try and have a 'rate-base' that pays for that. [That means US.] </span></div>
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This is why Exelon cast their eyes at Pepco. Big user base they can buy, and force these costs onto the DC user base...</div>
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<b>So what does a 'Failed' merger look like? </b>[Failed in the sense the merger happened but the results could be catastrophic.]</div>
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1) When a major storm hits ( Maine 1998 ice storm , Derecho 2012, 2013) the outages will be over a month, people will die, major services water, sewer, will be impacted, the National Guard will have to help out. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Ice_Storm_of_1998#Impact" id="yui_3_16_0_ym18_1_1459478833291_11017" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Ice_Storm_of_1998#Impact</a></div>
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2) Summer thunderstorms will lead to days long outages, not hours. </div>
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3) Your bills will get regularly screwed up and the Customer service horror stories will rival Comcast.</div>
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4) Your grid fees will rise probably 2-3 times.</div>
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5) The cost of delivered energy will triple, so a KWH could cost 30 cents. [Currently around 10 cents.]</div>
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Is that what you were looking for?"</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> [</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I said earlier I do NOT know if all this is likely or true, but fear it may be. I also hope that the Public Service Commission has investigated all these risk factors, and is certain that NONE of this is likely to happen.] Next you will find another interpretation of what bad things may happen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Hi: I see a different scenario.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Exelon will not really be an absentee landlord. The folks that run the utility will be here in DC. But all the important decisions on policy and direction will be made in Chicago. First, a lot of folks will get fired, and a lot of local contract will be dropped this has already happened. They will save money by</span><span style="background-color: white;"> thinning</span><span style="background-color: white;"> out their emergency response crews. Why have a crew in Delaware and Philly and Baltimore and DC when they are all so close! When the big storms hit [and the roads impassable] we will be screwed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then the political donations to their friends will start coming in.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once Exelon locks up the political infrastructure and the Public Service Commissions in all the states, they will start passing rate cases to give themselves guaranteed 8% rates of return for big infrastructure projects that might or might not be needed. [One such project is the DC plan to spend $3 billion to put ALL electrical lines underground. Some undergrounding certainly makes sense, but there are parts of the city where homes are spread out and it would be cheaper to keep lines above ground and repair as needed. This can become<a href="http://www.elp.com/articles/powergrid_international/print/volume-18/issue-2/features/underground-vs-overhead-power-line-installation-cost-comparison-.html" target="_blank"> a major digging and paving boondoggle</a>. The important and much cheaper thing is to keep trees properly trimmed, whether by the utility or by DC's trained trimmers.] </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They will fight tenaciously to keep competition out of the market including <a href="https://blog.opower.com/2016/01/4-predictions-for-demand-side-management-programs-in-2016/" target="_blank">Demand Side Management (DSM)</a>, local solar, local wind. They will do their best to kill Maryland's off shore wind program. They will undercut the <a href="http://www.popville.com/tag/dcseu/" target="_blank">DC SEU (Sustainable Energy Utility)</a>, they will fight to keep community solar and community owned micro-grids out of their jurisdictions. They will gradually change the rules of the PJM grid (a regional transmission organization) to give themselves more and more benefits for their "standby" nuclear power. They will fight efforts to bring large quantities of storage and Demand Side Management into our regional market because it would obviate the need for paying them for over-priced standby capacity. They will suck billions and billions of dollars out of our economy and use the money to <a href="http://www.dcsun.org/advocacy-and-policy/save-dc-solar-oppose-the-exelon-merger/" target="_blank">fight clean energy everywhere</a>. The end results will be higher rates, worse reliability and the forestalling of the clean energy revolution. To the extent that we get clean energy, they will want to own it and make a guaranteed 8% rate of return on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope that both of these sets of predictions turn out to be wrong, but I am not holding my breath.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Exelon Boosts Guidance Despite Lower Profit </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[Exelon stockholders were so happy last October with the prospect of us paying their bills that stock price estimates rose even as profit sank 37%.]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chicago-based power company reaffirms its commitment to buying Pepco Holdings</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By: </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anne Steele</span></div>
<time class="timestamp"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oct. 30, 2015 10:26 a.m. ET</span></time><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Exelon Corp. lifted its yearly guidance as it posted better-than-expected adjusted earnings and revenue in the third quarter, even as profit sank 37%.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The Chicago-based power company now estimates earnings in the range of $2.40 to $2.60 a share, up from previous guidance of $2.35 and $2.55 a share.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Exelon has been expanding through acquisitions and reaffirmed its commitment to buying Pepco Holdings Inc., after utility...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="wsj-snippet-login-text"> To Read the Full Story, </span><a class="logInLink" href="https://subscribe.wsj.com/wsjsnippet">Subscribe </a>or <a class="logInLink" data-widget="LIFP.login" href="https://id.wsj.com/access/509b1a086458232f6e000002/latest/login_standalone.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fexelon-boosts-guidance-despite-lower-profit-1446215182" ref="nofollow">Sign In</a> Popular on WSJ [Wall St. Journal]</span><br />
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<b>Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia</b></div>
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<b>1325 G Street N.W., Suite 800</b></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36281">Washington, D.C. 20005</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 18pt;">Press Release</span></b><b></b></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36290">For Immediate Release: February 26, 2016</b><b></b></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36292">Contact: Kellie Armstead Didigu, Media Relations Specialist</b></div>
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<b>Office: <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">202-626-5124</a></b></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36214"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36213" style="font-size: 14pt;">Commission Votes 2-1 to Reject Pepco/Exelon Nonunanimous Settlement Agreement</span></b></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36190"><i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36189"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36188" style="font-size: 13pt;">Regulators Vote to Allow Consideration of Alternative Terms for Immediate Merger Approval</span></i></b></div>
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<b> </b>Today, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) voted in a 2 to 1 decision to reject, as filed, the Nonunanimous Full Settlement Agreement and Stipulation (NSA) concerning the proposed merger between Pepco and Exelon Corporation as not being in the public interest (Order No. 18109). Chairman Betty Ann Kane and Commissioner Joanne Doddy Fort comprised the majority vote rejecting the NSA with Commissioner Willie L. Phillips dissenting. However, Commissioner Fort proposed alternative terms for a Revised NSA that would, if accepted by the settling parties, result in the approval of the Revised NSA and the Merger Application without additional action by the Commission, and asked for approval to send the alternative terms to the settling parties. Commissioner Phillips agreed to allow the alternative terms to be sent to the settling parties. If all the settling parties accept the Revised NSA with the alternative terms, the revised settlement as amended is approved with no further action required by the Commission. Chairman Kane dissented concluding that a Revised NSA with the alternative terms would still not be in the public interest.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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Thus the Commission ruled by a vote of 2 to 1 that if all settling parties accept the proposed conditions within 14 days from the date of the Order, the Revised NSA and the Exelon/Pepco Merger will be approved as in the public interest without further Commission action.</div>
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In initially determining whether the NSA is in the public interest pursuant to D.C. Code §§ 34-504 and 34-1001, Chairman Kane and Commissioner Fort agreed that there are four (4) areas that warrant rejecting the NSA as filed:</div>
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(1) the evidentiary record failed to provide a persuasive rationale for excluding non-residential ratepayers from sharing in the proposed $25.6 million allocation of the Customer Investment Fund (CIF) for base rate credit relief and failed to persuade the Commission that the proposed allocation would not undermine the Commission’s ability to address the negative rate of return that currently exists for residential ratepayers and the resulting subsidies that are placed on non-residential customers;</div>
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(2) the NSA assigns roles to Exelon, as a developer of a solar generation facility at Blue Plains, and to Pepco, as a developer of four public purpose microgrids, that undermine competition and grid neutrality and are inconsistent with the District’s restructured market;</div>
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(3) the proposed uses of the CIF for sustainability projects and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payments do not improve Pepco’s distribution system nor advance the Commission’s objective to modernize the District’s energy systems and distribution grid;<i> </i>and</div>
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(4) the proposed method of allocating the CIF funds to District Government agencies and designated funds deprives the Commission of the ability to ensure that all of the funds are being used to enhance the distribution system and benefit District ratepayers, and to enforce the terms of the NSA.</div>
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Commissioner Fort’s alternative terms resolve the four (4) areas of concern by: (1) deferring a decision on the allocation of the $25.6 million Customer Base Rate Credit until the next Pepco rate case; (2) removing the provision that designates Exelon as the developer of a 5 MW solar generation facility at DC Water Blue Plains Treatment Plant and requiring Pepco’s commitment to facilitate the interconnection of a 5 MW solar project for any vendor selected by DC Water through its procurement process; (3) creating an escrow fund with two subaccounts at Pepco to hold $32.80 million of the $72.8 million Customer Investment Fund funded by Exelon under the NSA, $21.55 million of which is to be used for pilot projects emerging from Formal Case No. 1130 (a case to modernize the District’s energy system) and $11.25 million of which would be used for energy efficiency and energy conservation initiatives with a primary focus on housing, including multifamily buildings, for low and limited income District residents; and (4) striking as premature the provisions regarding Pepco’s role with the District to develop public purpose microgrids and requiring Pepco to facilitate and support the pilot projects under Formal Case No. 1130.</div>
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In separate opinions, Chairman Kane and Commissioner Fort explained their respective views on the NSA, including grounds for rejection as well as the revised NSA conditions. </div>
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Chairman Kane explained in her concurring and dissenting opinion that “while I agree that the four reasons cited in the Majority Opinion are a sufficient basis to conclude that the NSA, as filed, is not in the public interest, there are additional significant flaws in the NSA which are not addressed by the proposed alternative terms. In particular, the return of Pepco to an ownership structure that includes energy generation, supply, marketing and sales will result in an entanglement of management, financial health, and decision-making. This is a fatal flaw which will adversely affect Pepco and create a diversion of focus that carries it in the opposite direction from DC law and policy.”</div>
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Commissioner Fort stated in her opinion “I agree with the NSA’s supporters that the changes made by the NSA to the Merger Application, other than those [four concerns] that I have identified in this concurrence, have removed the reservations that I had with the original Merger Application. Moreover, I do not believe that the NSA is fatally flawed because each of the four concerns that the Majority Opinion has noted can be corrected by revising the NSA with alternative terms. For that reason and as explained in more detail in Order No. 18109, I have crafted alternative terms for the NSA and asked my fellow Commissioners to approve sharing them with the Settling Parties for their consideration under Commission Rule 130.17(b).”</div>
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In his separate opinion, Commissioner Phillips explained why he believes the NSA should be approved as filed. </div>
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“I applaud the parties for negotiating a settlement that I believe is in the public interest. <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456557972282_36243"> The Joint Applicants worked to address deficiencies outlined by the Majority’s initial order on the merger, and got most of the parties to agree to a settlement. However, today’s decision has effectively moved the goal post in order to reject the settlement. So</span>, I cast my vote today to allow my colleague to circulate proposed terms, for the sole purpose of giving the Settling Parties an avenue to consummate their agreement, instead of resulting in an outright denial.” </div>
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A copy of the Opinion and Order No. 18109 is posted on the Commission website, <a href="http://www.dcpsc.org/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">www.dcpsc.org</a>.<br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3437" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Having read the article at <a href="http://ydr.com/story/money">ydr.com/story/money</a>, here is what I consider the key information: </b>[I tried to find this article <a href="http://www.ydr.com/story/money/2015/10/08/coal-industry-opposes-clean-power-plan-while-nuclear/73652264/" target="_blank">there were several</a>. The first <b>ydr </b>link points out that Exelon is considering shutting down 3 plants, 3 Mile Island, and 2 in Illinois. This could cost at least $3billion to add to our bills. The second link discusses the interaction of natural gas, coal, and nuclear fuel. Exelon claims it is clean energy because of no CO2, but neglects to mention the production of long lived nuclear waste.]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3790">"</span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3472" style="color: #444444; line-height: 24px;">But why would Exelon have its non-profit front group, which was formed last year with the specific mission of doing everything possible to keep aging, uneconomic nuclear reactors (especially those owned by Exelon) operating, place and pay for an ad about the Exelon-Pepco merger?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Having placed ads in the <em class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3476" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Baltimore Sun</em> ourselves in the past, we can speculate: non-profit groups obtain much lower advertising rates from the <em class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3478" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sun</em> than do for-profit companies like Exelon and Pepco. So to save itself a few thousand bucks, which Exelon should be able to afford (if it can’t afford that, then its money-losing nuclear fleet is in even greater trouble than we had imagined), Exelon has brought new attention to the real reason it is pursuing Pepco.</span><br />
<span style="color: green; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: 700;">It’s doing so because it needs Pepco, or, more specifically, the money from current Pepco ratepayers, to ride to the rescue of its failing nuclear reactors.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">From:</b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"> "C Turner dcsmartmeterchoice@yahoo.com</span><br />
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3792" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3791">Sent:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"> Sunday, February 28, 2016 11:48 AM</span><br />
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3414" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456812971712_3413">Subject:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"> Exelon weighs options for Three Mile Island after plant's failed bid (10/1/15)</span><br />
<a href="http://safeenergy.org/2015/03/23/real-reason-for-exelon-pepco-merger/?shared=email&msg=fail" id="yiv4517747711yui_3_16_0_1_1456674753689_5041" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text; font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.ydr.com/story/money/2015/10/01/exelon-weighs-options-three-mile-island-after-plants/73686270/</a></div>
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<a class="edited-link-editor" href="http://safeenergy.org/2015/03/23/real-reason-for-exelon-pepco-merger/?shared=email&msg=fail" id="yiv4517747711yui_3_16_0_1_1456674753689_5041" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Oops! Real reason for Exelon-Pepco merger inadvertently revealed</a></div>
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<span class="yiv4517747711link-enhancr-element yiv4517747711icon yiv4517747711icon-shrink yiv4517747711link-enhancr-toggle" style="line-height: 1.22em;"></span><span class="yiv4517747711link-enhancr-element yiv4517747711icon yiv4517747711icon-close yiv4517747711link-enhancr-delete" style="line-height: 1.22em;"></span><a class="yiv4517747711link-enhancr-card-urlWrapper yiv4517747711link-enhancr-element edited-link-editor" href="http://safeenergy.org/2015/03/23/real-reason-for-exelon-pepco-merger/?shared=email&msg=fail" id="yiv4517747711yui_3_16_0_1_1456674753689_5412" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: black; cursor: pointer !important; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Oops! Real reason for Exelon-Pepco merger inadvertently ...</a><br />
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Oops. Exelon’s nuclear cat was inadvertently let out of its radioactive bag by the Baltimore Sun today. The Sun was supposed to run an ad last Thursday in support o...</div>
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4/27/15:</div>
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<a href="https://laceyreporter.com/oyster-creek-safety-issues-highest-risk-yet/" id="yiv4517747711yui_3_16_0_1_1456674753689_5164" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Oyster Creek Safety Issues "Highest Risk" Yet </a></div>
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Two New Problems Draw Govt. Scrutiny NRC officials have released two new findings Monday concerning the safety of Lacey’s Oyster Creek nuclear power plant – whi...</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.22em;">3/24/11:</span></div>
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<a href="http://phys.org/news/2011-03-oldest-nuclear-reactor-disaster.html" id="yiv4517747711yui_3_16_0_1_1456674753689_6229" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://phys.org/news/2011-03-oldest-nuclear-reactor-disaster.html</a><span id="yiv4517747711yui_3_16_0_1_1456674753689_6401" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;"><br clear="none" style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span></div>
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<span id="yiv4517747711yui_3_16_0_1_1456674753689_6401" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">Oldest US nuclear reactor: a 'disaster' in waiting? Oyster Creek, owned and operated by Exelon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"... It uses a GE Mark I Boiling Water reactor identical to those that lost power at Japan's Fukushima plant in the March 11 earthquake and then was struck by a tsunami that knocked out its backup generators, causing reactor cooling functions </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to fail. US anti-nuclear activists and many residents of Lacey and surrounding Jersey shore townships worry that a similar nuclear disaster could happen at Oyster Creek, and it wouldn't need an earthquake or <a class="yiv4517747711textTag" href="http://www.physorg.com/tags/tsunami/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">tsunami</a> to trigger it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oyster Creek has been dogged by problems including a corroding liner in the carbon steel containment unit; leaks that allow radioactive tritium to seep into drinking water; and huge volumes of stocked spent fuel rods. "We have 40 years of radiation on site -- </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">two-and-a-half to three times more than in Japan," anti-nuclear activist Jeff Brown told AFP. "You also have that tremendously stupid design to start with where the spent fuel rods are sitting on top of the reactor," he said..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chris Turner, Esq., </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.22em;">DC Smart Meter Choice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dcsmartmeterchoice.com, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19.52px;">dcsmartmeterchoice@yahoo.com</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/judge-dismisses-hp-merger-lawsuit/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.cnet.com/news/judge-dismisses-hp-merger-lawsuit/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lawsuit against Hewlett Packard (Compaq Computer Corp merger) management by major stockholder: 2 reasons, undue influence over trustee stockholders (Deutche Bank, inadequate evidence presented), and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Judges dismissal based on lack of "smoking gun" evidence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/the-nrc-seven-petitioning-the-nrc-over-safety">http://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/the-nrc-seven-petitioning-the-nrc-over-safety</a></span><br />
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In 2012 a potentially <a href="http://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/the-nrc-seven-petitioning-the-nrc-over-safety" target="_blank">serious electrical failure at Exelon's Byron</a> nuclear generating facility in Illinois was corrected in time. However subsequent study revealed that all nuclear plants currently operating and some under construction have this same flaw. Seven NRC staff members after 4 years now feel compelled to petition the NRC to fix the problem. <b>Is the DC PSC aware </b>of this issue of safety and potential cost if serious accident does occur? The issue is so serious that the 7 feel if the plants are not ordered to immediately redesign their electrical systems they should be shut down.<br />
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<a href="https://spoonsenergymatters.wordpress.com/">https://spoonsenergymatters.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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This site discusses serious issues with nuclear fuel rods at the Indian Point nuclear plant 25 miles from New York City. It also has more information on the <b>Byron</b> issue. Bernie Sanders says this plan should be shut down.<br />
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<a href="http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/672052/posts">http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/672052/posts</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Free Republic post and comments about poor likely results from merger and feelings of HP employees.</span></div>
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-51114556014166237312016-03-28T01:25:00.000-07:002017-10-06T00:49:45.685-07:00TENAC Supports Office of the Tenant Advocate (Guest post from Jim McGrath, Chairman)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jim McGrath has given many good years to the fight for housing justice in DC. He has been especially militant in his advocacy for lower income renters. Below his testimony I will also add information about other factors that reduce lower cost rental availability especially which could be provided by individual property owners. These factors include the arduous procedure for acquiring a Basic Business License needed for anyone wishing to rent out one or two rooms, raising property assessments 10% and more throughout a neighborhood based on one or two sales of highly renovated properties, and laws that allow actual criminals to scam the rental market and frustrate small owners to opt out of the rental market.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<b class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_29958"><span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_29960" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">TENAC</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Testimony of Jim McGrath, Chairman</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28670" style="font-size: 12pt;">D.C. Tenants’ Advocacy Coalition (TENAC)</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28682" style="font-size: 12pt;">Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28688" style="font-size: 12pt;">Council of the District of Columbia</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">February 29, 2016</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28718" style="font-size: 12pt;"> For the first time since the creation of the Office of Tenant Advocate (OTA) as an independent agency in the District of Columbia, due to continued convalescence from spinal surgery, I am unable to appear in person to offer public testimony on behalf of OTA. Heretofore, I have attended and testified at every oversight and budget hearing on behalf of OTA. So “While the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” and while I cannot be there this morning, I am pleased to submit this statement for the record, and thank you for receiving it.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28728" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Thank you Chairman Orange for the opportunity to be heard. I will be brief. TENAC has had a long, positive and productive relationship with OTA since its founding. We strongly favored their creation; we have consistently commended their operations; and we believe they are one of the great D.C. Agency success stories. The reasons for that are simple. They are due to the outstanding leadership of D.C. Tenant Advocate, Johanna Shreve and her outstanding staff, including General Counsel, Steve Taylor, Legislative Director, Joel Cohn, and their colleagues. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28738" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Tenants, of course, comprise the great majority of the District’s population – an estimated two-thirds, in fact. They need and deserve, therefore, special attention. As the sole D.C. government agency established to protect and advocate for tenants’ rights, the Office of Tenant Advocate is vital to the welfare of this city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Never has the need for tenant advocacy been more crucial. Never has the importance of rent control, affordable housing, and tenants’ rights been more important or under greater threat. Everywhere one hears the cry for “affordable housing,” but there is no affordable housing left in this city. A floodtide of affluence flowing into it has seen to that. The mayor’s commendable allocation of $100 million to the Housing Trust Fund is welcome, but is a drop in the bucket insofar as addressing this problem. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28774" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Tenants are especially hard hit, with escalating rents outstripping even middle-class incomes, let alone those on low-income, fixed-income, or the poor. We have a model rent control law on the books, but is doing little to alleviate the plight of those seeking affordable housing, or those struggling to retain it. $1,200-$1,500 per month for a tinker-toy efficiency apartment is not rent control; $1,800-$2,500 for a one-bedroom apartment is not rent control; the sky’s the limit for anything over one-bedroom apartments is not rent control. The solution to affordable housing in this city is effective rent control; you can’t have one without the other. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28658" style="font-size: 12pt;"> OTA and TENAC have long worked together to resolve these problems. OTA does yeoman work in that regard, but we believe needs significantly larger staffing. Among other things, the rent control law needs to be amended and strengthened to include new rental buildings, and repeal of the absurd 2% add-on to the annual rent increase formula. Pro-Bono counsel needs to be provided to tenants facing eviction, 95% of whom go into Landlord-Tenant Court without any legal assistance. Finally, Department of Labor standards advising a limitation of no more than 30% of income allocated for rent payment needs to have some enforcement attached to it, instead of mere wishful thinking.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28791" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Those in our city who favor rampant gentrification, market-rate housing, the condominium conversion craze, and the wish to convert the whole city into an instant Georgetown need to be reminded: Housing is not a commodity. We are not talking about oil futures, gold-bullion, or pork bellies; we are talking about the roof over people’s heads, the basic means of survival for residents in this city and elsewhere across the nation.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_28801" style="font-size: 12pt;"> OTA works hard to achieve these goals, so does TENAC. We applaud Johanna Shreve’s efforts, and wish her and her excellent staff Godspeed.</span></div>
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<b class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_31212"><span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_31214" style="font-size: 14pt;">WEBSITE: <a class="yiv2859783842" href="http://www.tenac.org/" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_31216" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv2859783842" id="yiv2859783842yui_3_16_0_1_1457114285188_31218" style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">www.tenac.org</span></a> E-MAIL: tenacdc@yahoo.com</span></b></div>
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<b class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Basic Business License:</span></b></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b>This license which anyone grossing more than $4000 should have [this is a figure I saw several years ago], was foisted on us in early 2000s and has made it much harder for anyone wishing to start a small business including renting out rooms. This property owner describes <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/business/small_business/2013/02/starting_my_small_business_cities_make_it_incredibly_hard_to_get_a_business.html" target="_blank">how difficult it can be </a>for a person trying to rent out one or two rooms. He points out "The World Bank has a fairly crude measure of how easy it is to start a business in different countries and <b>ranks the US 13th. Canada ranked third </b>with just one "procedure"--a paperwork filing, basically--needed to launch a business. In America, it takes more like six." He says DC has a score of F, as do NY and other large cities. [Is this on purpose to speed up gentrification and drive lower income people out?]</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> An elderly acquaintance with hip, knee and shoulder joint replacement surgeries wanted to hire a company to handle rental of her apartment while she was out of town. They said she needed the BBL and they would be happy to do the work for $300 plus cost of BBL. Having a low SS payment she tried to do it herself. Spent many painful hours waiting and shuttling back and forth between DCRA and OTR, then had to drive all the way to Anacostia to finish the process. <b>What senseless cruelty!!</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Here the issue of <a href="http://www.popville.com/2015/03/do-i-really-need-a-business-license/" target="_blank">renting space out within one's own home</a> is discussed. Apparently almost no one is getting a BBL for this but if the rental is income, a DC tax form D-30 should be filed if gross income is above $12,000. This figure has not been upgraded for inflation since 1986. I spent years trying to find out how to file the D-30. Finally in the 1990s I spoke with a tax lawyer at a tax service who said that people with so little income usually didn't bother to file the D-30 and he didn't know how to do it. Recently the mandatory minimum tax of $100 was raised to $250. This must be paid even if there is no profit, but the $12,000 was left unchanged.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> My solution to the <b>BBL</b> is to not require it for anyone grossing less than $250,000. Require a half day training in doing the D-30 with a modest payment like $35. Requiring the BBL after the first year the business has grossed at least $250,000 would discourage entrepreneurs less.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> In addition, simplify the D-30 for those with only IRS Schedule C and Schedule E income and where appropriate allow those Schedules to be submitted to meet some requirements for income only earned in DC.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Inflated Tax Assessments for Neighborhoods:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b>I'll never forget the year my property assessment was raised 79%. When I examined assessment increases for neighboring properties I discovered they had all been raised 79%. Then I checked properties further down the block--same increase. The whole block had been raised 79%. Fortunately I won my tax appeal. Unfortunately, I was not politically active at that time, so did not organize my neighbors in this fight. Last year I saw tax increase of 10% to 14% in homes with no improvements based solely on sales of high end renovations with granite counters and stainless appliances nearby. With regular annual increases at the level the tax rate will double in about 7 years, even with NO improvements.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Without improvements, taxes should only increase with inflation. Increases based on changing neighborhood should only occur when properties are sold to people who know what they will be paying, and consequently what their tax rate will be. How can property owners be expected to keep their rental rates low when their taxes are increased so unfairly.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Eviction Processes Unfair to Owners:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b>In 2014 I became acquainted with 2 cases of owners who were trying to evict tenants for non payment of rent. Non payments had begun in August. One owner discovered that the deadbeat tenant had cheated the previous owner out of 4 months rent, which the old apartment's manager had not known when the previous rental history was checked by the new landlord. Since the new rental was considerably higher it was an obvious intent to defraud. Then a more detailed internet check discovered the tenant was a wanted criminal.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> In Landlord & Tenant Court, the fraudster lied to the judge who then said it would have to go to trial and the tenant should deposit the monthly rents with the court. This never happened and the next month they did not show for the trial. With all the times and documents required for eviction, by this time it was December. Since eviction could not take place unless there were 24 hours above freezing with no precipitation, eviction did not occur until mid March. The eviction crew charged $300. Thus, in addition to court costs, the owner lost over 7 months rent and now plans to get out of the rental business. The deadbeat no doubt is off defrauding someone else.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> The 7 1/2 months it took to evict could have been shortened by about 2 months if the naive owner had started eviction proceedings a week after non payment. Instead they swallowed the hard luck story they were given. They also should have included a "waiver of the 1 month notice of intent to evict" in the signed lease. More than a week could have been saved if the lease had also contained a "signed statement from the tenant that they were not in the military nor did they expect to be," provided that this was true, of course. Upon receiving court approval for the eviction, the owner still had to contact all the military services to determine that the tenant was not a service member before contacting the eviction service. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> With the bad weather the time limit on the eviction expired, and a new payment had to be made at the courthouse. In all, 6 to 8 trips are most likely needed to accomplish any eviction, and all done during regular business hours. There are also court costs. The second person mentioned was still having problems in December, and I have no information on how that turned out. Both people said they would probably want to sell their property soon rather than continue to provide modest cost rentals.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> After learning about this, I decided to check on what evictions are like in Baltimore. There apparently evictions only take a month or two. This seems a bit quick, especially if the tenant is sincere and having temporary fixable difficulties. If the DC eviction process continues in its present form it will only force more small landlords to give up and sell. This will not help the low and moderate income rental picture in DC. Political activists should consider how the above problems could be reduced with appropriate legislation.</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv2859783842"><span class="yiv2859783842" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></div>
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-38569385155200290372016-03-05T21:51:00.000-08:002016-03-05T21:51:11.398-08:00McMillan Park, 3/2/16 Testimony by Daniel Wolkoff, and How Our Water System FunctionsA number of hearings on McMillan Park have been held. Many people come out in support of a park for all people, but the big developers keep on demanding to maintain their NO-BID status. They must not be allowed to win. Here is a particularly strong piece of testimony. At the bottom is a very good link describing how DC's water system operates.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Agency
Performance Oversight Hearings Fiscal Year 2015-2016,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="line-height: 100%;">Committee of The
Whole</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Testimony of
<b>Daniel Goldon Wolkoff
</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
amglassart@yahoo.com</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<b>March 2, 2016</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>MCMILLAN
PARK-The biggest land theft since Manhattan! </b></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
With some edits
added since testimony was submitted.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Our Declaration
of Independence states:
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
“government’s
derive their just powers from the consent of the governed”</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Please Council
members, contact me to explain how you developed consent from the
people of DC, for the “surplus” of McMillan Park to Vision
McMillan Partners and their alliance with DMPED (Deputy Mayor for
Planning and Economic Development). Tell me about the forums you
held, the polls you took, the community meetings, Ballots cast, and
all the analysis you did of the various options you presented your
constituents. Tell me how your Committee hearings are not a charade,
blocking public input in reality! I see the empty seats on the dais,
and have seen our 15 copies of testimony thrown in the recycling bin
before the Committee of the Whole has completed its hearings<b>. I
expect each </b><b>C</b><b>ouncil-member to read my testimony,
contact me and explain how they gained consent of the people on this
land transfer, explain to me and all of the District, how they are
executing their responsibility to </b><b>provide </b><b>oversight of
this massive multi-billion dollar development project. </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<b>The United
States Constitution First Amendment guarantees OUR right to “petition
the government for redress of grievances” Please </b><b>C</b><b>ouncil-members
explain to me how the DMPED/VMP hiring, in Dec 2013, of a Baltimore
Public Relations firm, Font</b><b>ai</b><b>ne Company, who’s
stated goal is to “neutralize opposition” </b><b>to </b><b>VMP's</b><b>
oversized development of McMillan, </b><b>i</b><b>s not a violation
of the citize</b><b>ns</b><b> constitutional first amendment rights?
What does “provide continual cover to elected officials”,
actually mean? Why did </b><b>these</b><b> consultants, VMP, hire
Carmen Group with our money to lobby our own officials, spending
$100,000 just for one appointment with David Grosso, tell us please,
how is that ethical? </b><b>And why are we the taxpayers being
forced to foot this bill?</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<b>Is this the
way the business of the people of The District of Columbia is to be
conducted?</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span><a href="http://youtu.be/uXkOgHV7Lhw"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>http://youtu.be/uXkOgHV7Lhw</u></span></span></span></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<b>Please explain
how DMPED project Manager Shiv Newaldous and Deputy Mayor E. Jeffrey
Miller can commit perjury in sworn testimony to Chair Bowser </b><b>on</b><b>
Feb. 11, 2014. They lied to the Chair that DMPED did not pay for the
Fontaine agency, despite his signature on the invoice from Dec. 2013.
So please explain to me, </b><b>are Mayor</b><b> Bowser and </b><b>current
Chairman </b><b>Phil Mendelson guilty as well, as they cover this up,
are all you city officials guilty of “obstruction of justice”?
Chair</b><b>man</b><b> Mendelson said it was “kind of a PR
nightmare”, well yes, it’s ACTUALLY a criminal violation of the
peoples first amendment rights! </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<b>Shoving
VisionMcMillan Partners </b><b>(VMP)</b><b> and all their lies and
manipulations down the people’s throats is the “nightmare!”
Then Mendelson, </b><b>himself, </b><b>proceeded to lie about
McMillan Advis</b><b>o</b><b>ry Group support for VMP, at the
“surplus” 5 year extension. Thus committing Bowser’s successor to
the same crimes you are guilty of, and </b><b>to </b><b>this
grotesque project. B</b><b>y 2022 she will </b><b>likely</b><b>
be working directly for the developers, </b><b>whereas</b><b> now she
just does their bidding against the “public interest”. The
“revolving“ door with Trammel Crow, DMPED Jeff Miller</b><b>'</b><b>s
former employer and a parade of DC officials going in and out of
Holland and Knight would be illegal at the Federal Govt. and you act
proud? </b><b>I</b><b>t is disgusting, The District of Corruption!</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
The Mayor and
City Council have dictated to the City, and the People, that OUR
public land be given away in “massive corporate welfare FRAUD.” There is no attempt to gain consent; and Fontaine is impersonating the
community, “neutralizing opposition”, with the stated “goal”
to “shift community dialogue and general perception to that of
majority support for VMP plans”.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Council-members
please explain to me how this is not deserving of a class action suit
in Federal Court for $100’s of millions, to bloody the nose of our
“out of control”, and dictatorial government as it continually
sells out public interest and “The Commons” to corporate
interests for private profit at the People’s expense!
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Democracy doesn’t
end the day after an election, and Mayor Gray was not elected, rather
installed by campaign and electoral fraud, bribery, at least 3/4
million dollars in illegal contributions and obstruction of justice.
Our Federal Prosecutor, Ron Machen, said DC corruption in your
Council offices, and the Mayor's, “tests our resolve”. Imagine
the scope of the “cover-up”, if he had no “resolve”.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Mayors have lied
about 75 years of expressed, voted on, and testified to, public need
for McMillan Park in false declarations. It was said “there is
“no public need” for the “surplus and disposition”
declaration on McMillan which also calls for “increased
competition.” It is this City Council’s blatant acts of
criminality, collusion, and rubber stamping of subordinate agencies
here at DMPED, OP (Office of Planning), HPRB (Historic Preservation
Review Board), and the DC Zoning Commission that justifies criminal
charges and prosecution.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Council members,
I recommend you get on the right side of the law on McMillan because
you’re running on arrogance, and abuse of power, little else, not
legality, this shear delusion isn’t going to sustain you forever.
Thank God for Elissa Silverman the only Council member who voted in favor of the people, and
Auditor Kathy Patterson who are honest, and in the rare honest vote,
tried to deny Mayor Bowser 7 years to pull off this “No Bid”,
“Exclusive Rights”, “Abuse of Power”, and massive “land
Theft.”</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Pope
Francis </b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">"We
have created new idols. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">The
worship of the ancient Golden Calf has returned in a new </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;"><b>ruthless
</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">guise
in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal
economy lacking a truly human purpose"</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Successive
administrations, and the DC City Council, have colluded with private
development conglomerate Vision McMillan Partners (
<a href="http://www.envisionmcmillan.com/">www.envisionmcmillan.com</a>
), to transfer massive public wealth and publicly owned 25 acre
McMillan Park, the last large open green space in the city, to
private corporate profit.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Over $300 million
in subsidies, no legitimate developer would need in this hyper real
estate market, including the government paying all the
pre-development and land preparation costs, and almost $11 million in
consulting and legal fees, are all highly unusual.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
The issue is the
theft from the people of District of Columbia, and the Nation, of a
significant work of landscape architecture and industrial design, by
its own Mayor and City Council and subordinate agencies who have
failed to protect the people of Washington and violated the law.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
These officials
have committed theft, of the historic protected work of
turn-of-the-century master designers, brought to Washington by
Senator McMillan, an important historic site, a critical public
amenity, and a potentially lifesaving backup system for clean water.
Our clean water system is currently being threatened by ground water
movement of contamination from WW1 chemical warfare American
University laboratory waste dumps in Spring Valley, adjacent to the
Dalecarlia Reservoir.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
The McMillan Sand
Filtration Site, a registered National and DC Historic District, on
“Emergency Evacuation Route”, North Capitol, is DC’s Central
Park. Parks are development for the people.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
We can become
founders and create a conservancy, when the “Monstrosity on
Michigan Avenue”, a mammoth National Harbor office and condo park,
is defeated. If VMP/Gray/Bowser’s McMillan Town Center is such a
great idea, let’s get a section of Rock Creek Park ceded to DC and
build it there. Or at Washington Hospital Center, where extensive
parking lots cause horrible storm water runoff and sewage flooding in
Bloomingdale. We can put VMP engineering experience to solving that,
rather than constructing 50 buildings, massive medical office towers,
700 condos and 3000 parking spaces, right on top of this preexisting
failure.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Enjoyed from 1907
to 1941 as DC’s only racially integrated park, we still have
African-American seniors who remember the community activities and
sleeping out on the breezy embankments and reservoir on steaming DC
summer nights.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Does the civil
rights and social justice history explain the Army Corp of Engineer's
fencing off the site in 1941 for fear of Axis sabotage, but never
reopening it at the end of WW11? Why was the predominantly
African-American community denied its healthy outdoor green space
when privileged upper NW was lavished 5 times the parks, Rock Creek’s
stream valleys, wooded hiking trails, Civil War fortifications, and
other natural and beneficial space. Can anyone imagine a 25 acre
green space in Georgetown or Chevy Chase fenced off with barbed wire,
excluding the public, for 75 years! The “just” answer to obvious
racial and economic class discrimination is opening McMillan Park.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
We need a
fascinating large outdoor “great space” in the center of the
city, not massive corporate welfare abuse, and 20,000 more cars on
area streets where the air already stinks with the highest air
pollution measured in DC; and, where ambulances and fire trucks are
regularly blocked by traffic congestion, NOW!</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Adaptive re-use,
the repurposing of historic sites, so successful around the world,
would preserve the 20 acres of “underground filtration cells”, 12
foot high acre sized masonry galleries perfect for numerous community
and commercial activity, including sustainable urban “indoor”
agriculture. Five times more productive than surface farms, no
pesticides, little water use, providing millions of pounds of fresh
ripe, vegetables and farmed fish. The “farm to table” movement
for our restaurants, an end to “food desserts”, with community
owned urban farms, a “nutrition/exercise hub” to improve the
health of our residents and visitors to this tourist destination. We
can train our youth and under-employed in masonry, carpentry, urban
agriculture, and technology careers restoring the site and running
the farms. Quality oriented restaurants with wine cellars located
right there could use the nutritious and organic foods produced on
site.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">Please
see this fascinating video on “vertical indoor agriculture”:
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">
</span></span><a href="http://youtu.be/ILzWmw53Wwo"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;"><u>http://youtu.be/ILzWmw53Wwo</u></span></span></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Vision McMillan’s
massive development, with millions of tons of pollution and carbon
emitting concrete structures, requires demolition of the 20 acres of
underground masonry galleries, and decades of construction on the
site.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Saving the
underground for adaptive reuse, will preserve the entire 25 acre
surface park for generations to enjoy, including community gardens,
DC Wolf Trap and Glen Echo type entertainment events, and other
creative uses, not corporate profit.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
We reject as
illegal the “collusive partnership” between “our
representatives” and connected corporate developers, given a no bid
“exclusive rights agreement”, rubber stamped by subordinate DC
“regulatory” agencies, working for the interests of the developer
and against the community.</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Jeffrey
Miller, himself a former VP of the lead developer, Trammel Crow, has
hired an “Astroturf” PR firm from Baltimore, Jamie Fontaine, to
violate the people's “First Amendment” rights to “petition
their government for redress of grievances”.</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">Long
time activist for McMillan Park, landscape architect Mary Pat Rowan
reveals the PR firm</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">'s</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">
“Astroturf” campaign in this City Council Committee Oversight
hearing with Muriel Bowser, and Historic Restoration artist</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">Daniel
Goldon Wolkoff, explains adaptive re-use of restored McMillan Park.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span><a href="http://youtu.be/uXkOgHV7Lhw"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>http://youtu.be/uXkOgHV7Lhw</u></span></span></span></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
The Mayor and
City Council have dictated to the City, with no attempt to gain
consent, and Fontaine is impersonating the community, “neutralizing
opposition”, with the stated “goal” of “shift community
dialogue and general perception to that of majority support for VMP
plans”. They have a “talking point”, harped on by Bowser “the
site was never a park”. Finally, Office of Planning Architectural
Historian, Kim Williams, wrote the nomination to the National
Register of Historic Places years overdue, and the site was
designated a park. It was originally designed by America’s
Foremost Landscape Architect, Fredrick Law Olmsted Jr., as has been
related by Bloomingdale seniors in oral histories.
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="border: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">National
Register of Historic Places nomination
(</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13000022.htm">http://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13000022.htm</a></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> )</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">She
describes a remarkably intact, fascinating, even charming,
engineering marvel, the worshipers of profits are asking to demolish
and over build </span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">and</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
super urbanize it into a crass suburban medical office and condo park
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">like
Tyson's Corner</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">We
want to preserve our “great outdoor” space for decent air,
exercise, nutrition, and help keep our people out of the doctor’s
office, not build massive medical offices.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Public land for
public needs, like a DC Wolf Trap outdoor concert stage for
festivals, plays, music with sunset vistas will enhance our city.
We need a Glen Echo type arts/education campus for young and
families. Glen Echo Consortium (MD Parks, National Park Service, and
Montgomery County) offers 90 pages of classes and activities 365 days
a year.</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
We need your help
to fight, this “monstrosity” of massive hideous construction, in
historic Bloomingdale, in the courts. The DC government, like so
many, destructive to the environment and public health, needs a
bloody nose. A lawsuit for this violation of our rights, is needed,
we must remind them who they were elected to represent, and Save
McMillan Park!</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;"><b>Pope
Francis </b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">"We
have created new idols. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">The
worship of the ancient Golden Calf has returned in a new </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;"><b>ruthless
</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, serif;">guise
in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal
economy lacking a truly human purpose"</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
McMillan
Coalition for Sustainable Agriculture
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Daniel Goldon
Wolkoff, amglassart@yahoo.com</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
People have asked
me about our water system and how it works, so here is a very well
detailed article about this important item in our lives.
<a href="http://greenrisks.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-dalecarlia-reservoir-and-water.html">http://greenrisks.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-dalecarlia-reservoir-and-water.html</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
Contact your Council members, speak up at your ANC meetings. Don't let the government give away what should be a big park for you. Demand that a portion of this park be opened for public use in time for this summer. Seventy five years with a big fence and no public use is an outrage.</div>
G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-74735019613922465662015-12-28T00:28:00.001-08:002020-06-17T20:13:19.125-07:00INDEX of all Posts, Newest to Oldest, Dates, Titles, GuestsAs a convenience to my readers here is an index of all Posts with Dates, Titles and Subject (where the title is not clear), and guest authors. At first most posts were about DC issues, but once I was running for Congress, I also added national issues. Tax and income issue articles have dates printed <span style="color: #cc0000;">RED.</span> Environmental posts are <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN</span>. Health and wellness issues are<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: #0b5394;">BLUE. </span>Political posts are <span style="color: #674ea7;">PURPLE</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">. My political information and original ideas are</span><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"> highlighted</span><span style="background-color: white;">. Just click the blue lined titles (or possibly black) to go directly to the blog post. Otherwise go to the year and month to your left. </span>I would love to see more comments.<br />
<br />
[6/15/16] I am happy to report that I have won my At Large primary with 63%+ of the votes. Among other things I hope to join Elissa Silverman who was the single vote in support of keeping McMillan Park as a resource for the people.<br />
For the June 14, Primary Election I ran for <b>DC Council At Large</b> as a member of the <b>DC Statehood Green Party</b>. If you wish <b>to support a future candidacy or this blog</b>, please send a check marked <b>G. LEE AIKIN</b>, to <b>1754 Swann St., NW, Washington, DC 20009*</b><br />
[11/10/16] The <b>General Election is </b>over, and in <a href="https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/v3/2016/November-8-General-Election" target="_blank">a field of six candidates</a> to fill two seats, I came in third as I had hoped. The second place winner had over $300,000 in campaign funds, I had under $10,000. He also had fewer than 4 times as many votes while spending at least 60 times as much. <br />
For the immediate future my major focus of energy will be saving McMillan Park from a NO-BID developer who wants our Mayor to sell them this land valued at over $100million for a bargain price of $17million. Our land paid for with our taxes!!!<br />
<br />
<b>Year 2020: </b><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>87) 5/27/20</span></span></span> <a href="http://Covid-19. What Treatments Are Working, What Others Might Help" target="_blank">Covid-19: What Treatments Are Working, What Others Might Help</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span></span></span><br />
<b>Year 2019:</b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">86) 12/26/19<span style="color: black;"> Government Shutdown and Poverty Diet Tips--</span></span><b><a href="https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2019/12/government-shutdown-and-poverty-diet.html" target="_blank"> </a></b><a href="https://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2019/12/government-shutdown-and-poverty-diet.html" target="_blank">how to Eat Cheap and Stay Healthy</a><b><br /></b><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="color: black;">85)<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>7/2/19</span></span><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b><a href="http://The Iran Crises and my witness to Frank Shaffer-Corona's quixotic hostage rescue efforts in 1980" target="_blank">The Iran Crises and my witness to Frank Shaffer-Corona's quixotic hostage rescue efforts in 1980. </a></span><br />
<br />
<b>Year 2018:</b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">84) 11/20/18</span> <span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-right: 10px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://california%20wildfires%20and%20straw%20bale%20construction%20some%20useful%20ideas/" target="_blank">California Wildfires and Straw Bale Construction - Some Useful Ideas</a></span> </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: small;">83) 3/10/18 </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/DC%20TAXES:%20D-40,%20Schedule%20H%20Individual%20Tax%20Benefit%20Expires%20April%2015,%202018%20for%202014%20[Don't%20loose%20$1,000]" target="_blank">DC TAXES: D-40, Schedule H Individual Tax Benefit Expires April 15, 2018 for 2014 </a><br />
[Don't loose $1,000]<br />
<table __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingblur="true" __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingfocus="true" cellspacing="0" class="K3JSBVB-o-y bloggPostTable" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-spacing: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; table-layout: fixed; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1283px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_row="0" __gwt_subrow="0" class="K3JSBVB-o-b K3JSBVB-o-i" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td align="left" class="K3JSBVB-o-a K3JSBVB-o-c K3JSBVB-o-j" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 8px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;" valign="top"></td><td align="left" class="K3JSBVB-o-a K3JSBVB-o-c K3JSBVB-o-j" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 8px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;" valign="top"><br /></td><td align="left" class="K3JSBVB-o-a K3JSBVB-o-c K3JSBVB-o-j" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 8px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;" valign="top"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Year 2017:</b><br />
82) 8/18/17 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2017/08/trump-donald-surviving-trump-years.html" target="_blank">Trump, Donald: Surviving the Trump Year(s?) McMillan Park</a> Fallout & Emergency Shelter<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">81) 1/15/17</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/12/mcmillan-park-finer-vision-for-pro.html" target="_blank">McMillan Park - A Finer Vision for Pro-People Development & Major Court Decision</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Year 2016:</b><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">80) 10/14/16 </span><a href="http://dc%20constitution%20%26%20statehood%2C%20sept.%2027%20%26%20oct%206%20testimony%2C%20consequences%20of%20nov.%208%2C%202016%20vote/" target="_blank">DC Constitution & Statehood, Sept. 27 & Oct. 6 Testimony, </a>Consequences of Nov. 8, 2016 Vote<br />
<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">79)<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>10/11/16</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/10/g-lee-aikin-wamu-questionnaire-more.html" target="_blank">G. Lee Aikin, WAMU & GLAA Questionnaires, More Detailed Answers for 2016 General Election</a><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38761d;">78) 10/6/16</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/10/mcmillan-park-further-updates-and-legal.html" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">McMillan Park, Further Updates & Legal Action, Summer/Fall 2016</a></span></h3>
<span style="color: red;">77) 10/3/16 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/10/dc-tax-justice-for-low-and-middle.html" target="_blank">Tax Justice for Low and Middle Income People, My 12 Year Fight</a><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">76) 7/11/16 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/07/david-grosso-anita-bonds-bill-removes.html" target="_blank">David Grosso & Anita Bonds Bill Removes ANC Chairs from FOIA Requirements.</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7;">75) 5/15/16 </span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/05/statehood-for-dc-mayor-fast-tracks-new.html" target="_blank">Statehood for DC, Mayor Fast Tracks New Constitution</a> for Nov. 8, 2016 DC Voter Approval.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">74) 4/19/16</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/04/dc-statehood-only-solution-to-200-years.html" target="_blank">DC Statehood - The Only Solution</a> to 200 Years of Disenfranchisement</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">73) 4/4/16 </span></span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/04/dc-budget-oversight-hearings-on-fiscal.html" target="_blank"> DC Budget Oversight Hearings on Fiscal Year 2016-2017 (April) </a><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">72) 4/2/16 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/04/exelon-pepco-buyout-potential-lawsuit.html" target="_blank">Exelon PEPCO Buyout, A Potential Lawsuit?</a> Is it really over?<br />
71) 3/28/16 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2016/03/tenac-supports-office-of-tenant.html" target="_blank">TENAC Supports Off. of the Tenant Advocate </a>(Guest post, Jim McGrath, Chairman)<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">70) 3/6/16</span> <a href="http://mcmillan%20park%2C%203/2/16%20Testimony%20by%20Daniel%20Wolkoff,%20and%20How%20Our%20Water%20System%20Functions" target="_blank">McMillan Park, 3/2/16 Testimony by Daniel Wolkoff, & How Our Water System Functions</a> <br />
<br />
<b>Year 2015;</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">69) 12/28/15 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/12/index-of-all-posts-newest-to-oldest.html" target="_blank"><b>Index of All Posts, </b>Newest to Oldest, Dates, Titles, Guests</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">68) 11/25/15</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-government-fails-to-use-millions-of.html" target="_blank">DC Government Fails to Use $Millions of HUD Money</a>, In Apparent Effort to Speed Up Gentrification (guest post Angela White Narain)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">67) 11/19/15 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/excelonpepco-takeover-psc-hearing-nov.html" target="_blank">Excelon/PEPCO takeover, PSC Hearing</a> Nov. 17 & 18, 2015. They Desperately Need Our Ratepayers. Testimony from anti-Exelon Witnesses</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">66) 11/19/15 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-psc-community-hearing-witness-list.html" target="_blank">DC PSC Community Hearing Witness List</a> for 11-17 & 18, 2015 Hearing (condensed)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">65) 9/28/15 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/09/hajj-muslim-tragedy-in-mecca-mass.html" target="_blank">Hajj: Muslim Tragedy in Mecca</a> - Mass Casualties in 2015 Hajj, Cause & Prevention?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">64) 8/14/15 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/08/chinese-disasters-environmental-and.html" target="_blank">Chinese Disasters</a> - Environment and Social Problems of Rapid Development</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">63) 4/15/15 </span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/04/dc-taxes-2015-update-good-and-bad-news.html" target="_blank">DC Taxes - 2015/2016 Update</a>s: GOOD and BAD News - Revised <b>Schedule H</b>, This Could GIVE YOU Money</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">62) 2/19/15</span> <span style="line-height: 1.4;"><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-solar-energy-revolution-for.html" target="_blank">A Solar Energy Revolution in Washington, DC</a> [& Puerto Rico power grid disaster] Could Inspire the World (guest post Don Wharton)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">61) 1/21/15</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/01/exelonpepco-merger-is-it-good-for-dc.html" target="_blank">Exelon/PEPCO Merger</a>--Is It Good for DC Residents?</span><br />
<br />
<b>Year 2014:</b><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;">60) 11/12/14 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;"><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/11/mcmillan-park-and-opportunity-for-dc.html" target="_blank">McMillan Park</a>, an Opportunity for DC Council to Serve the People Not Developers (guest additions from Daniel Wolkoff and Kirby Vining)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;">59) 10/21/14 </span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/can-creative-use-of-shipping-containers.html" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;" target="_blank">Shipping Containers Homes</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;">, Can Creative Use Help Solve the Low Cost Housing Crisis? </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;">58) 0/6/14 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;"> </span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/ebola-can-be-stopped-but-nobody-is.html" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;" target="_blank">HOW MANY EBOLA VICTIMS COULD BIG PHARMA KILL?</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;"> If They and the Medical Establishment Don't Try Low Cost Available Treatments</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;">57) 10/3/14</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;"> </span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-2019-dc-council-approval-of-2-tax.html" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;" target="_blank">DC Taxes to come down in 2019?</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;">,</span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;"> or NOT,</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;"> as DC Council Approves 2 Tax Revision Commission Recommendations to FINALLY Put $85 million Annually in Our Pockets!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;">56) 9/22/14 </span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/09/free-dc-us-capital-is-last-plantation.html" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;" target="_blank">Free DC: The US Capital is the Last Plantation</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.9px;"> (guest post Scott McLarty)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">55) 9/20/14<span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/09/g-lee-aikin-answers-dc-alliance-of.html" target="_blank">G. Lee Aikin answers DC Alliance of Youth Advocates</a>, Candidate Questionnaire</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">54) 9/12/14</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/09/dc-mayoral-race-2014-catania-and.html" target="_blank">DC Mayoral race, 2014, Catania and Schwartz</a> Views on Small Entrepreneurs/Street Vendors (1998)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">53) 9/9/14<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/09/g-lee-aikin-experience-goals-hopes-as.html" target="_blank"> G. Lee Aikin, Experience, Goals & Hopes</a>, as Candidate, Chairman, DC Council, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">52) 8/14/14 </span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/08/dc-elections-heat-up-out-to-see-action.html" target="_blank">DC Elections Heat Up</a>: Out to See the Action at DC for Democracy</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">51) 3/18/14 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/03/dc-council-approval-of-2-tax-revision.html" target="_blank">DC Council Approval of 2 Tax Revision Commission Recommendations</a> Will Put $85 Million Annually in Our Pockets</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">50) 3/17/14</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/03/dc-low-income-housing-needs-new-ideas.html" target="_blank">Low Income Housing Needs New Ideas</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">49) 3/10/14 -</span><span style="line-height: 18.9px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18.9px;"><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/03/league-of-women-voters-questionnaire.html" target="_blank">League of Women Voters Questionnaire</a>--</span><span style="line-height: 18.9px;">Tax Revision Comm., Affordable Housing, Electoral Reform, Charter/Public Schools</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">48) 3/4/14</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/03/we-must-reconsider-marijuana-laws.html" target="_blank">We Must Implement DC Marijuana Laws</a> (and National News)--Decriminalization & Legalization</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">47) 1/17/14</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/01/pres-obama-save-middle-class-sen-mccain.html" target="_blank">Pres. Obama, "Save the Middle Class</a>;" Sen. McCain, "Put an End to Greed!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">46) 1/11/14</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2014/01/congress-illustrates-dcs-need-for.html" target="_blank">Congress Illustrates DC's Need for Statehood </a>Once Again: Prohibits Using Our Tax $$</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Year 2013:</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;">45) 12/8/13</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/12/prevent-future-keystone-xl-pipeline.html" target="_blank">Keystone XL Pipeline</a>, Prevent Future Tragedy Now: Qingdao Pipeline Explosion Kills 62</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">44) 11/18/13</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/11/can-our-middle-class-be-saved-by-dc-tax.html" target="_blank">Can Our Middle Class be Saved </a>by DC Tax Revision Commission?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">43) 9/5/13 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/09/12-minimum-wage-sought-for-montgomery.html" target="_blank">$12 Minimum Wage Sought</a> for Montgomery Co., MD; and DC Mayor's $12.50 LRAA Decision</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">42) 9/3/13 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/12/index-of-all-posts-newest-to-oldest.html" target="_blank"> INDEX of all Posts, Recent to Oldest</a>, Dates, Titles [See 12/28/15 update]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">41) 9/1/13 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/09/50th-anniversary-mlk-march-dc-statehood.html" target="_blank">50th Anniversary MLK March</a> - Statehood Dreams, Personal Memories</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">40) 8/13/13 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/03/league-of-women-voters-questionnaire.html" target="_blank">The LOWV questionnaire from 3/27/12</a> was jumped to this date??</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">39) 8/1013</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/08/dc-1250-living-wage-walmart-blackmail.html" target="_blank">DC $12.50 Living Wage</a>, & Walmart Blackmail (and Perry Redd)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">38) 4/22/13</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/04/dc-special-election-at-large-candidates.html" target="_blank">DC Special Election</a>, At Large Candidates, April 23, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">37) 4/15/13 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/04/boston-marathon-bombing-summary-updates.html" target="_blank">Boston Marathon Bombing</a>, Summary & Updates</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">36) 4/4/13 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/04/dc-emancipation-day-and-martin-luther.html" target="_blank">DC Emancipation Day</a>, and Martin Luther King, Jr.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;">35) 4/1/13 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/04/straw-bale-buildings-solar-for.html" target="_blank">Straw Bale Buildings & Solar </a>for a Sustainable Earth</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">34) 2/8/13</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/02/perry-redd-at-large-dc-statehood-green.html" target="_blank">DC At Large Council Vote 4-23-13</a>, Perry Redd DCSGP Candidate</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">33) 2/8/13</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/02/perry-redd-at-large-dc-statehood-green.html" target="_blank">Perry Redd, At Large</a>, DC Statehood Green Party Candidate</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">32) 1/6/13</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-congress-has-more-women-especially.html" target="_blank">New Congress has more Women</a>, Especially Women (guest post Jo Freeman)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Year 2012:</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">31)<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>11/5/12</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/11/unemployment-crisis-new-national_5.html" target="_blank">Unemployment Crisis, 5th post</a> - A New National Lifestyle, (a 6 part series)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">30)<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>11/4/12</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/11/unemployment-crisis-new-national_4.html" target="_blank">Unemployment Crisis, 4th post</a> - A New National Lifestyle</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">29)<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>11/2/12</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/11/unemployment-crisis-new-national.html" target="_blank">Unemployment Crisis, 3rd post</a> - A New National Lifestyle</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">28)<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>10/27/12</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/10/unemployment-crisis-new-national_27.html" target="_blank">Unemployment Crisis, 2nd post</a> - A New National Lifestyle</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">27)<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>10/26/12</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/10/unemplyment-crisis-new-national.html" target="_blank">Unemployment Crisis, 1st post</a> - A New National Lifestyle</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">26)<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>10/21/12</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/10/our-unemployment-crisis-world-of-work.html" target="_blank">W</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/10/our-unemployment-crisis-world-of-work.html" target="_blank">orldwide Unemployment Crisis:</a> Work, has it Changed Permanently (intro to above 5 Posts)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">25) 10/21/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/10/saving-social-security-wage-cap.html" target="_blank">Saving Social Security</a>, Wage Cap, Marriage Penalty, Failure to Index (2016 figures)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">24) 10/17/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/10/councilmayor-expulsion-for-felony-on.html" target="_blank">Council/Mayor Expulsion for Felony</a> on Nov. Ballot</div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">23) 9/29/12 </span><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/09/dc-sacrifice-blood-lives-merits.html" target="_blank">DC Sacrifice, Blood & Lives, Merit Statehood</a></div>
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22) 9/13/12 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/09/chicagoconservative-views-of-economics.html" target="_blank">Chicago School/Conservative Views of Economy</a> (guest post Don Wharton)</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">21) 9/4/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/09/are-you-better-off-today-vs-4-years-ago.html" target="_blank">Are You Better Off Today</a> vs 4 Years Ago: "Better" Defined</div>
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20) 8/26/12 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/08/twice-raped-republican-ideology-todd.html" target="_blank">Rape & Republicans</a>: Their Rape Ideology, Tod Akin Ignorance & Now Zika Virus</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">19) 8/6/12 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/08/obesity-epidemic-diabetes-sugar-fat-and.html" target="_blank">Obesity Epidemic, Diabetes</a>, Sugar, Fat and "Obamacare"</div>
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18) 7/25/12 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/07/craigs-list-buying-renting-selling.html" target="_blank">Spam Scams from Craigslist and Elsewhere</a>, Buying, Selling, Renting, Responding</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">17) 6/29/12 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/06/obamaroberts-give-health-care-now-our.html" target="_blank">Obama/Roberts Empower Health Care</a> - Now Our Duty Begins</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">16) 6/16/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/06/solar-energy-revolution.html" target="_blank">A Solar Energy Revolution</a> (guest post Don Wharton)</div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">15) 6/12/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/06/supreme-court-anniversary-of-another.html" target="_blank">The Supreme Court (Citizens' United)</a>, Anniversary of Another Big Mistake</div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">14) 6/12/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/06/dc-statehood-green-shadow-candidates.html" target="_blank">DC Statehood Green "Shadow" Candidates' </a>Declarations Accepted at BOEE, also Chairmanship vote announced</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">13) 5/14/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/05/dc-tax-rates-hurt-working-poor-middle.html" target="_blank">DC Tax Rates Hurt Working Poor & Middle Class</a>, also Loss of Federal Payment</div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">12) 5/11/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/05/harry-thomas-inspired-council-act.html" target="_blank">Harry Thomas Inspired Council Act Received by BOEE</a> (and 10/7/12 update comment)</div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">11) 5/3/12 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/05/ballot-access-update-more-dc-boee-fun.html" target="_blank">Ballot Access Update: More DC BOEE Fun and Games</a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">10) 4/30/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/04/dc-2013-budget-cut-poor-collect-more.html" target="_blank">DC 2013 Budget: Cut the Poor, Collect More Fines</a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">9) 4/22/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/04/bd-of-elections-ethics-unethical-games.html" target="_blank">Bd. of Elections & Ethics, Unethical Games??</a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">8) 4/22/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/04/mcmillan-park-reservoir-development.html" target="_blank">McMillan Park Reservoir Development Planning</a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">7) 4/9/12 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/04/lets-promote-statehood-and-green-city.html" target="_blank">Let's Promote STATEHOOD and a GREEN City </a>(11 ideas)</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">6) 4/3/12 </span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/04/are-you-frog-jump-out-call-dc-council.html" target="_blank">The slow boil of DC Taxpayers</a>; ARE YOU A FROG? Jump out, call DC Council</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">5) 3/31/12</span><span style="line-height: 18.9px;"> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/03/save-lower-income-taxpayers-business.html" target="_blank">Saving Lower Income DC Taxpayers & Businesses</a></span></div>
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4) 3/26/12 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/03/family-history-of-labor-activism.html" target="_blank">A Family History of Labor Activism </a>(my biography with labor emphasis)</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">3) 3/26/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/03/dc-people-overtaxed-and-underserved.html" target="_blank">DC People Overtaxed & Underserved:</a> or Rip Van Winkle Sleeps On</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">2) 2/12/12</span> <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/02/testimony-before-comm-on-finance.html" target="_blank">DC People Overpay for Years as Council Neglects Inflation Fixes</a> (on DC taxes)</div>
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1) 2/12/12 <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2012/02/g-lee-aikin-experience-goals-hopes.html" target="_blank">G. Lee Aikin, Experience, Goals, Hopes</a> (my resume for At Large Council race)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">* </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">paid for by Elect G. Lee Aikin, PO Box 53222, Washington, DC 20009. A copy of our report is filed with the Director of Campaign Finance of the DC Board of Elections.</span><br />
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-9200068347285427552015-11-25T15:19:00.000-08:002018-03-24T15:56:42.551-07:00DC Government Fails to Use $Millions of HUD Money, In Apparent Effort to Speed Up GentrificationI recently attended a "Socialist Salon" on gentrification and the fight against it in the District of Columbia. It was sponsored by Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). I was invited by another anti-Exelon testifier I had met at the recent Public Service Commission hearing. Although they are strong Bernie Sanders supporters they hope this will not keep us from cooperating in fighting gentrification. I can assure them, that at least in my case, it will not.<br />
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Their guest speaker at this anti-gentrification salon was Claire Cook, an organizer with the activist group ONE DC. Ms. Cook divided us into several teams and then asked specific questions on low and middle income government figures, housing costs in DC, numbers of people on housing waiting lists in DC (72,000), and other pertinent questions. <span style="background-color: white;"> After the teams presented their answers, we</span> went into a more general discussion of the issues and possible solutions.<br />
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The younger members of the group seemed more interested in activism and ideals, whereas the older attendees focused more on specific things like legislation which could be used to modify and reduce the problem. I feel both are necessary and need to be coordinated both to stimulate action and to make sure action is on target. One guest there seemed particularly knowledgeable about the depth and complexity of the problem and I asked her to write me a guest article for posting.<br />
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<b style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Guest Post by Angela White Narain</b><br />
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Condition of Housing in the District of Columbia<br />
Democratic Socialist Salon session, Nov. 19, 2015<br />
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In addressing some pressing issues on housing in the District of Columbia, Clair Cook, the guest speaker at the Salon, wanted to investigate yet again, the creation and development of a land trust and put in place limited cooperatives for low wealth folks to live in.<br />
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In 1998 Rick Eisen, esq and I were charged with the major responsibility of finding out why limited equity cooperatives did not work then in the District of Columbia. I had asked my employer not to lend to a specific project of limited equity cooperatives that Hope Housing was developing in the Congress Heights neighborhood, because right across the street at that time, there was a major drug market. I told them people will not buy and stay across the street, but in sum, within the next year several million banks dollars, and nonprofit lender dollars were lost because of the investment made in communities at that time when the market was not right for it. <br />
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The city has returned over $140,000,000 million dollars in the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds from DC Department of Housing and Community Development to the Federal Government that could have been used to build thousands of affordable housing units. DC has had this serious problem for years with HUD regarding their HOME funds, which are part of our federal entitlement dollars that we get from HUD every year.<br />
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That evening I suggested to the Salon group they should attend the <a href="http://dhcd.dc.gov/" target="_blank">Planning Meetings</a> that are held every year, in which the city is supposed to use the comments to create a document called, a <a href="http://dhcd.dc.gov/" target="_blank">Consolidated Plan</a>.* This represents our invoice to HUD for our five federal entitlement programs to be acquired for the development and preservation of affordable housing in the District of Columbia. In addition to HOME, the other 4 programs are: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Housing opportunity with Aids (HOPWA), Supportive Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP), and Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG)<br />
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When I was a technical assistance provider for HUD under the HOME Technical Assistance Grant that I got [clarify?], we were asked to come into the District to see why DC was not using their HOME funds properly. The Director at that time was Merrick Malone and manager was Mary Hammond and they would not let me and my team come in as directed by the DC HUD Field Office. They have been returning money to HUD ever since, and not building housing for low wealth people on purpose. <br />
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Thus, regarding all of the last 3 former Mayors and including this one, their Homelessness initiatives are jokes. They have been a way to pay out money to their friends for Homelessness Reports and Committees, as well as Commissions that they have never implemented. The New Communities Initiatives is a major disaster but was created in the spirit of trying to create a replacement for the Hope VI Program, which is the demolition of public housing projects. <br />
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The best major redevelopment project is the Wheeler Creek Project wherein I used to serve on the board of directors, and is one of 5. Other major public housing projects that are slated for redevelopment are: Barry Farm in Ward 8, Lincoln Heights - Richardson Dwelling in Ward 7, Northwest One in Ward 6, and Park Morton in Ward 1. The New Communities Initiative is funded through public bond financing that allows the District to leverage funding for development projects. <br />
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The amount of displacement of residents in public housing that has been done by the District has been criminal and the conditions of the units before they left have been horrible. Harassment by local government for the redevelopment of Barry Farms has occurred over a 15 year period, starting in Mayor Williams' Administration. To date over 20,000 people have been displaced. <br />
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<b>For further information you can reach Angela White at her email address:</b> angelawhitenarain@gmail.com on any housing issue.<br />
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<b>Additional comments by G. Lee Aikin:</b><br />
Angela reports a total of 5 federal grant programs that provide housing related money to DC. If the city has returned $140,000,000 to the feds over the years for the HOME program, I wonder how much money DC has failed to use from the other 4 programs she mentions?<br />
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* Unfortunately, the Consolidated Plan meetings for this year were already held in October and November. However,<a href="http://dhcd.dc.gov/service/dc-draft-fy2016-fy2020-consolidated-plan" target="_blank"> this link </a>provides contact information to follow up on this planning, and to learn when the next meetings will be held in 2016.<br />
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I decided to backtrack on some of the DC history and personnel. I found that in February 2015, <a href="http://www.dchousing.org/doc.aspx?docid=2015041313490449836&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1" target="_blank"> Merrick Malone was appointed</a> along with Kimberly Black King to the DC Housing Authority's Office of Capital Programs as Director and Chief Development Officer respectively. Mr. Malone was a former head of DC Dept. of Housing and Community Development and Deputy Mayor of Economic Development during the Kelly and Barry administrations. In addition to DC, he also has experience from Detroit in urban transformations in downtowns, school systems and neighborhoods.<span style="color: #051521; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;">“</span><br />
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<span style="color: #051521; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;">The various DC administrations have worked vigorously to reduce the amount of housing for low wealth people and families. <a href="https://currentnewspapers.com/exhibit-reveals-d-c-s-history-of-systematic-housing-discrimination/" target="_blank">Recently (9/17), the Current Newspapers</a> have taken a look at this important issue.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #051521; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;">While there is some evidence for suggesting that high concentrations of uniformly low wealth people may cause some problems, tearing down their homes and creating a homelessness problem is not the answer. This article written almost 2 years ago <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/21563-poorest-residents-fight-displacement-by-gentrification" target="_blank">describes this issue </a>and how it has been conducted at Barry Farms and other locations and some of the results. Wall to wall gentrification is not the solution. In addition, the <a href="http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2015/11/30/dc-housing-authority-accused-gentrification/76587424/" target="_blank">DC Housing Authority</a> is also forcing people out of public housing to fix, flip and sell properties to gentrifiers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #051521; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Here is a <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/29/1388789/-Stunning-maps-showing-how-much-you-need-to-earn-in-each-state-to-afford-a-two-bedroom-rental-unit?detail=email" target="_blank">very useful national map</a> showing how much hourly wage one would need for a two bedroom rental in each state and DC. The $28 an hour DC wage is even higher than what one needs in high priced California.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #051521; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><b>Here is information provided by Historic Washington activist Mary Rowse </b>[March 2018]</span><br />
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<span style="color: #051521; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/audit-dc-agency-used-funding-to-house-poor-residents-for-other-needs/2018/03/19/2dce3cb2-2aec-11e8-b0b0-f706877db618_story.html?utm_term=.ca18cd6e6fd5" target="_blank">Audit: D.C. agency used funding to house poor residents for other needs</a><br clear="none" style="line-height: 1.22em;" />By Paul Schwartzman, The Washington Post, March 20, 2018<br clear="none" style="line-height: 1.22em;" /><br />Material below is quoted or summarized from the much longer article linked above. <br clear="none" style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The D.C. government has used a $1 billion fund established to create affordable housing and stave off gentrification to repay the federal government millions of dollars for mismanaged grants, the D.C. Auditor said in a new report Tuesday."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Since 2001, the Housing Production Trust Fund, as the program is known, has doled out nearly $750 million in grants and loans to developers to build or preserve thousands of units of affordable housing." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This audit, is the first comprehensive examination of the program.<br clear="none" style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"From 2009 to 2014, DHCD steered $16.6 million from the fund to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to make up for the city’s “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/dc-housing-department-forfeited-millions-as-families-struggled-to-find-homes/2017/05/06/ea325f42-161f-11e7-ada0-1489b735b3a3_story.html?utm_term=.62a34c28d2cd" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em;" target="_blank">ineffective management</a> of federal grants,” according to the audit." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The audit indicates DC has poor results in collecting on loans to developers thus failing to replenish the trust fund. I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t asserts DC's Chief Financial Officer has failed rigorous oversight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We have made huge investments of taxpayer dollars in affordable housing through the Housing Production Trust Fund but we haven’t gotten our money’s worth,” said D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and DHCD director Polly Donaldson explain a number of disagreements with the audit findings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dcs-affordable-housing-program-has-been-mismanaged-according-to-city-auditors-report/2017/03/16/42038e86-09b3-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_story.html?utm_term=.0e1eb1971a9c" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em;" target="_blank">A 2017 audit concluded </a>that it could not evaluate the fund’s performance because DHCD’s data was 'unreliable.'" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The report also found that over the life of the fund, the District had failed to ensure that 80 percent of its annual disbursements were used to create affordable housing for the city’s poorest residents, as required by law."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Nearly 70 percent of the fund’s disbursements were used for residents making up to $88,000, the audit found." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The article then discussed complicated movements of funds involving HUD, DHCD, HPTF and elsewhere. The result was fewer $millions for housing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The audit also found DHCD has used the trust fund to finance various small projects which were not "caught and redirected."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #051521; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><b>Here is information provided by DCSGP activist Jenefer Ellingston </b>[Feb. 2016]</span><br />
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The head of a House panel wants information from the Obama administration on how many over-income families live in public housing—and how many needy families are still on waiting lists for assistance.</div>
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Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, wants the Housing and Urban Development Department to hand over by Feb. 10 all documents related to over-income public housing residents going back to October 2013, and wants a briefing on the issue for congressional staff by the end of this week. Chaffetz also requested the “annual number of over-income families and families on waiting lists for each year since 2005 for each public housing authority that participates in HUD’s public housing program,” according to his<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016-01-27-JEC-Mica-to-Castro-HUD-Over-Income-Public-Housing-due-2-10.pdf" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1454785968800_2300" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Jan. 27 letter</a> to Secretary Julian Castro.</div>
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A controversial HUD inspector general report released in July estimated that the department would pay $104.4 million over the next year for public housing units occupied by over-income families that could otherwise be used for low-income people. HUD disputed that figure, saying the IG’s methodology to estimate the subsidy cost of housing over-income families contained a “serious flaw.”</div>
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The report, which <a href="http://www.govexec.com/management/2015/10/huds-budget-threatened-because-over-income-public-housing-residents/122761/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">attracted attention from Capitol Hill</a>, included some <a href="http://www.govexec.com/management/2015/08/one-public-housing-family-new-york-city-had-annual-income-nearly-500000-2013/119108/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1454785968800_2277" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">extreme examples of over-income families</a> living in public housing. In one case in New York City, a family of four that has been living in public housing since 1988 had an annual household income of $497,911 in 2013. But the number of over-income residents identified in the audit represented just 2.6 percent of all public housing households, and in most cases the families in question were over-income by less than $10,000. The term “over-income” applies to those public housing households that earn more than the income threshold established for their locality.</div>
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HUD would not comment on the Chaffetz letter. “Our protocol is always to respond directly to the requestor,” said department spokesman Jereon Brown. The committee had not yet received a response as of Jan. 29, said Chaffetz spokeswoman MJ Henshaw.</div>
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Under HUD regulations, once accepted into public housing, individual households and families can stay as long as they like regardless of increased earnings, provided they comply with rental agreements and remain good tenants. When a family in public housing becomes over-income, they no longer receive a subsidy from the government for their rent; they pay the unit’s full rent themselves.</div>
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HUD has said public housing authorities already have the ability to evict over-income tenants. A <a href="https://www.govexec.com/media/gbc/docs/pdfs_edit/101315kl1.pdf" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2004 HUD rule</a> allows PHAs to move families in public housing to the private market if they earn more than the income limit, “allowing authorities to address over-income families within the context of their own unique demographic and economic situations,” the IG report said.</div>
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In September, HUD sent PHAs a letter reminding them of their authority and flexibility in evicting over-income households. “HUD strongly encourages PHAs to utilize the discretion available to them to remove extremely-over-income families from public housing,” wrote Lourdes Castro Ramirez, HUD’s principal deputy assistant secretary for Public and Indian Housing, in the Sept. 3 letter. Ramirez recommended PHAs use some available tools to deal with the issue, including using the local area median income for program income limits instead of the national AMI, which HUD uses in certain markets with significantly higher incomes. HUD also suggested PHAs create a “preference for return” to public housing for those over-income households that are evicted if their income drops after moving out.</div>
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There are more than 3,000 public housing authorities across the country. Many PHAs count on the rent money from over-income families to help boost their budgets. </div>
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HUD told auditors that if all over-income families were removed from public housing, it would need to request “nearly $116.5 million more in public housing operating subsidies annually,” according to the IG report. The presence of such households also helps de-concentrate poverty in public housing, and create sustainable mixed-income communities, according to HUD, PHAs and affordable housing advocates.</div>
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After I have given more thought to this issue or receive additional information, I will add to this article in the near future (you all come back). Comments with information welcomed.G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-24405651474144765892015-11-19T22:41:00.001-08:002018-12-09T21:50:24.022-08:00Exelon/PEPCO takeover, PSC Hearing Nov. 17 & 18, 2015. They Desperately Need Our Ratepayers<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Here is a report of some of the happenings at the hearings, plus some good anti-Exelon testimony. Also periodic updates.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[3/11/16] After several weeks of toing and froing, it appears that Mayor Bowser, the Office of the People's Council, and the Attorney General <a href="http://wtop.com/dc/2016/03/dc-peoples-counsel-opposes-latest-exelon-pepco-proposal/" target="_blank">may have decided </a>that the various changes in Exelon proposals do not make this company and it's obsolescent nuclear plants a good, safe fit for us, the DC rate and tax payers. However the Public Service Commission could still vote to accept the new deal without DC officials signing off. They have until April 7 to act. Meanwhile Exelon stock <a href="http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickchart/quickchart.asp?symb=exc&insttype=&freq=1&show=&time=8" target="_blank">continues a steady rise</a>. Stock price hit a low in mid December (see 12/18/15 below) when the federal General Services Administration again came out against Exelon. Since March 2nd the rise is continuous. What do the stockholders know that we don't? <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Is a final fix in?</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> On the other hand <a href="http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickchart/quickchart.asp?symb=POM&insttype=Stock&freq=1&show=&time=5" target="_blank">Pepco stock prices</a> have been on a roller coaster. Whatever is happening their stockholders don't seem to know what Exelon stockholders know. On the other hand PEPCO stockholders may know what Exelon stockholders don't know. Since March 2nd their shares have been trading much below the promised price near $28. <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Is there possible market manipulation going on? Making it appear that the Exelon deal will fail while those in the know buy PEPCO stock cheap. Then get the guaranteed higher price when DC caves to the Exelon deal.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[3/15/16] After a few more days it appears the Exelon stock has leveled off, and PEPCO stock is staying low. Perhaps what is happening is that people far away figure that Exelon is going to win its bid, whereas people in DC believe that PEPCO will NOT be bought with the guaranteed payout. Nevertheless, with a dividend of almost 5%, and the likelihood of other suitors in the future PEPCO is probably a decent buy if income is a goal.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[3/16/16] This afternoon around 4pm I heard former Mayor Anthony Williams urging support for Exelon. Then a leader on the Board of Trade also spoke in favor, listing all the old "benefits" they were selling 3 months ago. </span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have not won yet!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[2/26/16] The Public Service Commission (PSC) has just voted 2 to 1 to ask some changes of Exelon prior to giving approval. They don't sound very good according to <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-dc-psc-merger-20160226-story.html" target="_blank">this article</a>. I see the $78 million benefits package that encouraged so many DC groups to testify in favor of the Exelon takeover would now be kept "in escrow until it can be determined how best to spend it, and removing a requirement that the company develop microgrids in the District." This ensures that the many DC groups who expected a payout for their support will now have to BEG the Mayor and others for their payoff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It also means that the Federal Govt.'s folks at GSA who thought they had a deal with the Mayor through Tommy Wells are also sxxxxed. Since the Feds use 1/3rd the electricity in DC, perhaps they will reactivate their objections. Where are all those nosy Congresspeople when their DC control might actually be useful. I would also like to know the size of our DC Govt. electric bill? Is our Mayor also doing it to the taxpayers in addition to the ratepayers given the likely rate increases to DC Govt. under Exelon?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This hearing was a fascinating study in how huge business spends their money to mobilize support and destroy the efforts of "We the People." The PSC will probably make their final ruling some time in March (see above), so we have time to mobilize more effort to stop Exelon. In fact, the PSC will accept letters regarding the Exelon takeover until Dec. 23rd. One thing I had not realized before doing research for this Community Hearing, was how desperate Exelon was to save themselves at our expense. It seems they are making some halfhearted efforts to increase their portfolio of renewables, but their overload of nuclear is truly a rotting albatross around their necks. [</span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 16px;">President Obama has </span><a href="http://aia.org/press/releases/AIAB108038" style="font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 16px;" target="_blank">just recognized</a><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 16px;"> the need for </span><a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-02-02/obama-orders-more-earthquake-resilience-for-govt-buildings" style="font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 16px;" target="_blank">earthquake protection</a><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 16px;"> with an </span><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/02/fact-sheet-obama-administration-announces-steps-increase-nations" style="font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 16px;" target="_blank">Executive Order</a> aimed at protecting <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/02/executive-order-establishing-federal-earthquake-risk-management-standard" target="_blank">government buildings</a><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 16px;">.]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pepco has been busy trying to sell this buyout (it is not a merger). Pepco stockholders will receive $27.25 per share of Pepco paid by Exelon. They will receive NO Exelon stock. In addition the CEO of Pepco will receive $10 million, and $30 million total will be paid to top Pepco executives. In addition, Mayor Bowser's favorite staffer will receive a guaranteed buyout of more than $1 million in Pepco stock. There are also a number of <a href="http://ieefa.org/exelons-acquisition-of-pepco-at-ratepayer-expense/" target="_blank">other good reasons </a>for not approving this buyout. The following protection was eliminated over a decade ago. Now we see the results. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 18px;">The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 placed restrictions on utility holding companies in order to protect ratepayers against the holding-company excesses that contributed to the Great Depression.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By all means read the first three links below my current testimony. The fourth link is my previous blog article on this struggle against Exelon/PEPCO. The saddest thing to see was the score or more of apparently low income people wearing identical green T-shirts, green hats, and carrying large printed pro Exelon signs. Several of us heard that they were being paid at least $15 to show up and sit in the audience. Sadly, in 10 years most of them will be unable to afford to live in DC. If you know more about this, please post a comment with details.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A second piece of trickery was the treatment of the public as compared to the paid audience members. Two people have told me how they and a number of others were detained in the lobby instead of being allowed upstairs. Thus while paid pro-Exelon people were allowed into the hearing, the general public including anti-Exelon ratepayers were kept out. One person, a listed witness, was allowed upstairs and reported back that there was plenty of seating in the hearing room for those kept out in the lobby. Please comment if you were among the victims detained in the lobby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A third piece of funny business was the fact that a single individual phoned in a list of almost 70 names of potential witnesses. Apparently PSC made NO EFFORT to vet this individual. They were numbered starting from 150. You will note they are alphabetical by FIRST name, odd in itself. The Tuesday hearing was ended a little after 4:30 pm at number 118. The total list was 259 names. Wednesday at </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lunch time I dropped in at PSC to listen to more testimony. Discovered they were finished around 12:30. Someone who had been there the whole time said that when all those people, whose names were called in by ONE person, were called on to testify, NOT A SINGLE ONE responded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wonder how the PSC felt about having their time wasted like that? How do you feel about having your money wasted that way on their salaries. Let's try to calculate it: Salary wasted by someone recording the 70 names, someone typing up the 70 names, the 13 extra pages the names were printed on, the paper wasted printing all these extra pages, 3 commissioners and 10 or more staff salaries as they sat through the reading of these 13 pages. Does this add up to enough for a grand larceny charge. If not criminal, could we sue for civil damages and punitive damages for wasting our tax money? WHO MADE THAT CALL??? If you know, please add a comment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The harmful result of that trickery is that people who thought they could testify after those individuals did not even arrive before the hearings were shut down. Here is one outraged comment: "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Even more of a problem is that the additional names, who probably never intended to testify, were accepted onto the list by the Secty of the PSC without verification from those individuals. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">The result of allowing all these false names, I was placed at number 2XX. I didn't think they would get to me until after 1pm today, actually figuring closer to 5pm. I got there at 1:45pm and it was over. The false ballooning of the list messed any real understanding of a schedule and prevented me [and probably others] from testifying. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't understand why this was even allowed to happen." </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think we can all understand that this is how Exelon operates and is a dismal portent of our future relations with them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The suspicious names start at number 150 and run to 216. Do you recognize what group, Ward, etc. these names might have been culled from? Did the individual making the call to PSC even have permission to use their names? If not, would they want to sue? Here is the link for all the PSC witnesses. Below that is a much more compact link I edited. Since I can't get a URL from Libre Office I am posting this condensed list as a separate blog post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://dcpsc.org/pdf_files/hottopics/FC1119_ListofSpeakers.pdf" id="yiv7011017587yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_55737" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://dcpsc.org/pdf_files/hottopics/FC1119_ListofSpeakers.pdf</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-psc-community-hearing-witness-list.html">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/dc-psc-community-hearing-witness-list.html</a></span><br />
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[12/2/15] - Today the PSC held the hearing for the participants in the deal, Exelon, PEPCO and others. One disappointment, the federal government's General Services Admin. which had previously questioned Exelon sharply over their effect on federal government electrical costs, and thus the taxpayers dollars, decided to sit this one out<a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2015/12/02/gsa-backs-out-of-d-c-pepco-exelon-hearings.html" target="_blank"> according to this report</a>. This may have happened because the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/federal-agency-halts-effort-to-save-us-taxpayers-money-on-utility-merger/2015/12/02/9f7c105e-97e2-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html" target="_blank">GSA wanted DC's help </a>with an energy project., reports the Washington Post. To quote Tommy Wells, currently DC Director of Energy & Environment, and negotiator for Mayor Bowser, "I told them, we could prioritize you (GSA) for one of these microgrids...I do think they would be interested in that...We are very interested in helping." <br />
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[12/5/15] - A lively demonstration against Exelon/PEPCO was held outside PSC's building and reported on the noon news on the 2nd. <a href="http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickchart/quickchart.asp?symb=EXC&insttype=&freq=7&show=True&time=18" target="_blank">Exelon stock </a>continued to decline in value as the afternoon progressed. Now, 3 days later, Exelon stock fell even further on Friday as the general market rose. In addition it appears the the <a href="http://www.utilitydive.com/news/feds-back-out-of-exelon-pepco-merger-proceeding-easing-path-to-approval/410260/" target="_blank">GSA wanted more time </a>to formulate its response. So perhaps there is time to get Congress involved to keep the federal government from paying excessive electric rates.<br />
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[12/7/15] - Four courageous DC Council members have submitted <a href="file:///C:/Users/Donald/Downloads/Council%20letter%20to%20PSC.pdf" target="_blank">a heavily footnoted letter</a> to the PSC describing the many reasons PSC should continue to deny approval of this merger. Among other things Mary Cheh, David Grosso, Elissa Silverman, and Charles Allen point out that compared with likely profits of $100 million a year, the one time payments of less than $80 million to city and ratepayers is a bargain. They also explain that a number of these payments to DC will merely replace money that would have been spent anyway, leaving those funds to be spent in unknown ways.<br />
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[12/8/15] - Exelon/Pepco hired the Howard Theater and provided a catered sideboard to all who attended their "Town Hall" on this merger/takeover. They also put a green shopping bag containing a green hat and a green water bottle, all printed with pro Exelon advertising under every seat. They plan to hold these events throughout the city. The next day, at a Ward 4 monthly ANC meeting, the elected members voted unanimously to continue to oppose this takeover. Glad some of our elected public servants have not yet been bought.<br />
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[12/16/15] - An article from WAMU confirms that in late September <a href="http://wamu.org/news/15/12/16/exelon_paid_freshpac_chair_to_lobby_DC_government_about_merger" target="_blank">payments were made by Exelon </a>to the Chairman of Fresh-PAC, a group formed to collect campaign money in support of Muriel Bowser. The goal was to encourage these people to lobby the Mayor to support Exelon. A few days later Mayor Bowser switched her support to Exelon. This PAC which received a lot of criticism has now been ended, and funds are being returned. Other interesting articles are linked at the end.<br />
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[12/18/15] - The federal General Services Administration has now reversed its former stance on this buyout. They now<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/gsa-urges-regulators-to-reject-current-pepco-exelon-merger-deal/2015/12/17/bea86cfa-a4f0-11e5-b53d-972e2751f433_story.html" target="_blank"> complain that it is unfair</a> that they as the largest electricity user in the city and other commercial users get no benefits like small ratepayers. Time will tell if they are also bought off by sweetheart deals that will cost taxpayers instead of ratepayers. Meanwhile Exelon continues to spend large amounts of money to mail cards, pay for ads, robocalls, and other means of persuading the public that they are a good thing. This Washington Post article also has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/gsa-urges-regulators-to-reject-current-pepco-exelon-merger-deal/2015/12/17/bea86cfa-a4f0-11e5-b53d-972e2751f433_story.html" target="_blank">interesting comments</a>.<br />
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The witnesses fell into several categories:<br />
1) Con. People who had deep inside knowledge of how the nuclear industry and Exelon are operating, such as a former TVA executive, were uniformly against.</div>
2) Pro. Local organizations who have been getting PEPCO money, and are told they will get Exelon money were uniformly in favor. Apparently $79 million which our government should probably mostly be paying anyway is hard to compare with a $multibillion bill for an accident or shutting down 1 or more Exelon nuclear plants.<br />
3) Pro. Individuals who think that PEPCO is so bad, that surely a much larger business based in Chicago will give them better and quicker service.<br />
4) Con. Political activists who have consistently fought the big money giveaways by bought and paid for elected politicians, and see more big payoffs resulting in forcing the poor out of DC, and impoverishing the elderly and middle class as well.<br />
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If after reading these testimonies you agree that Exelon takeover is bad for us, study the lists available above and call those you may know and convince them to also come out against this sell-out. I find it particularly hard to understand why businesses would imagine that higher electric bills will be good for their bottom line.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">DC
Public Service Commission Community Hearing, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Formal Case 1119</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">November 17 &
18, 2015, 10 am to 7 pm, </span>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1325 G St., NW, Room
800, Washington, DC 20005</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Testimony by G. Lee
Aikin, 54 year DC Resident</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>DC Statehood Green Party</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Thank you for hearing our many
voices today. I previously reported to you my concerns regarding
potential earthquake danger to Exelon's 23 nuclear plants. Since the
5.8 earthquake in Mineral, VA, there have continued to be small
local quakes. In addition to owning Three Mile Island, Exelon now
has interests in the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plants. Please be sure
to check the earthquake standard for each plant that DC rate payers
would help pay for should the worst happen as it did in Japan. North
Anna, VA was built to a 6.0 standard, not a very comfortable margin
to the 5.8 quake that did strike. It cost Three Mile Island more
than $1 billion to clean up in the 1970s and 1980s. Far more in
today's dollars. [A witness in favor of Exelon said they need their payoff to repair earthquake damage at Carter Barron. President Obama has <a href="http://aia.org/press/releases/AIAB108038" target="_blank">just recognized</a> the need for <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-02-02/obama-orders-more-earthquake-resilience-for-govt-buildings" target="_blank">earthquake protection</a> with an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/02/fact-sheet-obama-administration-announces-steps-increase-nations" target="_blank">Executive Order</a>.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Today I want to call your
attention to the aging nature of the Exelon stable of nuclear plants.
It has been stated it could cost $1 billion to shut down a nuclear
plant. Two hundred (200) nuclear reactors are slated to be shut down
by 2040 which could cost more than $100 billion for decommissioning
costs. The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns there are
“considerable uncertainties” about these costs. Governments have
limited experience with this as only 10 plants were decommissioned in
the past 40 years. {1}</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Looking at one specific
example we find the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant in Southern
California. Because of premature wear on important parts, in June,
2013, the complete closure of the plant was announced, to begin in
early 2016. The Nuclear regulatory Commission believes this process
will take around 20 years costing $4.4 billion. Do you really want
to risk subjecting us all to those kinds of costs? {1}</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Much credit is given by the
nuclear folks to the lack of air pollution compared with coal, oil,
and gas. However, a major issue facing decommissioning is storage of
nuclear waste left behind by the plant. With so many plants about to
be decommissioned, this will become a key issue. Most states won't
allow these environmentally hazardous nuclear waste products. {1} </span>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">In Illinois, Exelon has warned
they would have to close 3 nuclear plants “unless consumers chip in
to reward them for producing environmentally-friendly electricity.”
Recently introduced Illinois legislation “would create a financial
reward for generators that produce 'clean' energy which doesn't
create harmful greenhouse gases.” The ratepayers would finance it.
{2} Apparently they don't want to acknowledge the environmental
danger and cost of spent nuclear fuel. Do we really want to be under
the thumb of a company which is already coercing the Illinois
legislature to finance its uneconomic business model?</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">In the US, four reactors were
permanently closed in 2013. “A glut of shale gas,
government-subsidized wind power and slack demand slashed power
prices more than 40% since 2008, making it hard to justify
costly-repairs or continued operations of aging nuclear units.”
“Given current economics with natural gas prices, it is very hard
for nuclear to compete,” said Philip Smyth, a power analyst with
Fitch Ratings.” {3}</span></div>
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“<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Exelon's Clinton facility
in Illinois is among nuclear generators that may be shut down from
either political or financial pressure.” “Exelon...underperformed
the S&P Utility Index in the past 5 years....and has seen stock
prices fall since July 2008 [to 2013] by 62%.” In 2013 “Exelon
was forced to cut its quarterly dividend for the first time amid
falling electricity prices...” Meanwhile, Exelon has “projected
about $900 million in additional cost for their reactors from new
Fukushima-related safety rules over the next 6 years [starting 2013]
according to regulatory filings.” {3} Why on earth would you want
us to pay for that?</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Exelon has 11 of its nuclear
plants in Illinois, licenses for 7 of them are expiring in from 7 to
12 years. When do their other 12 nuclear plant licenses expire? No
wonder they want to own our DC rate payers. {4}</span></div>
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<center>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 315px;">
<colgroup><col width="115"></col>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115"></td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46"></td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" valign="top" width="141"></td>
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<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115"><strong>ILLINOIS</strong></td>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"></td>
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<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Braidwood 1</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> October 17, 2026</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Braidwood 2</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> December 18, 2027</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Byron 1</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> October 31, 2024</td>
</tr>
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<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Byron 2</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> November 6, 2026</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Clinton</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> September 29, 2026</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Dresden 2</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> December 22, 2029</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Dresden 3</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> January 12, 2031</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">La Salle County 1</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> April 17, 2022</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">La Salle County 2</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> December 16, 2023</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Quad Cities 1</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> December 14, 2032</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Quad Cities 2</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> December 14, 2032</td>
</tr>
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<td height="17" style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="115">Clinton*</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="46">Exelon</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="141"> Proposed<br />
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Please don't allow us all to
become victims of Exelon's corporate strategy and need to keep its
stockholders happy. Your duty is to protect us the residents of
Washington, DC.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">{1}
<a href="http://www.energydigital.com/utilities/3684/What-Does-it-Cost-to-Decommission-a-Nuclear-Power-Plant">http://www.energydigital.com/utilities/3684/What-Does-it-Cost-to-Decommission-a-Nuclear-Power-Plant</a></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">{2}
<a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/02/26/exelon-says-nuclear-plants-could-close-without-illinois-clean-energy-bill/">http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/02/26/exelon-says-nuclear-plants-could-close-without-illinois-clean-energy-bill/</a></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">{3}
<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-07-21/nuclear-closures-at-entergy-to-exelon-seen-on-obama-plan">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-07-21/nuclear-closures-at-entergy-to-exelon-seen-on-obama-plan</a></span><br />
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{4} <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/01/exelonpepco-merger-is-it-good-for-dc.html" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 100%;">http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/01/exelonpepco-merger-is-it-good-for-dc.html</a><br />
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The two stock market charts below from <b>Market Watch</b> explain their fear. The numbers on the right side are the dollar value of the shares. In mid 2008 stock was worth $90 per share. This Friday (11-19-15) their shares were worth $28 each, as the second chart shows. Their stockholders must be spitting bullets at management.<br />
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[For some reason these two charts are not printing from the draft to the published article. However, clicking the 2 blue links in the explanations brings them up.]</div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/kaavio.Webhost/charts/big.chart?nosettings=1&symb=EXC&uf=0&type=2&size=2&sid=346606&style=320&freq=2&entitlementtoken=0c33378313484ba9b46b8e24ded87dd6&time=20&rand=1148970746&compidx=&ma=0&maval=9&lf=1&lf2=0&lf3=0&height=335&width=579&mocktick=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/kaavio.Webhost/charts/big.chart?nosettings=1&symb=EXC&uf=0&type=2&size=2&sid=346606&style=320&freq=2&entitlementtoken=0c33378313484ba9b46b8e24ded87dd6&time=20&rand=1148970746&compidx=&ma=0&maval=9&lf=1&lf2=0&lf3=0&height=335&width=579&mocktick=1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">Here is a chart of the past 15 years</span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span>of<a href="http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickchart/quickchart.asp?symb=EXC&insttype=&freq=2&show=True&time=20" target="_blank"> Exelon stock market activity</a>. They trade under the symbol EXC. Note their value dropped quickly with the beginning <span style="line-height: 100%;">of Obama administration, and even more after the fears raised in {3} article above.</span><br />
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Below is a chart of Exelon's last <a href="http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickchart/quickchart.asp?symb=EXC&insttype=&freq=7&show=True&time=18" target="_blank">10 days of market activity</a>. Note how the value dropped sharply during the first day of the PSC hearing, but rose again during the second day, but on Thursday trended downward again. The part of the chart labeled "Volume" means the number of shares bought and sold each day and with this chart by the hour. When you click the 10 day link you get today's figure. You also have the option there of asking for a chart of more or less day's activity. Today, 11/20/15 the value has dropped to the low point on Tuesday. <b> Don't give up, we can still win.</b><br />
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<table class="chart-cont" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><tbody style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="32" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickcharts_frontpageu=NULL**300x32**EXC**;;sz=300x32;;sym=EXC;;ord=726643700" style="background: transparent; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300"></iframe></div>
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See this March 2015 article from the<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-exelon-pepco-20150315-story.html" target="_blank"> Baltimore Sun</a> regarding problems related to Exelon's move into this region and difference in the various regional utilities. This article from Public Citizen has more than<a href="http://www.citizen.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=6450" target="_blank"> a dozen Exelon related links.</a><br />
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Here is additional information regarding <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3573759/Giant-chunks-Earth-s-mantle-FALLING-causing-quakes-southeastern-coming-warn-researchers.html" target="_blank">earthquake potential in the eastern United States</a>. We really need to make sure that the PSC thinks this issue through carefully. In addition, they need to heed the <a href="http://www.regblog.org/2016/04/28/simeone-nrc-staff-push-agency-to-address-escalating-safety-concerns/" target="_blank">warning of the 7 staff members</a> of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who have petitioned their bosses to have serious electrical problems in almost every reactor fixed immediately, or else shut these reactors down.<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">Joyce Robinson-Paul, Consumer Utility Board<span style="line-height: 100%;"> (Ward 5)</span></b><br />
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Testimony before the Public Service Commission, Community Hearing, Exelon-Pepco Settlement Proposal for Formal Case No 1119<span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
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Tuesday, November 17, 2015<span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
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Good Afternoon: This will be my 30th year coming before the Public Service Commission as a past and present member of the Consumer Utility Board(CUB). First, I would like to thank the Office of the People's Counsel for their assistance over the years in providing the public with transparent information concerning utility issues. I would also like to thank the Public Service Commission for providing this community hearing after agreeing that Formal Case No. 1119 Merger was not in the Public Interest of the District of Columbia.<span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
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Pepco has fallen short of providing reliable service to the customers of the District of Columbia after many years of promising to do so. Why would we trust Exelon, whose main headquarters is in Chicago, who only agrees to co-locate for at least ten years to provide reliable, affordable service? The greatest beneficiaries of this settlement are <span style="line-height: 100%;">Pepco's President, Joe Rigby, who will receive $10.1 million compensation, and </span><span style="line-height: 100%;">five others, who will receive $30.1 million in bonuses! The $5.2 million to the District to support workforce development programs will be given to the Department of Employment Services and UDC. However, there is no guarantee this will be used exclusively for residents of the District of Columbia to acquire and obtains jobs at Exelon.</span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">The biggest Benefit is to Pepco Holdings shareholders, who will receive 50% over the book value and about 25% over the market value per share. This will cause Exelon shareholders, to become a bigger company. The big question is: What happens before and after 2019 (five years down the road)? The city can't continue to let developers and corporations create mass homelessness. Everyone is aware that the government already has been unsuccessful finding housing for the current homeless population. Will seniors who are paying over 50% of their housing cost for utilities, which, include increasing water and sewer costs, and increased tax assessment costs be priced out of DC?.</span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">Electric is a basic need, why would any settlement put low and moderate income residents in a balloon note situation in five years. Residents have a right to affordable electric in our homes? Electric is a basic need, unlike a phone which can be shut off, if the price gets too costly for your income. Many of the seniors who are homeowners will be gentrified out of D.C. Is the plan for only the rich to live in Washington, DC. after five years? These are the residents who stayed and payed, when many people left the city for the suburbs. After five years is the plan to displace them because they are on a fixed retirement income? </span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">Low and Moderate Income Senior citizens and working poor are like the Man in the Middle . They earn too much to qualify for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and too little to keep up with the greedy monopolies. Why should this or any settlement place Senior Citizens in jeopardy of mass displacement in 2019? How can we let a Major monopoly like Exelon come here and cause mass displacement of our residents? Just because the Mayor agrees and the government says it's a settlement, doesn't mean it is. Will greed and a pay-to-play system continue in DC. Most citizens, including you, must all agree that this settlement is not acceptable. It is a rip-off of DC's vulnerable citizens, and every elected official will be paid by PEPCO at election time. The pay-off should be to VOTE this administration out of office. SWEEP the officials out the door.</span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;"> SUMMATION: There are very few tangible benefits for the ratepayers. PEPCO's improved electric service reliability sucks; however, they will be paid over $30.1 million in benefits. Promoting rate affordability, including affordable housing is the big joke in DC. It is the biggest lie ever told. As long as greed prevails over needs, this city's elected officials will go down as the disgraceful home rulers, who turned on their taxpayers and voters who believed they could make a difference. This settlement does not address jobs for D.C. residents. It only gives more money to the various agencies that will continue business as usual. The millions that are given to non-profits should be put in a fund to help senior citizens stay in their homes. If $6.75 million can be implemented in multi-family and master metered apartments, the same amount should be placed in a fund to help seniors stay in their homes. </span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71432" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em;" type="cite">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71431">
<span style="line-height: 100%;">The Solar Interconnection process should be shortened to two months or a fine assessed to PEPCO. At least $5 million should be available to OPC to promote Energy Efficiency programs and services. The $5 million loan to the District government for development of renewable energy programs should be a grant. This can be accomplished by reducing the compensation and bonuses to PEPCO Executives. Over $15 million should go to the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, so that low income residents receive funds all year long. $1 million should be provided to forgive low income families accounts. </span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">The CUB requests that:</span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71431">
<span style="line-height: 100%;">*Both OPC and the PSC closely monitor settlement agreement benefits to make sure DC ratepayers receive real benefits in a timely manner. </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
</blockquote>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71431">
<span style="line-height: 100%;">*That PSC level the maximum financial penalties for delays and or missed deadline for those purported benefits to DC Consumers. </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71431">
<span style="line-height: 100%;">*That the PSC agree to hold status meetings twice a year starting in 2016 to update the public as it relates to the settlement agreement benefits achieved. </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71431">
<span style="line-height: 100%;">*PSC require additional quality of service standards that would make sure the new company expands its call center in DC to limit wait time in talking to a</span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 100%;"> representatives within 8 to 10 minutes, and</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71431">
<span style="line-height: 100%;">*Would like the OPC to hold four community information sessions in each quadrant of the city to update residents on both the undergrounding project and status of the purported benefits from the merger/takeover.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, "lucida grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 100%;"> *Have the company dedicate at least 3 staff to work on senior issues as dedicated phone lines. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, "lucida grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 100%;"> *Have the utility work with both AARP, DC Office of Aging and the Department of Human Service to identify seniors living alone or in trouble with their high utility cost. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, "lucida grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 100%;"> *OPC and the PSC should coordinate with the committee to have an oversight hearing on what is not working.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, "lucida grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 100%;"> </span><br />
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71431">
This message is from IPADDRESS: 164.82.32.13<br />
Referrer: <a href="http://www.dcpsc.org/contactus/contactus.asp" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_71469" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.dcpsc.org/contactus/contactus.asp</a> </div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Here is a subsequent letter from Joyce Robinson-Paul to the Public Service Commission prior to their Dec. 23, 2015 deadline for public comment:<br />
<br />
[Pending receipt of transferable copy.]</div>
Subsequent to this testimony, we find that others besides PEPCO executives will profit from this takeover in the $million plus range. One of Mayor Bowser's<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/in-dc-not-just-the-president-needs-a-valerie-jarrett---dc-mayor-leans-on-confidant-too/2015/11/30/4a8c4bca-92d5-11e5-a2d6-f57908580b1f_story.html" target="_blank"> chief aides stands to profit big time</a>, as the Washington Post explains. In addition the Washington Post also describes the call for <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/opponents-of-pepco-exelon-merger-call-for-ethics-investigation-into-dc-mayors-about-face-on-deal/2015/11/11/795c5228-889f-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html" target="_blank">an ethics investigation</a> of Mayor Bower by opponents of this potentially costly merger. Furthermore, another WP article details the position several Council members have taken against the reappointment to head of the Office of the People's Counsel. The OPC (which is charged with protecting consumers from utility excess) had initially strongly opposed this merger. Then after OPC was suddenly friendly to the takeover, Mayor Bowser <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/amid-pepco-exelon-controversy-some-councilmembers-blame-dcs-chief-advocate/2015/12/02/72cdf29a-987b-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html" target="_blank">approved her reappointment,</a>. Wow, Washington Post, thanks a bundle!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">From: </span><b class="yiv5503934242gmail_sendername" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">David Schwartzman</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;"> </span><span dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4123" style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;"><<a href="mailto:dschwartzman@gmail.com" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4122" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:dschwartzman@gmail.com">dschwartzman@gmail.com</a>></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">Date: Mon, Nov 16, 2015 at 5:41 PM</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">Subject: My written testimony</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">To: "PSC - Commission Secretary (PSC)" <</span><a href="mailto:Psc-CommissionSecretary@dc.gov" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4172" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #196ad4; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:Psc-CommissionSecretary@dc.gov">Psc-CommissionSecretary@dc.gov</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4126" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.86px;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4125" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; line-height: 1.22em; padding: 0in;">
<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4124" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 7.5pt 0in 15pt; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_5466" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_5465" style="color: #20394f; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;">Re: Exelon-Pepco Merger proposal</span></span></h1>
<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4124" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 7.5pt 0in 15pt; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4171" style="color: #20394f; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;">For the reasons outlined in Power DC’s powerful critique of the proposed takeover of Pepco by Exelon now being reconsidered by the Public Service Commission (PSC), the PSC should not accept the Mayor’s deal with Exelon, and any such a merger with Pepco, in other words stand by its original decision. In addition, such a takeover of Pepco by Exelon would be a serious assault on the vision and goals of Sustainable DC, in particular its commitment to </span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;">curbing carbon emissions in the face of ever closer tipping points to catastrophic climate change.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4128" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;">Achieving this goal will require rapid replacement of fossil fuel dependence for energy delivery by wind and <a href="http://ht.ly/WXGhr" target="_blank">solar power.</a> </span></span></h1>
<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4124" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 7.5pt 0in 15pt; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;">Exelon has demonstrated its unwelcome agenda of resisting this transition to renewable energy supplies, e.g., by its close alliance with the Edison Electric Institute (Exelon CEO Chris Crain is Vice Chairman of the Edison Electric Institute), which actively collaborates with ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC is a right-wing national group pushing a legislative agenda for voter disenfranchisement/suppression, particularly targeted against the African-American, Hispanic and the low-income electorate, as well as the removal of subsidies for wind/solar power development. I provided relevant documentation on these facts in my testimony to the PSC on December 17, 2014. Given the Exelon/ALEC collaboration, our Mayor’s promotion of the Exelon takeover is very disturbing, but not entirely surprising in light of the Federal City Council’s (FCC) support, which has long set the agenda for our local elected politicians.</span></span></h1>
<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4130" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 7.5pt 0in 15pt; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4132" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4131" style="color: #20394f; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;">Note the following, as well as the dozens of full page ads in the Washington Post and other local newspapers supporting the Mayor’s deal with Exelon: ‘The utilities and their supporters, spearheaded by the Federal City Council and its chief executive, former D.C. mayor Anthony A. Williams, mounted a campaign that delivered strong support for the deal from the business, philanthropic and political communities. “We applauded the hard-fought settlement negotiated by Mayor Bowser as a good deal,” Williams’s office said in an e-mail. “There is a wave of support with the majority of the D.C. Council and many original opponents of the merger now behind the settlement. This decision by the PSC is another step in the right direction.”’ (</span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/exelon-bid-to-buy-pepco-gets-boost/2015/10/28/c76353a8-7d83-11e5-beba-927fd8634498_story.html" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4160" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4159" style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none;">https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/exelon-bid-to-buy-pepco-gets-boost/2015/10/28/c76353a8-7d83-11e5-beba-927fd8634498_story.html</span></a><span style="color: #20394f; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;">). </span></span></h1>
<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4162" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 7.5pt 0in 15pt; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4161" style="color: #20394f; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4163" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">It is clear the FCC has put its heavy weight of influence and corporate funding behind this unwelcome deal, including its familiar use of “trickle down” economics to further its goals, with numerous non-profits so dependent for their funding being bought off without consideration of the real interests of the community they pretend to serve.</span></span></h1>
<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4136" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 7.5pt 0in 15pt; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4135" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.22em;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4134" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">It is high time that our local elected government and the PSC begin resisting the lobbyists and agenda of the FCC (<a href="http://www.federalcitycouncil.org/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.federalcitycouncil.org/</a>) <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4133" style="color: #20394f; line-height: 1.22em;">which has contributed significantly to the high income inequality and insecurity as well as poverty in the District over the last few decades. The FCC has long represented the interests of the big corporate/banking sector at the expense of the quality of life for our residents, and in this case our children’s future in face of dangerous climate change. The PSC should resist the corruption of our democracy by the big corporate sector undermining the popular will against this takeover expressed by ANC resolutions prior to the original decision, and the voices heard by letters and in the public hearings this coming week. Say no to Exelon!</span></span></span></h1>
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<div class="yiv5503934242MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4138" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 12pt; padding: 0px;">
<div style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 13px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4137" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.22em;">David Schwartzman (Professor Emeritus, Howard University) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.22em;">DC Statehood Green Party</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4140" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="mailto:dschwartzman@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:dschwartzman@gmail.com">dschwartzman@gmail.com</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447720850356_4139" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">202-829-9063</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.22em;">This was submitted as written testimony as Dr. Schwartzman was not in town. There is still time for people to<b> submit written testimony to: </b> psc-commissionsecretary@dc.gov.</span></div>
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-15006619259012949012015-11-19T22:07:00.000-08:002016-12-13T12:11:31.261-08:00DC PSC Community Hearing Witness List for 11-17 & 18, 2015 Hearing (condensed) & 67 fake? namesThe original PSC list was a total of 51 pages, and a tremendous waste of paper. I condensed it to 13 pages with a space between each name for taking notes. I presume the PSC list format was used to discourage getting copies made and using them for notetaking. See link.<br />
<a href="http://dcpsc.org/pdf_files/hottopics/FC1119_ListofSpeakers.pdf" id="yiv7011017587yui_3_16_0_1_1447819773577_55737" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #196ad4; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://dcpsc.org/pdf_files/hottopics/FC1119_ListofSpeakers.pdf</a><br />
<br />
However, you now have this much easier to use list. Almost all the businesses, most of the charitable organizations, and the Hispanic community groups favored Exelon. Apparently one time payments totaling almost $40 million will buy a lot of good press. Unfortunate the businesses, organizations, and Hispanic people who will have to pay the much increased utility bills in a few years. Use this list to find organizations you can lobby to change their support to keeping Pepco, flawed as it is, rather than taking <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/excelonpepco-takeover-psc-hearing-nov.html" target="_blank">the Devil you don't know</a>.<br />
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THIS JUST IN: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">[2/26/16] The Public Service Commission has just voted 2 to 1 to ask some changes of Exelon prior to giving approval. They don't sound very good according to </span><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-dc-psc-merger-20160226-story.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">this article</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">. I see the $78 million benefits package that encouraged so many DC groups to testify in favor of the Exelon takeover would now be kept "in escrow until it can be determined how best to spend it, and removing a requirement that the company develop micro-grids in the District." This ensures that the many DC groups who expected a payout for their support will now have to BEG the Mayor and others for their payoff. It also means the guy at the Feds GSA made a bad decision on micro-grids.</span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[11/17/15 – I
testified this day and noticed that from #152 to #218, the witnesses
were listed alphabetically by first names. I asked a PSC staffer if
they knew why this was done. They said <b>one person</b> had phoned
in giving them <b>70 names to add</b> to the witness list. <b>Weird???
</b> There were also a dozen+ people sitting all day who had been
paid $15 and given green shirts, hats and printed pro Exelon signs.
People who did not make it to the Tuesday hearing will be allowed to
speak on Wednesday. [or not as it turned out] I condensed the sprawling 51 page PSC witness
list here. Testimony was ended at 4:40 pm. Wednesday will begin
with #119. G. Lee Aikin, DC Statehood Green Party]</div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[11/18/15 - Since the Tuesday hearing was stopped at number 118, I decided to go there at lunchtime and listen to some more testimony. The hearing had just been ended around 12:30. Apparently NOT ONE of the 70 names added by 1 person had responded, so others scheduled after them were deprived of the opportunity to speak if they did not come very early. I have spoken to several who are furious about this trickery. Not <b> weird </b>after all, just nasty big business. Perhaps a foretaste of <b>how Exelon will treat us </b>as customers. See this post of <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2015/11/excelonpepco-takeover-psc-hearing-nov.html" target="_blank">testimony and Exelon problems</a> for detailed information. <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Do you recognize any of the names between #152 and#218. Can you guess who might have played this trick on us?</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Please Comment or email me at gleeaikin@yahoo.com.<br />
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia Community
Hearing
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Formal Case 1119
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List of Speakers
(Pre-Registered) Date: November 17-18, 2015 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m. Location: Hearing Room, Public Service Commission of the
District of Columbia
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1325 G Street, NW,
8th Floor Washington, DC 20005</div>
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Headings: NAME, ADDRESS,
TELEPHONE NUMBER, REPRESENTING SELF or COMPANY, HOW CONTACTED,
SPECIAL NEEDS NOTES (almost NO addresses or phone numbers are listed)</div>
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1. David Jonas
Bardin SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
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2. Robert Vinson
Brannum SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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3. John Capozzi SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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4. John Thomson SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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5. John Mcgregor Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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6. Ivan Frishberg
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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7. Robert &
Sherrill Berger SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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8. Kathy E.
Hollinger Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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9. Edmund Fleet,
Building Bridges across the River, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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10. Anthony
Williams, Federal City Council, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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11. Marchant
Wentworth, Wentworth Green Strategies Yes No If Yes, Explain
Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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12. Joseph
Persichini, Jr., Washington DC Police Foundation, Yes No If Yes,
Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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13. John Enzler, Yes
No If Yes, Explain Mr. Enzler’s assistant called on 11-10-15 to
inform us that he will not be able to make it and will submit written
testimony. Kemi Morten will take his place. Kemi Morten Alliance</div>
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Page 2</div>
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14. Emily Stiever
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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15. Keshini
Ladduwahetty, DC for Democracy Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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16. Tim Judson,
NRIS, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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17. Allison
Archambault SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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18. Lynn Mento SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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19. Monroe Harrison
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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20. Diane D’Arrigo
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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21. Antonio Francis
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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22. Keith Sellars
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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23. George H.
Lambert, The Greater Washington Urban League, Yes No If Yes, Explain
Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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24. Joe Andronaco
Access Green Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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25. Allison Fisher
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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26. Anthony
Cancelosi SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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27. Elana Orbuch,
AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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28. Pat Bahn Yes No
If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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29. John Chelen Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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30. Rev. Kip Banks,
East Washington Heights Baptist Church, Yes No If Yes, Explain
Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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31. Mike Ewall,
Energy Justice Network, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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32. Sarah Saylor Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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33. Samuel Jordan
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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34. Andrea Molod Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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Page 3</div>
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35. Meta Renee
Williams, J.D. Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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36. Mary C. Young,
ANC3B04, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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37. Tamara Smith,
YWCA National Capital Area, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message
Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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38. Mykiel Rausu-Bey
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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39. Dale Bannon, The
Salvation Army, If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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40. Johnnie Rice
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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41. Pat Bahn SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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42. Kirby Vining
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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43. Deborah Shore
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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44. <b>Joyce
Robinson-Paul</b> Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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45. Mary Beth
O'Quinn SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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46. Marcia Rucker
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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47. Renee Bowser,
ANC 4D02, Commissioner ANC 4D, Vice Chair ANC 4D, Yes No If Yes,
Explain Ms. Bowser would like to give her testimony on Wednesday,
November 18, 2015.</div>
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<br /></div>
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48. Eric L. Evans,
100 Black Men Of Greater Washington, D.C. Yes No If Yes, Explain
Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message [also listed as #150]</div>
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<br /></div>
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49. Jesse Lovell
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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50. Arrington Dixon,
ADA, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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51. Glen O’Gilvie,
Center for Nonprofit Advancement, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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52. George Fenderson
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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53. Pedro Alfonso,
Dynamic Concepts, Inc., Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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54. Shavon Smith
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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55. Bonnie Fogel,
Imagination Stage, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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Page 4</div>
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<br /></div>
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56. Anthony Dinkins
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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57. Matthias
Paustian SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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58. Charles Shipp
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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59. Armentha Mike
Cruise, Aspen Group Inc., Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message
Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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60. Shelore Ann
Williams SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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61. Yvonne M. Rice
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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62. Janice H. Davis,
SELF/Davis & Davis, Inc. ,Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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63. Gloria
Hightower, Friends of Carter Barron, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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64. Harry Wingo, DC
Chamber of Commerce, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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65. Nina Dodge SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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66. Shilpa Joshi
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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67. Dr. Karl Reid
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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68. Angela Franco,
Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Yes No If Yes,
Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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69. Dr. Karl Reid
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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70. Leotha Woodson,
Noah’s Arc, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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71. Sylvia Ryan,
Noah’s Arc, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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72. Bernadette
Harvey, BCONSTRUX, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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73. Dr. E. Faye
Williams, National Conference of Black Women, Yes No If Yes, Explain
Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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74. Andrea Rosen
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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75. Tania Miller
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 5</div>
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76. Albrette “Gigi”
Ransom SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
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<br /></div>
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77. Martin Harwit
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
78. Richard Lee SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
79. Melanie Coburn
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
80. Tania Miller
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
81. London Thomas
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
82. David Freeman
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
83. Camelia Mazard
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
84. Adrian Ganio
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
85.<b> G. Lee Aikin</b>, DC Statehood Green Party, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
86. Maria Patricia
Corrales, Capital Construction, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
87. Dr. Eileen
CrawfordTaylor SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
88. Sheila Reid,
Avanti Realty, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
89. Nick Reid,
Avanti Realty, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
90. Tanya Hinton,
Culture DC, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
91. Terry Lee SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
92. Marqus Bigelow
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
93. Samuel Batts
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
94. Bernice Rink
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
95. Alberta Gaskins
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
96. Allen Burris Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
97. Dr. Sheila
Brooks Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
98. Charles Brown,
Jr. Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 6</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
99. Beverly Short
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
100. D. Morris
Michael, D. Morris Michael, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message
Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
101. James J.
Fournier, Esq., James J. Fournier, Esq., Yes No If Yes, Explain
Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
102. Laurence E.
Jackson, Ph.D., Laurence E. Jackson, Ph.D., Yes No If Yes, Explain
Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
103. David Arkush
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
104. Talib I. Karim,
STEM4US, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
105. Winifred Y.
Carson-Smith Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
106. Lennette Watts
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
107. Sean Cahill, DC
Building Industry Association, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
108. Rod Woodson, DC
Building Industry Association, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
109. Sheila H.
Westfield, The Greater Washington Urban League, Yes No If Yes,
Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
110. James Riley,
McGrit Project Learning Tree, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
111. [no name
listed] SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
112. Nathaniel
Catlett Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
113. Earl Sullivan
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
114. Sam Tramal, DC
Children’s Trust Fund, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message
Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
115. James Cooke Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
116. William J.
Snape, III Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
117. Keith Silver
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
118. Timothy Shaw
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 7</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
119. Patricia
Gomillion SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
120. Leona Redmond,
Wesley House Resident Council, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
121. Monique
Sullivan SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
122. Gloria
Murchison SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
123. Francis Prophet
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
124. Dahfon Williams
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
125. Brenda Wells
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
126. Sabrina
Stephens Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
127. Andre Lee Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
128. Debra
Quartermaine Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
129. Rev. Dr.
Crawford Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
130. Jay Johnson Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
131. Victor Coclough
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
132. Earl Sullivan
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
133. Debby Hanrahan
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
134. Mark Davis, WDC
Solar, Inc., Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
135. Brenda
Devrouax, Pepco, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
136. [no listing]
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
137. Jim Dinegar,
Greater Washington, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
138. Charles Gaither
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
139. Earl Fowlkes
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
140. Jennifer Tucker
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
141. Michael Beale
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 8</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
142. Aaron McCormick
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
143. Danita Doleman,
Seas Community Partners, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message
Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
144. Kassahun
Tefera, Metro Lab DC, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
145. Nathan Groce
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
146. Lavinia
Wohlfarth SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
147. Milton Morris,
MDM Office Systems, If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
148. Kendrick
Richardson, RDS Architecture, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
149. Basav Sev,
Green Neighbors, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
150. Eric Evans, The
One Hundred Black Men of Greater Washington, DC, Yes No If Yes,
Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message [also listed as #48]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
151. Geraldine Bell,
Parkside Civic Association, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message
Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Alphabetized
list by first name of witnesses starts here and ends at 218. Who
sent this list???</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
152. Adrian Gaino
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
153. Almandeus
Thornton SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
154. Andree Lee SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
155. Anthony Reeves
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
156. Anthony Reeves,
Sr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
157. Anthony Shorts
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
158. Ayana Mayberry
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
159. Beniya
Valentine SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
160. Bennie Lawson
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
161. Betty Hodges
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 9</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
162. Carmen
Robles-Inman SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
163. Carolyn
Mitchell Bell SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
164. Carolyn Woods
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
165. Casten Manley
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
166. Cecelia Thorne
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
167. Celia Barnes
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
168. Christopher
Parler SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
169. Clifford Thorne
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
170. Dantes Augustin
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
171. Darmaine Clark
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
172. David Boyd SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
173. David Johnson
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
174. Dena Walker
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
175. Denise Barner
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
176. Diane Barnes
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
177. Diane Wilks
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
178. Donovan Harris
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
179. Dr. Bill Hassan
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
180. Duane Wilson
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
181. Eddy Varona
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
182. Evelyn Rodgers
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
183. Frank Malone
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
184. Fred Lockett
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
185. Gloria Dade
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 10</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
186. Herbert Briscoe
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
187. Jessica Thomas
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
188. JoAnn Johnson
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
189. Keera
Cunningham SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
190. Keeta Watts
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
191. Keith Dickinson
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
192. Kim Wood SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
193. Kindra Beamon
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
194. Kurt Adams SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
195. Leon Samuels,
Jr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
196. Lonnie Beamon
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
197. Margaret
Winston SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
198. Margaret
Harison SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
199. Nathan Perkins
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
200. Paul Cook SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
201. Phillip
Cunningham, Jr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
202. Phillip
Cunningham, Sr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
203. Rev. Michael
Bell, Sr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
204. Rev. Robert
Childs SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
205. Rosa Hightower
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
206. Ruby Perry SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
207. Saul Watts SELF
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
208. Scotty Foxx
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
209. Sean Metcalf
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 11</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
210. Sequing Johnson
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
211. Sharon
Valentine SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
212. Sheresse
Baltimore SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
213. Stacy Banks
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
214. Symone Dickens
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
215. Terry Goins
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
216. Von Davenport
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
217. Willie Delaney
Barg SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
118. Yvonne Coleman
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
219. Michael Sindram
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[11/16/15 - Tuesday
evening I will report to my contacts what I saw at the Hearing. If
names have been added to this witness list, I will try to condense
and distribute that information as well.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
G. Lee Aikin, DC
Statehood Green Party]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
PSC has updated the
list and it is now 51 pages instead of 43. The numbering has changed
too, and I will start with Michael Sindram who is now 217.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
217. Michael Sindram
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
218. Leotha Woodson,
Noah’s Arc, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
219. Sylvia Ryan,
Noah’s Arc, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
220. Gilbert
Campbell Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
221. Radindranauth
(Rad) Ranson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
222. Jacques
Kapuscinski SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
223. Caroline Petti
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
224. Jessica
Champagne Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
225. William (Billy)
Eric Sahm Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 12</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
226. Pandit Wright,
The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Yes No If Yes, Explain
Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
227. Dale Doucette
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
228. Stuart Cameron
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
229. Evanna Powell
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
230. Chris Otten, DC
For a Reasonable Development, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
231. Kendrick
Richardson Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
232. Shireen Parsons
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
233. Benjamin King
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
234. Benton Murphy,
The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, Yes No If
Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
235. Lynn Raskin,
Climate Change Literacy, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message
Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
236. Kevin Kamps Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
237. Barrett Ware
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
238. Mark Jones, M.
Jones Companies & National Business League, Yes No If Yes,
Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
239. Melvin Hines,
S.E. Restaurant Group, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
240. Mark McDonald,
Minority Business Economic Council, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered
Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
241. Romaine B.
Thomas, DC Office on Aging, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message
Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
242. Ruth Kaplan
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
243. Frederic W.
Schwartz, Jr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left
Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
244. Ross Schulman
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Page 13</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
245. Elizabeth Berry
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
246. Mary Bolton Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
247. Larry Werner
SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
248. Peter Murtha
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
249. Joanna Spear
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
250. Jeffery
Hargrave Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
251. Doug Duncan Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
252. Dasarath
Kiridena Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail
Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
253. Anwar Saleem
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
254. Bob Andretta
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
255. Corey Griffin
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
256. Gwen Jackson
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
257. Harriet Pullman
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
258. John Thomas Yes
No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
259. Joigie Tolson
Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[PSC, Page 51 of
51, My Page 13. a lot of trees saved]</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Please use this to
make notes of who is pro and who con (our position). Also good for
seeing what organizations to lobby in the future to win over to the
people's needs.</div>
G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-27011926153796179002015-09-28T01:07:00.000-07:002017-09-02T12:26:06.088-07:00Hajj: Muslim Tragedy in Mecca - Mass Casualties and 2015 Hajj, Cause and Prevention?[<b>This is an ongoing story</b>, so rather than constantly posting new articles, I will be adding updates as important new information is disclosed. <b>Come back from time to time! </b> I am also keeping some of the <b>older inaccurate reports</b> as it is interesting to see how this story is developing.]<br />
<br />
Once more the world experiences surprise/shock as another mass casualty event occurs. This time it happened at the annual Hajj event in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. So terribly sad that this event occurred almost simultaneously with the joy of the Pope's visits. In the days since this tragedy, there has been little released about the facts in the case or more recent official death statistics given the large number of injured. Bitterness between <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/india-raises-death-toll-citizens-hajj-stampede-18-091148963.html" target="_blank">Iran and Saudi Arabia</a> is very strong. Especially as the death toll for Iranians has now risen to at least 228, <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/689bc794420a49c2abb24952c7dc9685/india-pakistan-say-some-1100-killed-saudi-hajj-disaster" target="_blank">according to AP</a>.<br />
<br />
9/2/17 - Now that the Hajj is in progress, reports are coming back that Muslims there are very concerned with our President's moves regarding Muslims. See: <a href="https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/09/02/muslims-at-hajj-are-worried-about-trumps-policies-towards-them/23194780/" target="_blank"> https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/09/02/muslims-at-hajj-are-worried-about-trumps-policies-towards-them/23194780/</a><br />
Despite Trump's making nice at his Saudi Arabia visit, what he says and does in the US has much more impact for the Muslims of the world.<br />
<br />
7/18/17 - As result of negotiations with Saudi Arabia, this year Iranians will attend the Hajj. <a href="http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/03/17/514710/Iran-pilgrims-participation-Hajj-pilgrimage-arrangement" target="_blank"> http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/03/17/514710/Iran-pilgrims-participation-Hajj-pilgrimage-arrangement</a><br />
<br />
7/17/17 - I just Googled "Death toll and info update." The only reports in the first 50 that are the most recent appear below:<br />
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/12044550/Hajj-stampede-killed-three-times-Saudi-Arabias-official-number.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/12044550/Hajj-stampede-killed-three-times-Saudi-Arabias-official-number.html</a>. This report from eleven weeks after the tragedy listed a total of 2,411 dead. [12/10/15]<br />
<a href="https://www.rt.com/news/325555-mecca-hajj-stampede-casualties/">https://www.rt.com/news/325555-mecca-hajj-stampede-casualties/</a>. [12/11/15]<br />
<a href="http://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/death-toll-from-2015-islamic-pilgrimage-to-mecca-reaches-2411-the-most-in-the-rituals-history/news-story/8e9c0f8eaee9b5654b7ae31024881423">http://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/death-toll-from-2015-islamic-pilgrimage-to-mecca-reaches-2411-the-most-in-the-rituals-history/news-story/8e9c0f8eaee9b5654b7ae31024881423</a>. Also from [12/11/15].<br />
And also same date: <a href="https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2015/12/11/saudi-hajj-stampede-death-toll-exceeds-2-400">https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2015/12/11/saudi-hajj-stampede-death-toll-exceeds-2-400</a><br />
<br />
9/10/16 - This year's Hajj to begin today. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/08/2015-disaster-muslims-saudi-arabia-hajj-iran">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/08/2015-disaster-muslims-saudi-arabia-hajj-iran</a><br />
More details on this year's Hajj and over 100 comments, some pro atheism. <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hajj-2016-thousands-of-muslims-arrive-in-mecca-ahead-of-the-five-day-pilgrimage-a7234966.html" target="_blank"> http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hajj-2016-thousands-of-muslims-arrive-in-mecca-ahead-of-the-five-day-pilgrimage-a7234966.html</a><br />
SA government hopes to avoid another tragedy: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/09/08/hajj-iran-saudi-arabia-mecca/89951250/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/09/08/hajj-iran-saudi-arabia-mecca/89951250/</a><br />
<br />
12-10-15 - Here is the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/11/world/middleeast/death-toll-from-hajj-stampede.html?_r=0" target="_blank">latest update I could find</a>, which basically reports NO CHANGE in information out of Saudi Arabia. This <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/special-reports/hajj-2015/2015/09/28/Hajj-stampede-Survivors-accounts-and-pangs-of-separation.html" target="_blank">Al Arabia live blog</a> reports a number of stories starting back in September 2015. It includes both articles and comments.<br />
<br />
11/10/15 - There is still no official increase in Saudi figures which remain at 769. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Mina_stampede" target="_blank"> This Wikipedia article</a> has a list of 42 countries reporting deaths and missing, now totaling <b>2,427 dead</b> and <b>472 still missing</b>. Since around half the participants were Saudis, the original SA report of 4,000 deaths may indeed be true. I have seen no figures on Saudi deaths. There are large percentages of still missing from some of the least developed countries. This may reflect lack of funds to track down or report victims in SA. There are statements quoted from 17 countries, and 12 significant individuals. In addition almost 200 linked references are available for those doing research. One link reports the <a href="http://www.commdiginews.com/world-news/saudi-king-order-mass-beheadings-after-stampede-48989/" target="_blank">Saudi response 12 hours after </a>the tragedy to be an order for the immediate beheading of 28 individuals.<br />
<br />
10/6/15 - This <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/high-death-toll-hajj-stampede-fuels-further-tensions-between-sunni-saudi-arabia-2129588" target="_blank">more recent report</a> from Lebanese Shiites continues to view this tragic event as a plot to kill high level Shiite figures as the struggle between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran continues. Iran is still reporting well over 400 Iranian deaths.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, Pakistan, which has received much aid from Saudi Arabia<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/07/world/asia/pakistani-pilgrims-hajj-stampede-saudi-arabia.html" target="_blank"> is counseling patience</a>. However, as its citizens become more and more frustrated by lack of information, they may have to be more assertive in confronting this issue.<br />
<br />
10/8/15 - The count is now up to 1399 based on compilation of reports from almost 20 countries which are <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/hajj-stampede-death-toll-jumps-to-1399/" target="_blank">listed in this link</a> from Times of Israel. The Saudis have still not issued an up to date count, and this evening I heard a report that the king has dementia. The account will surely go higher, but the early report of 4000 is likely to be too high. [Subsequent stories say that almost half of the participants were Saudi, thus with the most recent count being over 2,000, then the 4000 figure could indeed be in the ballpark.]<br />
<br />
10/10/15 - The Atlantic basing<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/the-hajj-stampede-twice-as-bad-as-the-saudis-said/409900/#disqus_thread" target="_blank"> this report </a>on an AP (Associated Press) compilation of death figures from 19 countries now reports 1453 dead, with hundreds still missing. I used this rather than the AP article because here you can also follow a number of <b>comments</b>.<br />
<br />
10/13/15 - Press TV (an Iranian or Russian source) now claims 1674 dead. <a href="http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/10/13/433247/Hajj-Mina-Mecca-Saudi-death-toll-" target="_blank">Their map</a> shows total counts from <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">31</span> countries which I believe is how they established this total. There are still many missing and unaccounted for. The map shows Iraq and Jordan with only 1 death each. There are no figures for Yemen, Qatar, UAE or any of the "stans" except Pakistan. Suspect this figure will rise.<br />
<br />
10/13/15 -<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/new-tally-shows-at-least-1621-killed-in-saudi-hajj-tragedy/2015/10/14/8740b3ac-7279-11e5-ba14-318f8e87a2fc_story.html" target="_blank"> The Washington Post</a> says at least 1621 killed which is slightly less than the above 1674 figure. They used AP figures from state media reports and officials; comments from<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> 19</span> of the 180+ countries that sent citizens. Iran says it had 465 pilgrims killed, Egypt lost 182, Nigeria 168, and Indonesia 126. India also lost 114, Pakistan 100, Bangladesh 92, Mali 70, Senegal 54, Benin 51, Cameroon 42, Morocco 33, Ethiopia 32, Sudan 30, Algeria 25, Ghana 12, Chad 11, Kenya 8, and Turkey 7. Hundreds are still unaccounted for, so the total will rise. The Saudis have not updated since Sept. 26th.<br />
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[This just in 9/29/15--Don't know if true, but alarming if it is, report that <a href="http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/29/431233/Saudi-Hajj-Mecca-Mina-" target="_blank">death toll is more than 4,000.</a> Rumors of plot against Iran, and a number of conspiracy theories in the Comments. Will keep watch to confirm or cancel. Don't know reliability of source, "Press TV". PTV is an English language Iranian source. See: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_TV">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_TV</a> Another source Albawaba, also posted: http://www.albawaba.com/loop/saudi-arabian-health-ministry-statement-said-4000-people-died-hajj-stampede%E2%80%94then-disappeated-74. This site, described at Wikipedia as "<i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Al Bawaba</b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> (البوابة, Arabic for "the portal" or "the gate") is a news, blogging and media website</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bawaba#cite_note-1" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> headquartered in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amman" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Amman">Amman</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Jordan">Jordan</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> with an office in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Dubai">Dubai</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Barnhurst2007_2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bawaba#cite_note-Barnhurst2007-2" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> ... [with] a full-time staff of journalists and editors covering the Middle East and North Africa region’s events and news."</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bawaba#cite_note-3" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a> </sup>] <a href="http://shiapost.com/2015/09/29/saudi-confirms-death-toll-in-hajj-tragedy-crossed-4000/" target="_blank"> Another</a> Shia (Iran's version of Islam) take on this issue. No telling how this highly controversial discrepancy on deaths will turn out.<br />
<br />
10/4/15 - Finally an <a href="http://www.punchng.com/feature/interview/how-nigerians-died-in-hajj-stampede-survivor-prof-akintola/" target="_blank">eye witness account </a>that makes sense, from <b>a Nigerian professor</b> who saw the conditions developing that caused this disaster. Apparently, security personnel were lax or absent in their duties. Since the 2006 disaster, pilgrims at the stoning of the devil have been required to exit by a different route. When a large group of Egyptian pilgrims finished stoning, they made a U-turn and no officials stopped them. Pilgrims had already walked 13 kilometers that day in temperatures above 110f, and the Egyptian camp was near the entrance but far from the exit. People, including the professor, urged them to use the exit but these Egyptians refused and the terrible crush began.<br />
<br />
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I found several unusually thoughtful ideas in the comments at this site regarding accident prevention at all mass crowd events: </div>
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<span style="color: #e00040;"><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/saudi-arabian-hajj-stampede-death-toll-rises-150926130030311.html">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/saudi-arabian-hajj-stampede-death-toll-rises-150926130030311.html</a></span><br />
There are also lively and even vitriolic competitive <b>comments</b> here. Also as an Al Jazeera site, there are numerous cross comments by Muslims and non-Muslims. The first quoted comment is by a participant in the deadly 2006 Hajj.</div>
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<b>MUHAMMED KAHN</b><br />
"By the grace of Allah (SWT) I performed Hajj in 2006 when same type of incident happened causing death of nearly 400 and injured 700 , most of the injured had permanent disability. As an eye witness of 2006 catastrophe I want to share my experience as follows.</div>
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After finishing the rituals at Arafat and Muzdalefa we planned to start stoning at the biggest Zamarat at about 8.00 AM . When our team reached the place close to the starting point we were stopped due to the fact that a group of dignitaries from some Muslim countries as royal guest of KSA were stoning and a barricade was created by Saudi police. I observed from the distance that STOP sign with different language including Bangla was flushing.<br />
After about three hours , when a huge crowed of Hajjis gathered , the barricade was withdrawn and suddenly a big crowd jumped into towards” One pathway” ignoring the Stop sign ( Subsequently it was increased to 3/4 levels pathways ) to perform the ritual and within few minutes hundreds of people were stampeded and injured. Even in my team some Hajjis was so enthusiastic and emotional to start running but by the will of Allah, with my intervention they were finally stopped. After further few hours when the bodies of deceased and injured were removed we finished stoning and went to Mecca for Towaf e Ziarat safely.</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
Now I find a relationship between these two catastrophes that “ halting the flow of Hajjis for any reason ( as happened during 2006) created panic among them due to the time constraint of finishing stoning and going to Mekka for Tawaf <b>within stipulated time</b> was a great factor causing these two saddest incident.<br />
Whatever comes out of the investigation , as a normal Muslim, it is my humble suggestion that if the Hajj authority can not avoid stoning at Zamarat separately by the so called high profile dignitaries , ( though , I am not sure permissibility of such in Islam ) they can make an alternate Entry and Exit for them either by constructing Rope way/Gondola or a hanging Helipad , so that those people can perform the ritual without closing any Entry or Exit point to the Zamarat. Even a separate level designated to those type of Hajjis, on safety reason, may be created.</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
In addition a awareness training has to be made effective at all levels involving the Hajj pilgrims so that this Fard ritual is performed in safe and logical way to ensure acceptance of Allah (SWT). May Allah bestow His profound mercy to the deceased , the injured and consolation to the members who lost their nearest and dearest one. Ameen."</div>
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<b>JOE SOPRANO</b> to Muhammed,<br />
"if I summarize your point, you associate the risk of stampedes with two main factors:</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
1) privilege given to dignitaries to execute the stoning before the others;<br />
2) strong excitement and a general lack of discipline or self-control of the pilgrims.</div>
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However substantial these points are (and precious, since they come from your direct experience of the Hajj), we are forced to acknowledge that both are quite difficult and sensitive to handle:</div>
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1) would require to change UAE into a liberal democracy with no political and social privilege and with a global equality of people, included in the religious domain;<br />
2) would require a global improvement of education standards in the Muslim world.</div>
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The first point should involve a political reformism or a factual revolution in the Saudi kingdom.<br />
The second point would imply higher rates of access to education in Muslim world, which could not go without the spread of gender policies and a global improvement of women social conditions in the same countries.</div>
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Both are real needs; both are unfortunately not ready to occur within a short space of time. But let’s hope that progresses will move on, while gradual political and social improvements will follow."</div>
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<b>CHRIS LEWIS </b>(starting with 2nd paragraph)<br />
"Your first point - special casing for dignitaries is fairly simple to fix. The organizers set up their plan for the day, visually check that all the barricades/signs/routing are in place each day, and don’t change them for any reason whatsoever. If a dignitary wants to participate, they must either be in the same crowd as every one else, be able to access/egress without interfering with the crowd in ANY way, OR, you book it well ahead of time and integrate it with the daily plan.<br />
There simply is NO WAY you can change plans mid-stream with that many people. Doesn’t matter whether it’s a stoning ritual in Mecca, or letting people into a stadium to watch a soccer match. You just do NOT change plans once they’re running. If you do, people die. Full stop. Doesn’t matter what religion or what government they have.</div>
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Your second point misses the point entirely. This has nothing whatsoever to do with Muslims. It’s the same “enthusiasm” you see in a lineup for the first showing of a new Star Wars movie, a black Friday sale, or a new iPhone launch. The only reason why they don’t turn into huge disasters is because the number of people is hundreds or thousands of times less. These don’t just happen in Muslim countries. They happen in the US, in England, Singapore, India etc. During the coronation of Czar Nicholas II, 1400 people died in the crush of gifts being given out. During new years fireworks in Singapore, 250 people died. During a soccer game in Hillsborough England, almost 100 people died.<br />
Each a result of poor planning, plans that weren’t verified, or plans that were changed mid-steam. Hillsborough happened because the crowd was directed through an access tunnel, and the access tunnel gate at the far end was closed and they didn’t get it open in time."</div>
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<b>My thoughts</b>: We have just seen huge crowds greeting the Pope in an atmosphere of love and caring for one another—no significant crowd incidents. On the other hand, examples are given of significant numbers of deaths at the stoning of Satan (significant pent up anger), sports events (anger and booze?), and a coronation with gifts distributed (poverty and greed)—negative emotions set the stage for significant death toll. <b>More love and understanding needed worldwide.</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/hajj-stampede-death-toll-rises-1100-saudi-arabia-faces-criticism-over-safety-record-1521334" target="_blank">http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/hajj-stampede-death-toll-rises-1100-saudi-arabia-faces-criticism-over-safety-record-1521334</a><br />
This article quotes an anonymous medical source saying that the actual death toll is at least 400 more than the "official" toll. A list of known casualties by country is given with 140+ for Iran and 55 for Egypt. Iran is very angry about this. <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/964175/mina-tragedy-hajj-stampede-death-toll-climbs-to-1100/" target="_blank">Pakistan has announced</a> a variety of benefits for the victims and their relatives including, cash payments, hospital care, and Hajj trips for relatives of deceased. 10/20 now totals 102 for Pakistan.<br />
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10/1/15 - <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34410484" target="_blank">Iran claims </a>at least 464 of their pilgrims are dead. This figure is so much higher than what any other large country is claiming that I wonder if some Iranians have used the Hajj as a way to escape living in Iran. This article quotes <a href="https://www.quora.com/Iran/What-restrictions-on-travel-does-the-Iranian-government-place-on-its-citizens" target="_blank">various problem for Iranians</a> wishing to travel include <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/oct/07/iran.middleeast" target="_blank">passport problems</a>. 245 as if 10/10,<br />
<br />
10/4/15 - Five more victims raises <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/10/04/indonesia-reposts-5-more-deaths-raising-country-death-toll-from-hajj-stampede/" target="_blank">Indonesian deaths</a> to 100. 126 total 10/13. 10/20 no change.<br />
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10/5/15 - With 92 still missing, <a href="http://www.thecairopost.com/news/170177/news/egyptian-death-toll-in-mecca-hajj-stampede-rises-to-146" target="_blank">Egypt now counts</a> 146 deaths. 182 on 10/13. 10/20 unchanged.<br />
<br />
10/5/15 - Latest figures on deaths of <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/death-toll-of-indians-in-hajj-stampede-rises-to-74/articleshow/49238757.cms" target="_blank">Indian Pilgrims</a> is 74.<br />
10/12/15 - <a href="http://www.firstpost.com/india/death-toll-of-indians-in-the-hajj-stampede-rises-to-114-10-missing-2464738.html" target="_blank">India now reports </a>114 dead with 10 still missing, and 11 more dead from the crane collapse a week earlier. 10/20 total now 116.<br />
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10/5/15 - <a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/nigerians-mourn-74-killed-in-mecca-stampede/2991953.html" target="_blank">Nigeria mourns</a> at least 74 dead, with 244 more still missing. 168 total 10/13.<br />
10/11/15 - With their death count now at 145, <a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/191381-hajj-stampede-nigerias-death-toll-rises-to-145.html" target="_blank">Nigerian</a> officials explain how pilgrims living and dead are being handled and helped. 10/20 total is 199.<br />
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10/19/15 - Mali reports 198 dead. 10/20/15 raises figure to 254.<br />
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10/20/15 - Cameroon lost 76, Niger lost 72, Senegal reports 61, Ivory Coast and Benin both lost 52.<br />
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10/20/15 - Bangladesh lost 137, other countries are Ethiopia 47, Chad 43, Morocco 36, Algeria 33, Sudan 30, Burkina Faso 22, Tanzania 20, Somalia 10, Kenya 8, Ghana and Turkey 7, Myanmar and Libya 6, China 4, Afghanistan 2, and Jordan and Malaysia 1 each.<br />
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10/20/15 - While Saudi Arabia has not issued new figures since Sept. 26, the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hajj-stampede-death-toll_5625d226e4b0bce347020aa1" target="_blank">AP continues gathering data </a>country by country as each one updates it's death figures. For example reports on 10/19/15 total 2,110, but an additional 56 for Mali and several others now has the total at 2,177. New figures for 10/20 added above. You can see by the changes over the days that some countries were much more efficient in identifying their losses. The previous most deadly hajj stamped in 1990 killed 1,426 people. DNA may be needed for some identifications, this may be harder for poor countries to facilitate. Here is how one country, Nigeria, is <a href="http://www.aitonline.tv/post-hajj_stampede_update__death_toll_rises_to_145_for_nigeria__165_pilgrims_still_missing" target="_blank">dealing with the terrible aftermath</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/26/middleeast/hajj-pilgrimage/" style="background-color: transparent;">http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/26/middleeast/hajj-pilgrimage/</a></div>
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<br />
As the crowds at Hajj have grown, performing all the rituals required in a limited time as Mr. Kahn pointed out above increases anxiety and tension. <br />
<a href="http://www.islam4theworld.net/islam/pillars/hajj/5days_of_hajj.htm">http://www.islam4theworld.net/islam/pillars/hajj/5days_of_hajj.htm</a><br />
In addition, since the date of Ramadan and the Hajj changes each year because <a href="http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n2s/full/1601899a.html" target="_blank">these events follow a lunar calendar</a>, a wide range of climate conditions can be experienced.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34346449" target="_blank">At this article</a> you can see that the distance from the many tents at Mina to the pillars where the devil is stoned ranges from 1 to 3 miles. It was over 100 f that day. <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/9/28/india-pakistan-say-some-1100-killed-in-saudi-hajj-disaster.html" target="_blank">Al Jazeera now reports</a> "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px;">Saudi Arabia has given foreign diplomats approximately 1,100 photographs of the dead from </span><a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/9/24/hundreds-killed-hajj-stampede.html" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2677b9; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px; text-decoration: none;">last week's Hajj crush and stampede</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px;">, Indian and Pakistani authorities said, an indication of a significantly higher death toll than previously offered by the kingdom." </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px;">Saudi Arabia </span><a href="http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2015/09/30/055705118/Saudi-Officials-Deny-1100-Killed-in-Mina-Tragedy" style="font-family: 'source sans pro', sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px;" target="_blank">is claiming </a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px;">that this 1100 number includes other deaths from natural causes and possibly the crash of a crane weeks earlier that killed 111.</span><br />
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The total number of miles/kilometers the pilgrims must travel ON FOOT is extensive and particularly hard for the sick and elderly who often are desperate to complete the obligatory Hajj before they die.<br />
The <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/9/24/9392929/hajj-stampede" target="_blank">map at this site </a>along with the 5 day schedule of events shows the extent of what is involved. Eight kilometers equals 5 miles, so the 12 kilometer black and white bar on the left side of the map equals 7.5 miles. Imagine doing all that walking at 100f + temperatures. In fact, some reports seem to indicate that temperatures were above 110f that day. <a href="http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n2s/full/1601899a.html" target="_blank">Dehydration</a> can be a serious health concern during the heat and fasting of <a href="http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n2s/full/1601899a.html" target="_blank">Ramadan and the Hajj</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Perhaps it is time to think of having two Hajjs a year when the event occurs during the hottest months, with one at a cooler season especially available for the elderly and sick.</b></div>
G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-31884808029230303662015-08-14T17:02:00.001-07:002017-07-27T23:41:00.249-07:00Chinese Disasters - Environmental and Social Problems of Rapid DevelopmentChina has been struggling mightily to develop as a world power with a modern economy. To a lesser extent India and other countries have been doing the same. Unfortunately, it appears again and again that the ability to make rapid technical advances has the dangerous ability to outrun human advances in education, technical competence and perhaps even <b>social consciousness and ethics</b>. The most recent major Chinese disaster is the monstrous chemical explosion and fire in the port city of Tianjin. These<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Tianjin+explosion+images&num=50&newwindow=1&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CB4QsARqFQoTCLOypsLUqccCFUNXPgod8h0PWg&biw=1600&bih=799" target="_blank"> photos show the extent of the disaster</a>, and the link below with multiple videos shows the human response. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aol.com/article/2015/08/14/firefighter-rescued-from-blast-zone-in-chinas-tianjin-port/21222710/" target="_blank">One video apparently by Americans</a> shows reaction to the initial smaller explosion accompanied by joking, with one saying maybe a gas station explosion, which quickly morphs to shock and concern as the second and perhaps third huge explosions are shown. Initial conversation includes comments with bleeped words, then fear with the second explosion and a comment about getting dressed (the explosions were around 11 pm), after the third flare, they decided to get downstairs. <span style="background-color: white;">The reports have all said 2 explosions, but this certainly looks like a third one with the talking continuing in the background from the 2nd to 3rd one so I don’t see how this could have been a repeat of the 2nd one. Also you see individual flaming parts raining outward like a fireworks explosion.</span><br />
<br />
This is the first of a series of videos at this site. Others have additional information of interest. For example, China is well known for trying to downplay the seriousness of their disasters (more on this later), but one of the subsequent videos is critical of the flouting of safety laws forbidding construction of homes, schools, and hospitals within a dangerous distance of chemical and other dangerous sites. Apparently there were serious violations here at Tianjin. This video also reported 4 dangerous chemicals at the site. Calcium carbide when wet (from firemen's hoses) produces flammable acetylene gas. The second highly dangerous chemical was about 700 TONS of sodium<b> cyanide, </b>which in addition to being very poisonous also produces explosive gases.<br />
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Another video follows this one and while talking about the chemicals, this report in Chinese with English subtitles totally fails to mention the cyanide. Finally, today (7-18-15), officials are admitting the seriousness of the chemical situation and potential danger to the public. However <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/world/asia/tianjin-china-explosions.html?_r=0" target="_blank">they are also publicizing</a> how they have their best people on the job to analyze and clean up the mess. While continuing to suggest there is no cyanide in the air, people continue to report various respiratory symptoms. Of course, there are many earth and water samples needing testing. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">A following video shot from helicopter shows the vast area of devastation including masses of metal shipping container washed up against a high rise like pebbles at a beach after a storm. If you have not already viewed the photos in the first link, you may be surprised to see the vast number of new incinerated automobiles that will never make a Chinese family happy. Another video shot shows a large water filled crater, perhaps 400 or more feet in diameter, estimate based on the probable 40 feet length of shipping containers nearby. A television report on CCTV showed pouring of a huge concrete dam to prevent contaminated water from running into the river or harbor.</span><br />
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And finally, after fifteen months the Chinese legal system begins to dispense "justice." <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/09/501441138/china-jails-49-over-deadly-tianjin-warehouse-explosions">http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/09/501441138/china-jails-49-over-deadly-tianjin-warehouse-explosions</a><br />
A year later <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/tianjin-explosion-photos-china-chemical-factory-accident-crater-revealed-a7199591.html" target="_blank">this British paper </a>covers the aftermath and includes a link to the official Chinese report.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">One month after the disaster, Wikipedia's detailed report listed 173 dead and over 700 injured. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Tianjin_explosions">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Tianjin_explosions</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">The death toll is up to 112, with over 700 hospitalized and over 50 critical or serious. At least 25 firefighters killed and 1,000 responding. One person was rescued ABOUT 165 feet from the explosion point, but 95 people are still missing, including 85 firefighters. On 8/23/15, dead reported was 123, missing 40 and over 600 still hospitalized. On 8/25/15, 135 reported dead, and on 8/29 147 total had been found. The death toll could have been much higher if it had occurred during the height of the workday. Since the explosions happened around 11 pm, the daylight shots are long after the initial explosions. After several days, the government has also expanded the danger exclusion zone for residents to almost 2 miles, probably because of the cyanide issue. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Their <a href="http://www.aol.com/article/2015/08/16/rescuers-work-to-clear-china-blast-site-of-chemicals-before-rain/21223302/" target="_blank">chemical and nuclear personnel</a> are also working quickly to clean up before the next rain. Small fires continue to break out, perhaps because of the 3,000 automobiles incinerated with some gas in the tank. In addition China is now <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11816116/Four-new-fires-at-Tianjin-blast-site-in-China-as-safety-hazards-found-in-Beijing.html" target="_blank">examining industrial safety</a> throughout the country. For example, Sinopec, the company responsible for the disastrous Quindao pipeline explosion that killed 62 people 2 years ago, has been found to NOT have proper oil fire fighting personal on hand.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">The most recent victims of this disaster<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/08/21/thousands-of-small-dead-fish-was-ashore-near-tianjin-explosion-site-in-china/" target="_blank"> may be fish</a>, although some say that warm summer water might be the cause. At any rate there sure are a lot of them in these photos. A Chinese millionaire/philanthropist has been hospitalized for respiratory problems after coming to Tianjin to offer material support as he has done at other disasters. Some admire him, others see him as a Trump like self promoter. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=50&newwindow=1&safe=off&q=tianjin+explosion+millionaire+hospitalized&oq=tianjin+explosion+millionaire+hospitalized&gs_l=serp.12...234088.240199.0.243507.25.25.0.0.0.0.129.2571.5j19.24.0....0...1c.1.64.serp..13.12.1325.RA6ncaV0aKA" target="_blank">Here are a number</a> of different stories.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">This is not the first major Chinese disaster I have reported at this blog. <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/12/prevent-future-keystone-xl-pipeline.html" target="_blank"> Here is the link</a> to the extensive story on oil based environmental disasters with particular reference to the Qingdao oil pipeline in downtown Qingdao which devastated a mile of the city and killed 62 people in 2013. The Chinese government and perhaps even our own so neglected this story that few here even know it occurred. Given the controversy over the XL Keystone Pipeline, there was no doubt pressure to not cover this pipeline story while giving emphasis to the Lac Megantic oil train disaster that killed 47. Billionaire Koch Brothers have pipeline interest and are fighting billionaire Warren Buffet who has oil train interests. Their fight of course underlines the need to move to renewables quickly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/08/04/chin-a04.html" target="_blank">This link</a> from the World Socialist Web Site describes the role of corporate irresponsibility in a number of preventable recent industrial accidents. They point out that working conditions in China are notoriously dangerous. In the first half of of 2014, 19 serious accidents killed more than 200 people. This particular accident occurred 8-2-14 in Kunshan at a metal products company specializing in aluminum processing and car wheel hubs employing 450 with 264 at work then. After 2 days 71 workers had died. At least 186 were injured from this explosion probably caused by an exposed flame in a room filled with combustible dust. The South China Morning post reported that "the dangerous, dusty work conditions...had been known about for years." City work safety regulators had warned about the explosion potential be were ignored.<br />
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Some of these products end up with General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota. Companies like GM flock to China to take advantage of low wages and deplorable working conditions. A week earlier GM was praised for corporate responsibility at the 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Annual Conference in Beijing. Sadly, this accident demonstrates how meaningless claims of corporate responsibility remain. The drive for profits overrides every other consideration including workers' lives. Like other major factory disasters, locked doors contributed to the high death toll. Tragically, these disasters only result in big corporations moving to a different supplier which employs the same kind of dangerous practices.<br />
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This August 2, 2014 link reports on the <a href="http://abc13.com/news/blast-at-china-car-parts-plant-kills-68-hurts-187/236301/" target="_blank">deaths of 68 workers</a> at an automotive parts plant that serves GM and other auto companies.<br />
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Two o<a href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2014/08/a-deadly-aluminum-dust-explosion-in-china-triggers-emergency-inspections-that-could-affect-foxconn-iphone-6-production.html" target="_blank">ther aluminum dust explosion </a>in 2011 at Apple supply facilities have also caused deaths and injuries. Conditions there have been so bad workers have committed and/or threatened to commit suicide. Foxconn's response to this problem was to install nets to catch them. Chinese safety agencies have worked to urge better safety measures involving dust throughout the country. Obviously, not as effectively as they should have.<br />
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At least 121 people died in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/world/asia/scores-die-in-fire-at-chinese-poultry-plant.html" target="_blank">explosion and fire at a poultry</a> processing plant in June 2013, where locked doors also contributed to the death toll. Some companies employ children as young as 12, and force them to work 11 hour days with few breaks. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/05/us-samsung-elec-labour-china-idUSKBN0G508120140805" target="_blank">Samsung suspended business </a>with one such company not because of the child labor, but because of the negative publicity. Apple has also had problems with this child labor issue.<br />
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[12/21/15] - Here we have <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/dozens-missing-massive-landslide-china-151220130002098.html" target="_blank">another potentially deadly disaster</a>. Almost 100 lives may be at risk as the result of a massive landslide. "The accumulation of a large amount of construction waste meant that mud was sacked too steep....A nearby section of China's major West-East natural gas pipeline also exloded,,.though it was not clear if this had any impact on the landslide." The New York Times has done a detailed piece <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/24/business/international/shenzhen-landslide-casts-shadow-over-chinas-success-story.html?_r=0" target="_blank">analyzing the run-away development</a> in Shenzhen and the consequences, one of which is this giant landslide of construction debris.<br />
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[June 2016] - Six months later a <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209580991630950X" target="_blank">detailed engineering report</a> confirmed the final death toll as 77 for this massive Construction Solid Waste (CSW) disaster. As the report points out, this kind of disaster has been a frequent consequence of rapid development. It is often compounded by heavy rain and inadequate evaluation of water/soil interactions. In 2000 at least 330 people were killed after 2 weeks of typhoon rains were followed by the massive landfill landslide in Quezon City, Philippines. Heavy rainfall also lead to a catastrophic waste landslide in 2005 in Bandung, Indonesia. At least 147 died in this disaster which, along with the Shenzhen landslide, has been one of the largest volume human waste caused landslides in recent years. As population and development continue their explosive growth, even larger more deadly events are likely to occur.<br />
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<b>[There are a number of other disasters in China and elsewhere that I plan to add here, so sign up for my email alerts in the space below my photos or keep checking back for new info.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;">]</span></span></b><br />
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Another tragic disaster occurred in Bangladesh when efforts were made to rush into cheap textile production. This 2013 disaster was caused when too much heavy equipment was put in a building not designed for the weight. At least 1,100 people died and 2,500 more were pulled from the wreckage. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-bangladesh-factory-collapse-one-year-later/" target="_blank"> A story one year later</a> reports on the efforts made and being made to rescue and improve their highly important textile industry. Both business and workers are organizing to improve things, but the victims themselves or their families are still awaiting compensation. The <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Bangladesh+factory+collapses&num=50&newwindow=1&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CDkQsARqFQoTCMf31rTTqscCFcoaPgodL6gLGg&biw=1600&bih=799" target="_blank">wreckage is mind boggling.</a> Perhaps the world wide prevalence of cell phone photography will spark greater attention to these disasters and their prevention.<br />
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Washington, DC has its own local problems. The most recent is the disrailment of a Metro subway train in downtown DC. Apparently heat or other factors had caused the rails to spread. Metro had known about this <b>for a month</b>, but the tracks had not been tightened up and properly realigned. This is the same kind of <b>human error</b> that is causing so many accidents, disasters, and deaths throughout the world. People in Virginia are urging that <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-proposes-26-billion-overhaul/2013/01/23/fa31fdd4-658a-11e2-b84d-21c7b65985ee_story.html" target="_blank">another Metro tunnel be built under the Potomac River.</a> This story written 2 years ago has almost 200 comments. Given the rate at which we are having major breakdowns, a second tunnel is probably a wise idea. Imagine the chaos in working Washington, if people could not get to and from DC and VA by Metro for days or weeks. Here is <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/23527/a-wye-is-out-but-a-second-rosslyn-station-may-make-more-blue-line-trains-possible/" target="_blank">one idea </a>for adding another tunnel.<br />
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We also have potential problems with the CSX tunnel reconstruction here in DC as illustrated by this Homeland Security <a href="http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-140.pdf" target="_blank">official report</a> on the Howard Tunnel fire in Baltimore in 2001. This link gives details on the 2010 removal of<a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/howard-street-tunnel" target="_blank"> 13 derailed cars</a> from the Howard Tunnel by CSX. There are also a number of other CSX and rail problems at this link. DC folk have not been shy about <a href="http://dcist.com/2014/05/group_that_oppose_csxs_virginia_ave.php" target="_blank">expressing their concerns </a>for our local CSX tunnel work.<br />
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[More reporting needed on this issue. Come back again for more information and links.]<br />
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919616220108854447.post-66162366739895714972015-04-15T16:48:00.001-07:002018-03-07T02:19:57.100-08:00DC Taxes - 2015 & 2016 Update: GOOD and BAD News - Revised Schedule H, This Could Give YOU Money As many of you know, I have paid special attention to the DC government tax situation. By clicking my <a href="http://gleeaikin.blogspot.com/2013/09/index-of-all-posts-recent-to-oldest.html" target="_blank">INDEX</a> post you can find all the earlier tax related articles. Having just finished preparing my own 2014 taxes [as well as the 2015 tax calculations], and comparing the current situation with earlier years, I now have the new information for these years. We in the DC Statehood Green Party have struggled especially long and hard to bring tax fairness to the lower and middle classes. We can now report some success. However, our Council still has a long way to go to restore equity to our people. <br />
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> For 2017 I have colored the information below about the improved Schedule H benefit in yellow and other colors. You are probably eligible if your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $40,000 or less for you (increased to $50,000 for 2016 taxes), and your family unit, if not living alone. If 70 or older, the AGI limit is $60,000. You also need to pay rent or property taxes to be eligible.</span><br />
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In an email last week I called attention to the fact that even though our Council approved using some of the tax Revision Commission's (TRC) recommendations, even though they agreed to implement these changes in our Deductions and Exemptions that would put <span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">$85,000,000 each year </span>back into our neighborhoods, the small increases they did approve were even less than the federal increases. Since federal D & E rates are pegged to inflation, this means we continue to fall ever farther behind. For 2015 taxes a bit more was added by DC relative to federal additions. See below:<br />
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I followed through on my plan to check on the proposed tax rate reductions for upper income earners and businesses. If you are a lower income earner, it may help you feel a bit better to learn for that group, those rates were unchanged from last year. We will need to continue to watch like hawks to make sure the Council does not backtrack on the TRC goal of reducing the tax burden to the middle class. <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">At last year's hearings many were astonished to learn the middle 20% of taxpayers paid more than 11% taxes, while the top 1% and the bottom 20% paid near 6% taxes.</span><br />
For 2015 taxes, individuals with adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeding $150,000, personal exemption will be reduced by 2% for each $2,500 above $150,000. No personal exemption is available for AGI above $275,000. <span style="background-color: #c27ba0;"> NOTE: AGI</span> is the figure at the bottom of page 1 of your Federal 1040 form.<br />
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This year's Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) (Jan. 2015) <a href="http://www.itep.org/whopays/states/district_of_columbia.php" target="_blank">report</a> indicates the middle 20% now pays a little over 10% taxes. Here is further <a href="http://www.dcctj.org/" target="_blank">information</a> from DC Citizens for Tax Justice on impact of some changes. I read ITEP's information on tax changes in 2013 and 2014, but some of their information does not agree with the information on DC's 2014 D-30 and D-40 tax forms. For example, they report a decrease in the UIC (Unincorporated Franchise Tax). Having just calculated my own official printed 2014 D-30, I can report the tax rate was still listed as 9.975%. I'm not sure why Chairman Mendelson reported at last year's Chairmen's Candidate Forum that he had helped reduce the business tax rate by 17%. Perhaps this is planned for a later year or on a different tax form. We will have to keep watch on this.<br />
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[5/2/16] - I just attended a Ward 7 candidates forum for seniors (In 2016 I was running At Large with the Statehood Green Party in the June 14 primary). While there I brought up the issue of the <b>Schedule H </b>and potential of getting back up to $1000 from the Office of Tax and Revenue. Almost no one there knew about this. Given the number of people in the room, probably as much as $200,000 could be collected by this large group of senior citizens if they file <b>Amended Returns</b> for tax years 2014 and 2015. <br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> Please note that Amended Returns can be filed for up to 3 years back from the date a return was filed. Thus you should check to see if you are eligible for 2014, 2015, and now 2016. If you are late filing the D-40 for a year, simply file that year and include the Schedule H material. If you already filed the D-40 for a specific year then you WILL have to use the Amended Return, D-40X.</span><br />
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As I hurried to get my taxes sent off to the IRS and OTR in April 2015, I decided to check out the <span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">District's D-40 <b>Schedule H</b></span>. Since in the past, the limitation of eligibility <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">has been a maximum income of $20,000</span>, I was not paying much attention to this particular issue. DCSGP's David Schwartzman had brought this up as an important benefit needing change. I was amazed and pleased to see that SURPRISE, I am now eligible for this benefit. If I am now eligible, then it means many more of you could also get money back.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">Even if you have already sent in your tax returns you can always file an <a href="http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/d-40x.pdf" target="_blank">amended return</a> if it will give you money back. This form has a Line 16a, which is, as explained in the General Instructions, is the place to include the Schedule H property tax credit. You then explain in Part II that you are eligible for the Schedule H credit, and attach a copy of your completed Schedule H to your D-40X</span>. If you submitted the FR-127 for an automatic 6 month's extension of time to file your D-40, <span style="background-color: #e06666;">then you can include the Schedule H in that filing. (wrong, see below)</span><br />
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[4/15/16] As explained below, I spent the rest of 2015 trying to have Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) get their records on me straight. <span style="background-color: yellow;"> I was also told that I should have waited to send in the Schedule H with the finished D-40. I did not send the Schedule H to OTR with this year's FR-127 (2015). It will be interesting to see if this works out better.</span> I was not called back and received no response to 2 emails trying to get the final information about whether I did or did not owe taxes for 2014. I also do not know if I had refunds to use for my 2015 taxes. <br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> If you have had a bad OTR experience, please leave a comment about it. Here is <a href="http://www.popville.com/2015/06/dispute-at-office-of-tax-and-revenue/" target="_blank">a tale of woe </a>from someone else. The OTR personnel mentioned in that link's comments are the same ones I have dealt with. My impression is that OTR will use any excuse to avoid refunding money. They will also go back as far as 10 years to deny a license for non payment of taxes. Even if you paid a tax, if you can't prove it you will have to pay again to get your license. <b>Keep all payment records forever.</b></span><br />
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This new and <span style="background-color: #93c47d;">GREATLY improved <b>Schedule H</b></span> allows a Tax Filing Unit (members of a household/family/etc.) to earn a total <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">up to $40,000 if under age 70</span>, and <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">up to $60,000 if 70 or over</span>. <span style="background-color: yellow;">If you are not living alone, you will have to study the instructions to see if total household income falls within the allowed limits. There are separate calculations for renters and home owners. A simple Worksheet is provided for computing the Property Tax Credit. You:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">1) enter your federal IRS 1040 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), the dollar amount at the bottom of the first page of the IRS 1040.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">2) enter property taxes or 20% of rent paid in 2014,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">3) multiply that figure by 3% or 4% as instructed,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">4) subtract 3 from 2.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: yellow;">The Credit Limit is $1,000, and you use this or number 4), whichever is smaller as your credit on the Schedule H form.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">As an example:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">1) AGI = $24,000;</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">2) Property Tax = $3,300;</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">3) AGI times 3% = $720;</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">4) $3,300 minus $720 = $2,580. Since $2,580 is more than $1,000, you can only use $1,000 as the credit on Schedule H.</span></div>
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I wish I could have passed on this information earlier. I am providing links for the <b>Schedule H </b>and D-40X Amended Return forms below. At any rate, <span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">THANK YOU Councilmembers.</span><br />
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[Dec. 2015] Unfortunately, as soon as I sent in my form for the Schedule H credit, DC's Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) sent me 3 letters between May and August 2015, saying I owed back taxes, totaling exactly $1000. They did not say which years, but after I phoned, I then knew which ones, and realized that some of their information was completely wrong.<br />
Very disturbing was the sentence: "If you do not respond to this notice within 30 days of its date, the offset will be final." In other words "you will loose the money identified in the OFFSET NOTICE. All 3 letters were much more than 30 days before the October 15, 2015 due date for the Automatic Extension. If you had this happen to you when you tried to benefit from the Schedule H, you should fight the 30 days if they try to take the money permanently before the Oct. 15th due date.<br />
I have spent the past 7 months trying to get this straightened out, The last time I spoke to OTR, they had verified most of my information, but some questions were still outstanding. Since they were having computer problems that week, we could not move forward to completion, then people were away for the holidays and in early January, things were still unresolved. [Stay tuned, and don't fail to fight your own necessary battles.]<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">It may be too late to use this information with your filing due on April 18th, 2017, but you can always file an amended return if it will benefit you. If you sent an FR-127 Extension of Time to File, you can submit the Schedule H when you file the D-40. Instructions are unclear as to whether you should submit the Schedule H with the FR-127 or only with the final tax submission. This should be fixed. The Schedule H Instructions say it is due by April 15, 2015. The FR-127 only says to submit full payment of any taxes due by April 15, 2015. </span><span style="background-color: lime;">[OTR told me submit Schedule H with the D-40, NOT with the FR-127.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Even if you don't have enough income to file the D-40, you still may be eligible if you pay rent or property taxes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Here is the link for the fill-in version of Schedule H. </span><a href="http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2014_Schedule%20H_0002FillIn011515.pdf" style="background-color: white;">http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2014_Schedule%20H_0002FillIn011515.pdf</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Here is the link for the print, fill out and mail Schedule H. </span><a href="http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2014_Schedule%20H_11201412-2014.pdf" style="background-color: white;">http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2014_Schedule%20H_11201412-2014.pdf</a><span style="background-color: yellow;"> If there are 3 or fewer people in your Tax Filing Unit, then you only need print pages 1, 2, and perhaps 5 (the Computation Worksheet).</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">Here is the link for the D-40X Amended Individual Income Tax Return.</span></div>
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<a href="http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/d-40x.pdf" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/d-40x.pdf</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">Good luck, and please pass this information on to as many of your friends, neighbors, and lower and middle class earners that it could benefit.</span><br />
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G. Lee Aikin, <span id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1429078362870_10644" style="background-color: #add773; line-height: 1.22em;">DC Statehood Green Party, At Large candidate 2016</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.22em;">ATTENTION COUNCIL MEMBERS: Last year the Council agreed to follow the Tax Revision Commission's advice and restore our Deductions and Exemptions (D & E) parity with the federal rates which we had in 1973 when we got Home Rule. UNFORTUNATELY, it was decided to delay the benefits to our low and middle income workers by phasing in this measure over 6 years. Of all the measures approved by the TRC, this benefit helps the working poor and middle class the most. Please urge your Council contacts to speed up implementation.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_168925" style="line-height: 1.22em;">DC BENEFIT falls behind federal benefit in 2015 filings for 2014. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;">* In DC the basic D & E benefit for a <span class="yiv7261970207class" style="background-color: #fdf869; line-height: 1.22em;">family of 4 </span>is now <span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_170177" style="background-color: #7dbef1; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_170198" style="line-height: 1.22em;">$11,050</span></span>, while the IRS benefit is <span class="yiv7261970207class" style="background-color: #add773; line-height: 1.22em;">$28,200</span>. DC gave a $250 increase while IRS gave $400 more in deductions. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;">* For a <span class="yiv7261970207class" style="background-color: #fdf869; line-height: 1.22em;">single</span>, DC is now <span class="yiv7261970207class" style="background-color: #7dbef1; line-height: 1.22em;">$5,875</span>, and IRS is <span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_170570" style="background-color: #add773; line-height: 1.22em;">$10,150</span>. DC increases $100, IRS adds $150. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;">* For a <span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_172158" style="background-color: #fdf869; line-height: 1.22em;">couple under 65</span>, the DC figure for 2014 is <span class="yiv7261970207class" style="background-color: #7dbef1; line-height: 1.22em;">$7,600</span>, while the IRS is <span class="yiv7261970207class" style="background-color: #add773; line-height: 1.22em;">$20,300</span> (talk about a marriage penalty!). DC raised the benefit by $150, the IRS raised it by $300. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;"> Thus <b>we continue to fall ever further behind</b> this benefit we had in 1973. In other words Council gives LESS than inflation. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;">[4/15/16] Despite some increase, DC BENEFIT still is well behind the federal benefit in 2016 filings for 2015. The Exemption is $1775 per person. The Standard Deduction varies.</span></div>
<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white;">* In DC the basic D & E benefit for a </span><span style="background-color: yellow;">family of 4</span><span style="background-color: white;"> is now </span><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">$15,450</span><span style="background-color: white;">, while the IRS benefit is </span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">$28,600</span><span style="background-color: white;">. * For a</span><span style="background-color: yellow;"> single</span><span style="background-color: white;">, DC is now </span><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">$6,975</span><span style="background-color: white;">, and IRS is </span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">$10,300</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span><br />
<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white;">* For a </span><span style="background-color: yellow;">couple under 65</span><span style="background-color: white;">, the DC figure for 2015 is </span><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">$11,900</span><span style="background-color: white;">, while the IRS is </span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">$20,600</span><span style="background-color: white;"> (still quite a marriage penalty!). </span></span><br />
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;"> While given somewhat larger increases for DC than last year, we still have <b>a long way to go</b> to catch up to the federal benefit. <b>Urge the Council</b> to speed up the benefit and stop earmarking big money for the developers and gentrifiers.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_170735" style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_170752" style="color: #9d1811; line-height: 1.22em;"><b>Does this make you angry enough to do something about it?</b></span> My next step will be to see what benefits have been given to high income earners and report them. [See above for this info.]</span></div>
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<div class="yiv7261970207class" dir="ltr" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_166638" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 29.2800006866455px;">
<span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_171010" style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white;">Obviously, we need funds to make everyone happy. So, here is </span><span style="background-color: lime;"><b>one idea to raise money that should benefit all who might participate</b>.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Anyone with a car already pays for ONE parking sticker. However, some have a regular need to drive and spend time somewhere else besides their home. They might be caring for a sick/elderly relative or child regularly, or managing/renovating a second property, or need their car for their job. </span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" id="yiv7261970207yui_3_16_0_1_1428495325032_171271" style="line-height: 1.22em;">So this idea is to allow drivers to buy a second or even a third parking sticker for the area where they need to spend other time. There should be definite limitations: 1) not within a certain number of blocks of a Metro stop, 2) not within certain downtown limits, 3) not near sports arenas or Convention Center on days or evenings when there are events scheduled. This still leaves many places where a person could effectively use one or more extra parking stickers. They could only be used in ONE CAR so should not harm the parking rights of anyone else. Surely a WIN/WIN for DC tax revenue and the public. </span><br />
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<span class="yiv7261970207class" style="line-height: 1.22em;">If you would benefit from this idea, PLEASE COMMENT. A Council staff members asked me if I had any idea how many might want to use this benefit. I did not know the answer.</span></div>
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G. Lee Aikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373368641267578646noreply@blogger.com0