Disenfranchised

Most of you know that I lobby Congress daily. I lobby Congress as a paid representative on behalf of my clients, but I also lobby Congress as a private citizen. My primary choice of lobbying on behalf of my own interests is to write my Congressional delegation. I am on several 'action alert' networks that alert me when legislation on an issue I care about is moving. I instantly grab my pen (mightier than the sword) and write constituent letters to my Members. This worked well and was extremely satisfying when I lived in Arizona and then in Virginia. However, it has really lost its oomph since I've moved to DC.

I love DC. I love that it's the national capital. I love policy — and sometimes politics. I love the city. I love the brains of this city. And I love that everyone in this place knows politics. Walking through a restaurant the other day I overheard various conversations with words like 'obama' 'clinton' 'mccain' 'farm bill' 'reconciliation bill' etc. I love that almost every cab driver I've ever had has an opinion on all three branches of government and feels the need to share these opinions with me.

What I do not love is that now as a DC resident I have lost my voice as a personal citizen. My new representative is Eleanor Holmes Norton. She is a delegate to the House of Representatives and can vote in committee, can speak on the Floor but she cannot vote on the final passage of a bill. I have no voice in the Senate. I am without federal representation! I knew this would be the case when I moved to DC, but I didn’t expect it to bother me this much. Now when I get an ‘action alert’ I sigh and send a note to Eleanor knowing she can’t do much.