Free and Equal DC

From Denver

2009-07-06T10:51:00.003-04:00

Strong words from Mark Plotkin: "The first person who needs to change or get out of the way is Eleanor Holmes Norton." http://ping.fm/UfHDh

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From Denver

2009-07-06T10:51:00.001-04:00

Strong words from Mark Plotkin: "The first person who needs to change or get out of the way is Eleanor Holmes Norton." http://ping.fm/UfHDh

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From Denver

2009-07-04T21:43:00.003-04:00

My neighborhood becomes "Little Beirut" for the next 8 hours. Amateur fireworks in DC are out of control. dc

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From Denver

2009-07-04T21:43:00.001-04:00

My neighborhood becomes "Little Beirut" for the next 8 hours. Amateur fireworks in DC are out of control. dc

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Beach Video

2008-08-25T22:53:00.001-04:00

The white beaches of Destin, Florida. Great weather and clear water...

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Commute

2008-08-25T22:52:00.001-04:00

A video clip of my bus ride in the morning going down 16th street in DC.

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Heading Back to the Airport

2008-01-09T16:28:00.001-05:00

Ok. Just finished lunch in Concord and heading back to the Manchester airport.

I am very proud to be part of today's delegation. Everyone here made a compelling case for our basic democratic rights and we generated enough pressure that Sens. Sununu and Gregg felt the need to issue press releases explaining the votes again.

Most importantly we took the fight for DC Voting Rights *outside* the district - something that I've always felt we needed to do. There was definately a buzz in the NH legislature about our visit and testimony today. We need to do more of this, I'll be helping groups like DC Vote with their outreach in Montana in the coming weeks - and we'll definately be increasing efforts as the 2008 elections heat up!!

Met With The Governor

2008-01-09T14:54:00.000-05:00

We all met with Governor Lynch who was very kind and offered a lot of advise. He used to live on the Hill and is a Georgetown Law grad..so he has some District ties. We'll see if he helps us at the next NGA meeting....

Hearing is over

2008-01-09T14:09:00.001-05:00

Lots of questions at the end by a few reps. Same stuff we always hear in opposition, handled expertly by Chairman Gray and Ilir Zherka. Off to meet with the Governor now.

Wells and Alexander up now

2008-01-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

Time is short...but they are both bringing new information forward. We are certainly doing a full court press here in Concord. Things are moving forward quickly as they holding off further questions until the end....

I also spoke, had only a minute so went real fast...plugged my New England roots.

Sen. Paul Strauss did a great job, quoting the NH constitution and its rights give to all citizens.

Jack Evans And Muriel Bowser Speak

2008-01-09T12:29:00.001-05:00

Councilmember Evans spoke on the financial aspects of our plight. Addressed the lack of a commuter tax, non-taxable properties, etc. Did a great job of educating the committee.

Bowser was up next. She talked about Walter Reed and the BRAC process and how we have no vote in that process.

Next up Kwame Brown.

(We only get 5 minutes per speaker...but they have all been powerful.)

Commerce Clause Smackdown

2008-01-09T12:03:00.001-05:00

A citizen-laywer is testifying against the bill. His argument is the same as what we heard in Congress, the whole the "Constition says states" thing.

A NH legislator then tore threw the testimony by bringing up the Commerce clause up - nice job!

Mary Cheh is now schooling the committee on the Constitutionality of the DC Voting Rights act.

Out of Order...

2008-01-09T11:48:00.001-05:00

Some posts are out of order...spotty service. Sorry.

Fenty is Testifying Now

2008-01-09T11:42:00.003-05:00

Doing a good job laying out DC's case. Getting some fairly thoughtful questions about the Constitution and court challenges from committee members, but he's holding it down for DC.

Sorry for the bad photo....

On the ground in New Hampshire!

2008-01-09T11:42:00.001-05:00

I swear we are the only politicos coming into Manchester today!

Saw Michael Steele at the airport (supporter of DC Votings Right, fyi). We're on the bus on the way to the Capitol now to meet with the Governor and then testify.

Props to Catania staffer Ben Young for handling all the logistics...the devil is always in the details.

More when we get to Concord...

Rep. Smith from New Hampshire

2008-01-09T11:38:00.001-05:00

Rep. Smith from New Hampshire is testifying against the bill. He seems to think only civil servants and military live in DC.

Gray and Brown are here

2008-01-09T08:32:00.000-05:00

Some councilmembers had early morning commitments and met us at BWI. Chairman Vincent Gray and Kwame Brown are here with us now. Ready for takeoff!

iPod Guru?

2008-01-09T08:28:00.001-05:00

I've just been tagged as the tech wiz kid on this trip as I just showed Mary Cheh and Yvette Alexander how to reset an iPod that was locked up.

That's way DC pays me the big bucks :)

At the airport

2008-01-09T07:52:00.001-05:00

Got to BWI no problem. We're all suffiently caffinated now and waiting for our flight to Manchester. (I'm boarding pass number A19, which is like 1st class on Southwest!)Mary Cheh met us here at the airport, and Fenty is already in New Hampshire. DC is definately going to "represent" today!

(If you want to shoot me an email, you can get me at mike.panetta@gmail.com)

On the bus...

2008-01-09T07:00:00.001-05:00

Early morning departure from the Wilson Building (6:15!!). On the bus to BWI are Councilmembers Catania, Bowser, Evans, Wells, Alexander, and Shadow Senators Paul Strauss and Mike Brown. The sun's not up yet but we're excited about bringing the fight outside the Distict.

I wonder who'll see at the Manchester airport as the politicos all leave en masse...

Heading to New Hampshire

2008-01-08T21:32:00.000-05:00

I'm temporarily making the site FreeAndEqualDC.com into a travel blog as I head to New Hampshire with Mayor Fenty, Chairman Gray, and several members of the DC Council.

Why are we going up to New Hampshire the day after the big primary? Good question. We are going to testify in support of a bill in the New Hampshire legislature that expresses regret that New Hampshire’s United States Senators voted to deny the District of Columbia the right to be represented in the Congress.

It's about time we took this fight outside of the District. My hat's off to Councilmember David Catania who championed this idea and got it going in the Granite State.

I'll be mobile blogging as we travel to New Hampshire and keep everyone up to date on how things are going. This should be a great day for the District !!

Keep checking this blog or you can follow me on Twitter.com - my screen name is MikePanetta