A friend of mine who is a resident of DC sent an e-mail to all of his non-resident local friends asking us to write to our senators on his behalf. I want to bring his request to a wider audience. Those of you outside the DC area may not realize this, but DC residents have no representation in Congress. Their only voice is Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is a “Delegate” in the House - she has no vote, meaning DC is subject to the whims of the federal government.

The latest bright idea to come up in Congress is from Kansas senator Sam Brownback, who wants to institute a flat tax for DC. As the chair of the Senate’s Appropriations Subcommitee for DC, he gets to use the city as his personal testing ground for tax reform. Both Eleanor Holmes Norton and DC’s mayor Anthony Williams are opposed to the idea, but without a vote it can go ahead anyway.

Statehood for DC may be a long time away; even getting a vote in Congress may be a long time off. This means that DC residents need our help! If you live in the United States but not in DC, you have a voice in Congress. To help those without a voice, find your Senator’s contact information and send an e-mail asking him or her to oppose Brownback’s plans for a flat tax for DC.