March 23, 2007
Meet Your New Representative, D.C. (Updated)
Update, Part 3: Here's the audio of Rep. Gohmert's wisdom on the District's lack of representation. Or, should we say, over-representation? And we've redesigned the banner for his website to better reflect his new responsibilities...
Louie Gohmert — The District's Voting Representative
Update, Part 2: Here's a pic of Louie. He seems like a nice guy. And this is what he said, according to the Congressional Record: "I would submit to you that Washington, D.C. is also the only city in the entire country that every Senator and every Member of Congress has a vested interest in seeing that it works properly, that water works, sewer works, and no other city in America has that." You're right, Rep. Gohmert. And we're going to exploit it.
Update: Oops! Apparently it was Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) that made the offending comment, not Rep. Boustany. CSPAN misidentified Gohmert on the House floor, hence our error. But the campaign shall not cease! No, it will expand. Feel free to call Rep. Gohmert's office too! (202-225-3035) We'd apologize to Rep. Boustany's staff, but according to the Law of Louie, he's our representative too! And while we're at it, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) deserves some calls (202 225-4236). Ask him what happened the last time a group of Americans were taxed, unrepresented and, thanks to his efforts, armed to the teeth...
After yesterday's debacle in the House of Representatives, you'd think we'd be a little peeved. Not only was the first good shot we've had at something approaching representation derailed by House Republicans, it was done in the name of holding up the rights of gun-owners as more important than those of potential voters. But we're not angry. Why? Because we finally have a real voting representative in the House. No, Eleanor Holmes Norton wasn't enfranchised under cover of darkness. Rather, Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) claimed us as his own.
In the midst of the debate, Boustany expressed his opposition to the legislation by claiming that since all 435 representatives have a vested interest in the District, why would we need our own? Well, Rep. Boustany, we're taking your word for it. Since we can't have our own representative in the House, we'll just have to settle for you. And not a minute too soon, we might add, because there are potholes to be filled, trash to be collected and millions of dollars to be allocated to special interest projects of dubious national interest. We're also itching to send advocates of all kinds to your office to hassle your staff -- did you know that the Church of Scientology has a powerful presence in our fair city? We'd also like a copy of that oversized excerpt of the Constitution you were waving around on the floor of the House. It was pretty sweet.
District residents, Rep. Boustany is here to serve us. If you have any gripes, want a flag flown over the Capitol or simply want his staff to show you the wonders of Statuary Hall, he's easy enough to find:
Address: 1117 Longworth Bldg., Washington, DC 20515-1807
Phone: (202) 225-2031
Fax: (202) 225-5724
If you want immediate service, ask to talk to Boustany's Chief of Staff, Jeff Debrozsi, or his Legislative Director, Terri Fish.
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Don't forget about his scheduler, Hunter Pickles! He'll be the go-to guy for setting up constituent services with all of the Representative's new constituents!
I'm going over to Rep Boustany's office right now. A constituent meeting, if you will.
What kind of services are we talking about? (Forgive me, I've never had representation before). I guess we could get him to impeach elected officials . . .
I called!
This is going to be fun.
Since all 435 have a vested interest, can't we just pick our own? I don't like the looks of this one. But I'm happy to drop his name when calling whichever of his 434 colleagues I decide to adopt.
I just called the office and spoke to someone who told me that the Representative's priority was SW Louisiana. I replied that perhaps then he should allow me to vote for someone who would make DC a priority. They seem to have gotten q few calls before mine too!!!
Keep up the good fight!!
This could be a lot of fun. Sure, it's pointless, but fun. Unfortunately, it'll be his staffers that bear the brunt of any call-in campaign, but, then, they chose to work for this loser. There's all kinds of things we can bug him about. That streetlight out? Call him. Missing tree in a treebox? Call him. Your Grandma not getting her social security check? Call him. You have an opinion on global warming? Call him.
I just gave a call to ask about garbage collection. And Man, our rep's are not very friendly.
Virtual Representation- "The concept of virtual representation was employed by Prime Minister George Grenville to explain why Parliament could legally tax the colonists even though the colonists could not elect any members of Parliament. The theory of virtual representation held that the members of Parliament did not only represent their specific geographical constituencies, but rather that they took into consideration the well being of all British subjects when deliberating on legislation." (snopes.com)
Did this guy ever take US History?
Ha. I needed a good laugh and I just got one...
Me: Yes, I understand that the Congressman has decided to represent D.C. as well as his own District.
Staffer: No.
Me: He said so yesterday on the floor of the House.
Staffer: No. He did not.
Me: Yes, he did. He said that he had a vested interest in representing D.C. as well as his home district so I'd like him to work on the school problem in D.C.
Staffer: D.C. is not his district.
Me: But he said..
Staffer: Well, okay.
click
Hey, screw his staffers, do you really feel bad about any of those smug little kids on the hill who sit around and are rude to visitors? I sure don't. So start the deluge.
bribri, thanks for getting the virtual representation reference. You beat me to it!
I guess an important question is: what native DC food or product will Rep. Boustany offer new constituent visitors to his office? I vote for Ben's Chili Bowl. They'd better get the crockpots ready...
I mean, really, he's saying that every member's DC office is like a District Office for all of us.
This is fantastic! This needs to become a campaign. I'd like to see him get enough calls that it gets picked up by the Capitol Hill newspapers.
Digg this post. Blog this post. Let's make it happen.
Looks like Boustany's never going to join another DC debate ever again.
I'm not sure how to do it, but it would be nice to add to his Wikipedia entry that he is now representing DC in addition to Lousianna's 7th...or at least a quote from him on DC's voting rights and a link to Grenville or Virtual Representation. Small and petty, sure, but the age we live in has made small and petty the new little black dress.
Can anyone direct me to a hot-or-not for the House of Reps? With 435 of them to pick from, there must be some hotties to represent me.
This is great! I've never been so excited about representative democracy.
This must be the most colorfully surnamed office on the hill!
In calling all our new favorite Reps, don't forget to drop a line to Lamar Smith (R-TX), and tell him what you think of the gun legislation he tacked on to the voting rights bill yesterday of his "new district".
Of course, mention that Boustany let you know that he was your rep, too.
Anyone have an auto-dialer and a recorded message?
Sweet - Clearly this one is on the "NOT" side of things.
I just called and the uber-friendly staff informed me that constituent services are being handled by "Representative Norton-Holmes". Smart ones, the Louisianans.
Also, they told me that it was Rep. Louie Gohmert - not Boustany - who made that statement on the floor. I couldn't find either in the Congressional Record. Anyone a better researcher than I??
Yes, our representatives have a vested interest in the District. That must be why they relocate almost every government agency that used to be in DC over to Maryland, Virginia, or whichever state has a representative willing to demand that government money be spent in his own domain.
Oh, the irony.
Those guys gave us Home Rule (such as it is) some 30-odd years ago because they got tired of all of our striking trash collectors, teachers, and police officers taking up space in their nice offices when the constituants from home came-a-calling.
Forget gun control. . .let's flood their phone lines about dog-park legislation!
It was not Boustany on the CSPAN broadcast but Louie Gohmert who made the speech on the House floor. CSPAN incorrectly identified Gohmert as Boustany and this site did not check the facts.
Ok, I've returned from my grassroots adventure on the Hill with some info. I got the runaround everywhere (of course) but was a hero in EHN's office.
1. The person who handles this issue in Boustany's office is Patrick Large. patrick.large@mail.house.gov. I will be emailing him shortly to try and set up a constituent meeting. I suggest you all do the same.
2. Congressman's Smith office (Lamar Smith, who introduced the amendment) has NO ONE there that handles this issue. They referred me his judiciary staff. You can call them at 202-225-6906.
3. Congressman Martin Souder, who is always trying to repeal our gun laws, his staffer who handles Voting Rights issues is Marting Green. Contact him directly at martin.green@mail.house.gov.
dc365.blogspot.com
Again, you're blaming Republicans for trying to pass an amendment with bipartisan support. I'm not saying that the amendment's intentions were pure, but, it's the Democratic leadership that postponed the vote because they were against something supported by the majority of the chamber.
That being said, I fully support bothering Rep. Boustany and his staff. These calls were the best part of being an intern.
Well, Gohmert said this during the March 15 Judiciary Committee vote:
"They will be living there much of the time. ... But nonetheless, they will have a vested interest in everything that occurs in that city. So there will be some type of representation. "
And, this is from yesterday's Congressional REcord of the debate, credited to Gohmert:
"I would submit to you that Washington, D.C. is also the only city in the entire country that every Senator and every Member of Congress has a vested interest in seeing that it works properly, that water works, sewer works, and no other city in America has that."
"Can anyone direct me to a hot-or-not for the House of Reps? With 435 of them to pick from, there must be some hotties to represent me."
Someone with a lot of free time on their hands (that's gotta be, like, half the commenters here) really needs to get on this. I'm sick of everyone talking about Stephanie Herseth. Not everyone's into girls, people! And even if you are into girls, she can't be the only one.
Incidentally, here's the info to contact Mister Louie:
Washington Office
510 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3035
(202) 226-1230 fax
Chief of Staff: Michael Tomberlin
Scheduler: Megan MacArthur
Legislative Director: Ashley Callen
Press Secretary: Lauren Huly
And, just to be clear, it appears the Boustany voted against consideration of the bill, along with Gohmert. So he's not snow white on the whole issue.
Let's not forget that Gohmert is the one who tried to kill it in committee by offering 44 amendments.
This post is a perfect example of the standard protester, group-think activism. Someone hears of an injustice, and recruits others who are sympathetic and who assume that the facts have been checked, and unleash a firestorm. Nice job, brainless mob!
I just emailed the Washington Post editor [and recommend that others do the same]. It'd be nice for the rest of the city and country to see how we feel about our new representatives. And in case they published my comment I was nice enough to include contact info for our new Rep. Louie Gohmert.
CDTrave-
The mistake was made by CSPAN and I was unable to get the text of the debate this morning from the Congressional Record. We did get an email from a congressional staffer noting that the mistake was honest enough, seeing that Boustany and Gohmert look quite alike. And regardless of the error, Gohmert's claims mean that Boustany is also fair game. After, he's one of our 435 reps.
I just checked for the Boustany's statement in the Record and could not find his name or statement. Can someone please post a link to his statement in the Congressional Record?
Here is a link to the debate (cur and paste):
thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r110:21:./temp/~r110YgWiIZ::
Thanks!
I just called Mister Louie's office and told them that I was thrilled that the Congressman cared so much about the District of Columbia. I invited the concerned Congressman to a Community Town Hall Meeting that will be taking place on U Street this Saturday. They said the Representative would be interested and I should forward the information to his scheduler at megan.macarthur@mail.house.gov, which I will do immediately. I'm sure Megan and the Congressman would LOVE to hear of other exciting opportunities to meet and greet DC residents, so please do send them along!
Alas, it was Gohmert and not the gentleman from Lousianna who made a fool of himself yesterday.
Gohmert made 4 arguments according to THOMAS
(thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r110:7:./temp/~r110X2EIfE:e64468:);
1- The constitution says Congress shall only be made of representatives from the several states
2- Congress exercises authority over DC and other things like Military bases, "dark yards" and forts. If we give DC a voting member of congress that will open a Pandora's box that will require us to give every military institution a voting member.
3-"And there is a good position that people should be able to elect their representative, and that was discussed. But I would submit to you that Washington, D.C. is also the only city in the entire country that every Senator and every Member of Congress has a vested interest in seeing that it works properly, that water works, sewer works, and no other city in America has that."
4-The congress should never change the constitution because it might then have a sign over its door saying "All types of bending and twisting done here" and people might think it is a blacksmith's shop just south of Colombus, Georgia.
Mr. Gohmert is not good at arguing, nor does he seem to be a man who is well versed in US history, but I am happy that he has volunteered to represent me and my fellow DC residents.
His third argument should be enough to get him disenfranchised for life.
Sorry, that link I posted is temporary so it will not work if you paste that address into your browser. Thomas rolls like that.
you can find the text by searching for page H2845 on thomas.loc.gov
happy reading
"But I would submit to you that Washington, D.C. is also the only city in the entire country that every Senator and every Member of Congress has a vested interest in seeing that it works properly, that water works, sewer works, and no other city in America has that."
Ha! Indeed. Tell it to New Orleans!
If we're going to be literal, 'several' can mean 'more than two but fewer than many' and I think fifty is actually quite a bit more than a few, several or many. I think that SEVERAL of the states probably shouldn't have been allowed to glom on to constitutionally provided rights. And yes, 'several' can also mean 'separate or distinct' but since we're reading it exactly as it was written and if it isn't clearly defined in this part of the constitution to mean one thing or another, I think we can read that the authors did NOT actually mean to include as many as 50 states.
If we're being so literal, someone might want to look into that whole gun thing. I mean...who here is really a member of a citizen militia?
heh, this is great. if you go to our new rep's homepage, and try to 'email louie', you find that the form on his page only accepts emails from zip codes that fall within the first district of texas. what can we do to get 20001 added to his acceptable list, since i'm one of his constituents now.
I tried to email my new congresman from his website, but got the following error when I typed in my zipcode:
"Error: The zip code entered is not in Louie's district, the first district of Texas. Please go to the House of Representatives write your Rep page and find your correct representative."
Hmm....
AJ: The Founders decended naked from the mountain with the Constitution enscribed on stone tablets. Your observation on the definition of "several" is heresy and punishable by death!
Or not, whatever works at the time.
Thanks for sending us the email address, Kelley.
I just emailed Ms. Macarthur at megan.macarthur@mail.house.gov and told her how thrilled I am to have Rep. Gohmert representing me in the Congress. I told her that I'll be in touch re. some constitutent service concerns.
To email him via his webpage- input zip cope 75901 and then it give you the email form- which will put in Lufkin, TX, but still leaves you a place to input your city- (Washington DC).
Looks like I missed out on all the fun. This is very as crap. What the heck was he thinking. I beat his staffers are having fun with all you guys calling in.
Another address: Louie.gohmert@mail.house.gov
Just called his office and was told that to send an email as a non-texan constituent I should use louie.gohmert@mail.house.gov
Love love the Barry pic in your new banner
Can someone ask Louie G. if he supports removing the carpet from the Metro trains? He must have a position on this.
I called Gohmert and asked him to support dedicated funding for the Metro - HR401. Now that he's representing our interests, might as well tell him what they are.
I just read a fantastic article that discusses the very argument Louie made - explains how early members of Congress made this argument before DC even existed and how painfully wrong they turned out to be. Anywho, I uploaded a copy of it (www.sharebigfile.com/file/120586/SSRN-id947650-pdf.html) as its on the Social Science Research Network and I don't know whether you'll be able to download it without signing up.
Incidentally, it's one of the top papers in a number of categories
DCist made the Metro front page in today's Post!
Each week, DC residents should pick one member of Congress who opposes giving us voting rights and make him or her our "member of the week."
As I read the article in the Washington Post, I shake my head as people are encouraged to contact a rep about their potholes, garbage pick-up etc...
One of the glaring issues for the District has been and will continue to be the local City government and its dysfunctional bureaucracy. Just look to your council and the "leaders" there. That is where your energy for change and reform should be. Do you think 1 voting member will have that muc impact on the city...I don't. If the one non-voting member was more effective and was able to build alliances some not all of the Federal Issues you want addressed could be satisfied. A strong local government is the answer looking to the Fed for a handout...as always is not
Nice, Greg. So by that logic about 100 poorly run cities across the country should be stripped of their voting rights. How about we stop hiding behind constitutional arguments (which BOTH sides can find plenty of support for) and instead address the morality of having 500,000 people with no one to represent them in Congress. The Gohmerts of the world love to say THEY have DC's best interests at heart. But I can't vote his ass out of office so, as they say in Texas, that dog won't hunt. Unless they're renaming our airport for no good reason none of these jackasses gives a damn about DC or has ANY of its interests at heart
Has this blog apologized to Rep Boustany, despite his position. Why don't you show that D.C. has the class and sophistication equal to that of any state.
Why does Rep. Boustany deserve an apology? Did he support voting rights for DC? Did he do anything to get us an elected representative?
No. In fact, like many other House Republicans, he voted against consideration of the voting rights act.
And, "the class and sophistication equal to that of any state"? First of all, DCist isn't the official DC city blog, so what the hell does that mean? Further, has Texas apologized for slavery? Has Louisiana? Has Alabama apologized for English-only driver's license laws?
Why don't you just stuff it.
Having trouble contacting your new DC Congressman, Louie Gohmert?
Try this - it's fun and easy!
1. Go to gohmert.house.gov/contact_louie.htm
2. In the "Verify Your District" box, enter a zip code from the DC Congressman's "official" district."
3. Click on "Go to Email Form"
4. Let Louie know about your parking problems, the schools, trash service, snow removal, emergency services, kids with guns shooting other kids or themselves, storm sewers, your crazy neighbor. Louie says he'll take care of it. Reminder -- change DC motto to "Let Louie Do It."
Do it now, before those jealous Texas staffers catch on and change the web site.
Zip codes by county:
Angelina County
75941 Diboll
75949 Huntington
75901 Lufkin
75904 Lufkin
75969 Pollok
75980 Zavalla
--------------------------
Gregg County
75647 Gladewater
75662 Kilgore
75601 Longview
75602 Longview
75603 Longview
75604 Longview
75605 Longview
75693 White Oak
--------------------------
Harrison County
75650 Hallsville
75651 Harleton
75661 Karnack
75670 Marshall
75672 Marshall
75692 Waskom
----------------------------
Marion County
75657 Jefferson
--------------------------
Nacogdoches County
75937 Chireno
75760 Cushing
75943 Douglass
75944 Etoile
75946 Garrison
75961 Nacogdoches
75964 Nacogdoches
75965 Nacogdoches
-----------------------------
Panola County
75631 Beckville
75633 Carthage
75639 De Berry
75643 Gary
75669 Long Branch
----------------------------
Rusk County
75652 Henderson
75654 Henderson
75667 Laneville
75681 Mount Enterprise
75684 Overton
75691 Tatum
-------------------------------
Sabine County
75930 Bronson
75948 Hemphill
75959 Milam
75968 Pineland
-------------------------------
San Augustine County
75929 Broaddus
75972 San Augustine
-------------------------------------
Smith County
75750 Arp
75757 Bullard
75762 Flint
75771 Lindale
75789 Troup
75701 Tyler
75702 Tyler
75703 Tyler
75704 Tyler
75705 Tyler
75706 Tyler
75707 Tyler
75708 Tyler
75709 Tyler
75791 Whitehouse
75792 Winona
-------------------------------------------
Upshur County
75755 Big Sandy
75640 Diana
75644 Gilmer
75645 Gilmer
75683 Ore City
-----------------------------
This is priceless. Great Job DC...lol
Martin,
I think you have created a form of DC Vote/Statehood/No Taxation activism for the common man.
Let's all treat each and every Representative and Senator as our own. If every DC resident who feels disenfranchised calls at least one member each day (and better yet 10), at some point the staffers will get the hint.
We should have thought of this 25 years ago!
Thanks everyone for your comments. Please continue debating the issue, but keep it civil, folks.
Greg: If you don't think having a voting member of Congress is useful, how about you volunteer to give up yours? But of course you get to keep paying taxes anyway....
R: Let's compare.
DCist misidentified a Congressman, based on CNN's misidentification. When DCist discovered the error, they fixed it.
The Congressman in question voted to deny half a million people basic democracy.
In the overall scheme of things, who needs to apologize to who?
Hillman:
"In the overall scheme of things, who needs to apologize to who?"
I say CNN needs to apologize, and the best way for them to do so is by each day working into their broadcasts some well-placed sympathetic mention of the fact that DC has no federal representation.
I just left an after-hours message for Congressman Gohmert's office, expressing that I hadn't realized that I had a representative, but now that I do, that I want to be added to his list of constituents, so that I'll get all the communications from their office. I left my actual address. Who thinks I'll actually get something?
Telephone our new DC Congressman, Louie Gohmert, about water, sewer, parking, schools, kids with guns, loud neighbors, etc., but don't call his DC office. If y'all have local issues, y'all should call his District offices, right? They share an 800 number, so Louie pays for the call, not you. Very thoughtful.
Operators are standing by. Call 1-866-535-6302 toll free.
Louie Gohmert's District Offices are in the metropolises of Longview ("Best View of The Texas Lake Country"), Lufkin (in the Piney Woods; "You'll Love Lufkin"), Marshall ("Cultural Capital of East Texas"), Nacogdoches ("Oldest Town in Texas"), and Tyler ("The Real Rose of Texas"). No wonder he is such an expert on urban issues.
Man, what a dick.
Dear Representative Gohmert (submitted 3/26/07 1:50 pm),
I moved to DC from Houston, Texas about 1.5 years ago and I had to register as a permanent resident to get a zone permit for my car. I have been disheartened that as an American Citizen – and a fellow Texan I might add – I have not been afforded the same rights to representation as every other city and state in the US. I find it completely baffling that a half million people could go unrepresented at all, let alone for this long. But I appreciate that you have voiced your intent to serve as a representative for DC and I would like to address the issue of funding for Metro with you.
I, like a half million other people, ride the Metro to work every day. I am concerned that insufficient funding has created severe safety hazards both to Metro maintenance workers and to its riders. Metro ridership is comprised largely of federal employees or employees of the organizations and services that support government. So if Metro falters or fails, it could pose a significant threat to the efficient operations of our government. It is important to stand up for Metro funding issues when transportation funding is being discussed on the floor. Many great proposed solutions have been offered – I personally think that charging a congestion tax to those who drive into the District Monday-Friday and diverting those funds to public transportation would both help alleviate traffic and ensure a source of funds for Metro.
I am sure you will receive many other useful suggestions from your new constituents. Thank you for your representation.
Has anybody attempted to register to vote in their state of origin or any other state? I'm curious, b/c Gohmert cites congress's authority over military bases, etc., but there is a special provision in HAVA that protects and preserves the voting rights for absentee, military and overseas voters.
Perhaps his staff could help us secure our registration in the state of our choice?
Here's an article with a couple Gohmert quotes regarding giving each military base representation and the Judiciary Chairman John Conyers Jr rebuttal.
Sorry - Gohmert Finds a New Way to Show Support for the Troops from CQ.com
Jonathan - Regarding Gohmert's proposed military base amendments, Louie was a Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army, at Fort Benning, Georgia, from 1978 to 1982. As an Army lawyer, he would have been prepared to offer voting assistance to soldiers.
He either knew the military base amendments were horse pockey or forgot a whole lot since his discharge.
Jonathan - Regarding Gohmert's proposed military base amendments, Louie was a Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army, at Fort Benning, Georgia, from 1978 to 1982. As an Army lawyer, he would have been prepared to offer voting assistance to soldiers.
He either knew the military base amendments were horse pockey or forgot a whole lot since his discharge.
I'm a member of Louie's district. I'm as proud of this last statement as his admonition of the Democrats for the stock market going down in only 2 months of Demo control. I am going to email him congratulating him on his service for DC and give him some suggestions for doing so but noticed he had this up on his website. Note: Due to the large volume of email my office receives, email messages are only accepted from constituents located in the 1st Congressional District of Texas to foster better communication between those citizens and myself.
I'll see if I can get him to correct the obvious misstatement. B
Peace people
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