May 22, 2007
Please Hold, D.C.
Two senators, two holds on District legislation -- sounds like business as usual up on Capitol Hill, doesn't it?
The Post brings news that Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) became the second Democratic senator to put a hold on the legislation that would formalize Mayor Adrian Fenty's bid for increased control over the city's troubled public schools. Two weeks ago, Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) used the same tactic to force the District to negotiate over the Oak Hill Youth Center, the city's youth detention center located in Fort Meade, Md. He eventually lifted his hold.
According to the Post, Landrieu put a hold on the legislation because of longstanding concerns with oversight of standardized testing, teacher certification and other federal programs. Surprising, though, is the fact that she made the move at the request of School Board President Robert Bobb, a former city administrator and staunch opponent of Fenty's takeover plans.
We're not sure what's more galling -- that a senator is again holding local legislation hostage or that she's doing it on behalf of a city official with a clear stake in the legislation's outcome. We've always been consistent on this point -- holds and other such procedural stall tactics from Capitol Hill undermine the District's ability to govern itself. Fenty's school reform plan may be controversial, but it was approved by the city's elected officials after a series of debates and amendments. Bobb had the better part of four months to argue his point, as did Landrieu. Waiting until the last possible minute -- when the legislation's implementation is at stake -- subverts local autonomy and undermines the will of the city's voters. That Bobb may have pushed Landrieu into making such a move throws into question his own commitment to home rule.
Hopefully Landrieu will follow Cardin's example and quickly lift her hold on the school reform legislation. This isn't Louisiana and this isn't an issue of national concern. So why should the fine senator place herself above the District's own government?
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Can we get a phone number for Landrieu?
Along with other furious D.C. residents, I called Cardin's office back when he pulled this crap. We should call Proud Mary's office and let her know where we stand.
With Dem's like these, who needs Mitch McConnell to shut down Home Rule??
b!tch.
Call Proud Mary!!
(202)224-5824
724 Hart Senate Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Voice: (202)224-5824
Fax:(202) 224-9735
I hope you all are enjoying your new Democratic majority.
Also, here's the contact number for Robert Bobb, should anyone want to call him:
(202) 442-4289
Sen. Landrieu is usually a good Capitol Hill neighbor but she has previously meddled in D.C. school voucher and DC Charter School policy. Her own children have attended Georgetown Day.
Well, for the record, it wouldn't take a Democratic majority for her hold to work. Anyone can levy one. It's total BS, and it should be done away with, in all instances, not just DC home rule matters.
I suspect some deeper interest group at work here. I thought that the teacher's unions were either in favor of the move or were at least staying quiet. But I wonder if they haven't decided to put the pressure on her. I just don't buy the story that she is concerned about Bobb's concerns.
It's especially annoying that a senator representing the train wreck that is the Nola school system seems to have found the time to focus on the DCPS.
Seriously Mary, don't you have much, much more important things to be worried about right now?
Submitted to her office:
"I can't help but notice that the Senator sees it as her duty to interfere with local politics here in Washington. Duly noted - I'll be sure to forward all of my issues with trash pickup, parking, disenfranchisement, and all the rest to your office, and encourage all of my neighbors to do the same.
The Senator should be ashamed of herself. I wasn't aware that she had so little to do in her own state that she should get involved in our local affairs."
Wow! She's pretty hot. Especially for a senator and all. And because of her hotness, I'm inclined to agree with her on this and every other issue.
Wow! She's pretty hot. Especially for a senator and all. And because of her hotness, I'm inclined to agree with her on this and every other issue.
this is especially galling if it's true that she sends her own children to private school.
also, there is no evidence that the teachers or their union are behind this.
Senator Landrieu, as a member of the District of Columbia Subcommittee, and Robert Bobb, in his previous role as City Administrator, have met about many issues over the years, serving on the same panels and committees. They are both volunteer reading mentors for Everybody Wins DC.
The senator says that as ranking member of the District Subcommittee she "works to be a voice for so many who have no vote in Congress." I guess Bobb has convinced her he speaks for the rest of us, District Council be damned.
I think Senators shouldn’t be in a position to issue holds on DC legislation, but lets not forget that it was Fenty’s decision to put the school reform amendment to Congress for approval instead of letting the residents of the District vote on it. If this reform is so popular, and we dislike Congressional meddling in our affairs so much, why not let DC residents have a chance to debate it and decide on its merits?
And what the hell is Robert Bobb doing at a shopping center convention in Las Vegas?!
I'm not too excited about Fenty being there in the first place (I'm sure smart urbanism is not exactly on display there), but at least it's within his baliwick, but what does a shopping center convention have to do with the school board?
Ultimately, what's at stake is who decides how that $1.2 billion school budget gets spent, Bobb or Fenty? I know a billion-plus doesn't buy what it used to, but you'd be surprised how many friends and campaign contributers come out of the woodwork when you have that kinda cash at your disposal.
Not that politics has anything to do with this. This is all about saving the children.
I think the time and expense associated with a referendum was why Fenty decided not to let District residents vote on the matter directly. The fact is Fenty won all precints and the DC Council, who the District residents elected, approved the school takeover plan . . . should that not be enough?
It seems the this endless power-play and political ego-tripping is taking priority over the education and best interest of District school children. Can DCPS get any worse? What is lost by giving Fenty a chance to improve a continuously failing school system?
Wow, the Senator from Louisiana of all places has concerns about DC's educational system. Rich.
"Wow, the Senator from Louisiana of all places has concerns about DC's educational system. Rich."
- My thoughts exactly. LA isn't exactly known for either quality schools or good government, now is it? While we're on that topic, remind me 'cause I forget, how are those Oakland schools fairing?
No one has taken note of the fact the school takeover plan is illegal. The Home Rule Charter, DC's Constitution, is being altered to do this. As originally written, any changes are to be ratified by District voters. Fenty has gone above the people and brought this dubious legislation to congress. Maybe if Fenty went about this process with the support of the people it wouldn't be such an issue.
I just called to register my profound disgust with the Senator's actions.
The staffer was, of course, very polite and was familiar with the issue. Hopefully she's been fielding phone calls like mine all day.
I can understand not wanting to take more time and expense for a referendum, but I haven't seen any poll indicating support (or lack of support) for this specific reform. Sure Fenty mentioned having a deputy mayor for education during the campaign, but he didn't mention his school takeover idea until after the primary election - what were opponents to do then, vote for Kranich or Otten?
I wouldn't be surprised if there is support for this reform plan, but I also think the mayor could do a better job selling it to the public - isn't inability to gain public support for legislation the same thing Williams was criticized for?
Capital Hillbilly-
Fenty's kids are in private school... Wonder if they take after their pop and copy their homework assignments...??? DC is now OFFICIALLY a JOKE
Capital Hillbilly-
Fenty's kids are in private school... Wonder if they take after their pop and copy their homework assignments...??? DC is now OFFICIALLY a JOKE
Here's what I sent to the Senator:
As an unrepresented tax-paying native resident of the District of Columbia, I would like to request that you remove your hold from the DC Schools takeover legislation at once. It is insulting enough to pay my federal income taxes year after year with no voice in our federal legislature, but when the elected representatives of other Americans cannot stop meddling with the limited home rule that the District "enjoys," it makes me wonder if this nation is actually committed to a form of government that even resembles democracy.
You've made your little point, now leave us alone.
Sincerely,
-[me]
Washington, DC
Dr. T-
AGREED! But if you were a parent of school-aged children, would you want to put them into DCPS in the state they're in now?
It's a rock and a hard place.
DC (and Fenty) should decide if this city really wants to be autonomous and start cleaning up, like, last year, or else give up and go back to Congressional rule, cause this just ain't workin...
The Elementary school in Shepard Park/Argyle Terrace/16th Street Heights is pretty good... But as he's the Mayor, I guess he can choose, and now afford, to keep his boys in private school...
Bobb should be ridden out of town on a rail. He made his case before the Council and the voters, and he lost. If he really believes the Council's decision is unlawful, he could file a lawsuit. He obviously doesn't though. No, he just wants to go over our elected officials' heads to our unelected Mommy in Congress so he can get his way.
Yeah, he's an elected official, too, but that just makes it worse. Imagine if every time the Mayor or a Council Member lost a vote they ran to Congress to get the vote annulled. The villain here is not Landrieu (not like she's a hero, of course), it's Bobb.
On the merits of the issue – Landrieu appears correct - it seems like the state education functions would have no autonomy from the rest of the school system, as they would both be under the purview of the Board of Education. I’m not sure why having autonomy is important though – maybe the fear is that board members would neglect standardized testing and teacher certification if they were busy with day-to-day operational issues? I do agree with DCist Martin, though, that Bobb should have addressed this earlier (or more forcefully if he did).
Just read this on CQ.com:
...But Landrieu’s hold quickly spurred Fenty to return Bobb’s calls and make a “gentlemen’s agreement” with him to “make sure there are some checks and balances on the public schools.”
As a result, Landrieu was expected to lift her hold Tuesday, clearing the way for the Senate to send the bill to President Bush for his signature.
It’s A Poor Mouse with But One Hole
Bobb’s Disrespect for Home Rule in School Play
By washingtonian in training
So now we know why Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown sent City Manager Robert C. Bobb a packin’ from Oakland. Bobb, still sore from the combination win at becoming DC School Board Chair, but loss at potential DC School takeover by Mayor Adrian Fenty, has turned DC Home Rule on its head as he ran to the “Big House.” In what can only be called a turncoat move, Bobb touched the third rail of District politics, which was to run to the Congressional overseer, (in this case, theoverseeress, U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La.) to beg for interference with the governance of the District of Columbia.
Since 1816, when the U.S. Senate created then United States Senate Committee on the District of Columbia until 1973, when the District gained Home Rule, District citizens always had to go to Congress, hat in hand, to inquire about how they would be ruled. Even though Home Rule, gave District citizens the right to elect a mayor and “city” council, it still left all Washingtonians, under Congressional oversight and with the passage of all laws, subject to the approval of Congress. The entire reason for the "DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act of 2006", introduced in the past Congress and reintroduced in the current Democratic party run Congress, was to not only give the DC citizens voting rights, but to sever even more ties to the “Big House” which is why many people refer to the District as one big “plantation.”
With all that history behind and all the future at stake, Robert Bobb, in a purely ego-driven move, would dare ask Senator Mary Landrieu to place a “hold” on the mayoral school takeover, thus calling forth not a threat to Fenty, per se, but to place his ego needs above the dignity and pride of the District.
Of the five Democratic members of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, (Daniel K. Akaka Chairman (D-HI), Carl Levin (D-MI), Thomas R. Carper (D-DE), Mark L. Pryor (D-AR) and Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA), it is surprising that Landrieu would choose to be the “cat’s paw.”
Alas, Washingtonians now understand once again, the ambitions of an Eastern-bound carpetbagger like Bobb have the potential to undermine the District’s hard won sovereignty.