There are times when it seems best that Congress do nothing. Right now, on most issues, that's how I feel. End of the session, elections coming up, maybe turnover in the House. Bad time to legislate.

But there there's a bright spot in the current dark space that's the nation's capital. There's an extraordinary effort, initiated by my congressman, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), to finally get voting representation in Congress for the 600,000 citizens of the District of Columbia. A bill, HR 5388, DC Voting Rights Act has started to move through Congress and there's a chance - "we're playing to an inside straight" as one smart and hardnosed lobbyist said - that it will pass and be signed this year. A lot of things have to fall in place quickly.

There's a hearing before The Constitution subcommittee next week - September 14 @ 2:00 in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building in DC -- email us: rsvp@commoncause.org if you are in the area and can attend.

After that, we'll be working to get the full Judiciary Committee will pass the bill, and then the House. And the Senate. And the President signing the bill. A lot has to happen in a short time before Congress adjourns.

This bill would correct an historic injustice -- more than 200 years of Taxation Without Representation in the nation's capital. Many Americans think DC is all about the President and Congress, some diplomats and bureaucrats. But there are hundreds of thousands of Americans like everyone else across the country in DC - except that they do not have the basic American right to have a voice and a vote in Congress.