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.

This afternoon, the stars aligned, things went better than expected and there was a room full of people smiling and clapping at the end of the day.

The bill (HR 5388) to give the District of Columbia a voting representative in the House passed by an overwhelming 29-4 vote in the Government Reform Committee.  Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), chair of the committee, has led the effort and recently came together with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton to make some changes to the original bill, leading to today's triumph.

Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) - remember him from the Clinton years - announced his opposition to the bill, then went into the committee's back room to meet with former Rep. Jack Kemp -- Burton returned and announced he was changing his vote!  It was one of those dramatic, uplifting moments that makes you believe that their is hope in Congress.

Next step - the Judiciary Commitee.  A tough move, but today's vote is a huge step forward. 

The citizens of the District of Columbia have no representation in the US Congress. As the DC license plate says: No Taxation Without Representation.

Today, there is a chance to correct an injustice that has existed for over 200 years and give DC citizens a vote in the House of Representatives. On Thursday, the House Government Reform Committee will vote on HR 5388, DC Voting Rights Act, which will give the citizens of the District of Columbia voting representation in the House.

The DC Voting Rights Act was introduced by Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and has both Republican and Democratic cosponsors, including Democratic Representative Henry Waxman (CA) and Republican Christopher Shays (CT). The bill is strongly supported by all of the elected officials in the District.

The citizens of the District of Columbia deserve the same right that all other Americans have to be represented in Congress. DC residents pay federal income taxes, serve on juries, and die in wars to defend American democracy. DC citizens are currently serving in the armed forces in Iraq, fighting for new democratic rights for Iraqis that they do not enjoy themselves.

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This morning, I attended a press conference on Capitol Hill announcing a bipartisan agreement on legislation to give the District of Columbia a voting representative in the US House of Representatives.

We've been working on this for a couple of years with the leadership of DC Vote and a great coalition of groups. But it's been slow going, inching along with insider negotiations. Now, the Government Reform Committee will take up the bill in a week or two - then the Judiciary Committee. If we get it to the House floor, we know there's support for passage. But nothing ever is easy in Congress, so we'll need help to get this done.

Huge props to Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) for getting this idea moving and to Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who's been working hard on bridging the partisan divide and who gave an inspiring speech this morning, citing her great-grandfather, a freed slave who came to the District in the 1850s and whose family has been there ever since. And our longtime ally Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT) once again walked across the great partisan divide to support this bill -- along with Dem Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) who will be a key leader ensuring Democratic support.

The bill, D.C. Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act, will be introduced today and should be available tomorrow on Thomas.