cannabisnews.com: DC Budget Bill Heads To House Floor!





DC Budget Bill Heads To House Floor!
Posted by FoM on July 29, 1999 at 07:53:05 PT
Source: Act Up DC 
The District of Columbia's budget (the DC Appropriations Bill) is slated to go before the full US House of Representatives on House floor debate and vote as early as Tuesday, July 27 (dates are subject to change).
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!-Ask your Congressmember to VOTE NO ON THE BARR AMENDMENT, and VOTE NO on all other anti-democratic, 'social riders' imposed on the DC Appropriations Bill. The issues: Some members of Congress continually attach amendments, or 'riders' to the DC Bill, restricting how the DC government can use its own, local funds. Congressional riders include prohibitions on: 1. DC's clean needle exchange, 2. domestic partnership, 3. abortion, 4. and the Barr Amendment, which bans the DC Board of Elections and Ethics from counting and certifying the votes for our DC medical marijuana Initiative 59. These riders are anti-democratic, defying the will of the people of the District of Columbia, (who have no vote in Congress). These riders also severely impact the health of the people of the District of Columbia, by spreading HIV through contaminated needles, and denying the sick and dying patients protected access to medicinal marijuana. RECENT VICTORIES:The full House Appropriations Committee voted (24-13) on Tuesday, July 20, in favor of substitute language sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) essentially gutting the Barr Amendment, by permitting the use of local funds for the I-59 vote, less than $2 for the computer tabulation. (This is a huge victory, defying all predictions of our issue being 'unwinnable') The Committee also approved the use of local funds for DC needle exchange. WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND OPPOSE ALL ANTI-DEMOCRATIC RIDERS IMPOSED UPON THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Background on the Barr Amendment and I-59: Volunteers submitted over 32,000 petition signatures in order to place Initiative 59 on the November 3, 1998 election ballot. Initiative 59, if passed, would allow seriously and terminally patients, under doctor's supervision, to use small amounts of marijuana to ease their suffering, such as the treatment for AIDS wasting syndrome, and to counter the severe nausea associated with chemo-and radiation therapy in cancer patients. The ballots for Initiative 59 have been impounded, for eight months, due to Bob Barr's (R-GA) amendment, attached to the District's (FY 99) budget. The Barr amendment prohibits the DC Board of Elections and Ethics from using funds to "conduct an election" on any initiative measure which reduces the penalties for marijuana, including the seriously and terminally ill patients protected by Initiative 59. Elections officials were reportedly threatened with arrest last year if they released even the unofficial totals for Initiative 59. A federal court challenge to the Barr amendment remains pending, lead by the ACLU-National Capital Area. Our strategy -- both in the Courts, and in Congress -- has been to defend the rights of DC residents to vote, and have their votes count. Even members of Congress who oppose I-59's subject can stand by the principle of democratic elections. WE HAVE NOT EVEN BEGUN TO FIGHT!!!Congress retains the right to overturn the will of the people in a 30 day Congressional review period, to which all DC laws are subject. This battle, to implement I-59, depends upon WHEN WE GET THE VOTE TOTALS COUNTED AND CERTIFIED. The ACLU's court case is strong, defending the First Amendment rights of DC residents, and all Americans, who cast a ballot in a 'free election'. We need your help to fight attempts in Congress to renew the Barr Amendment, other anti-democratic riders attached to the DC Appropriations Bill. Free DC!!!Wayne Turner(202) 547-9404email DCSign59 aol.comActivists Score Win in House Panel - July 21, 1999http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2150.shtml
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