Washington Mayor Vincent Gray and other top city officials were arrested on Capitol Hill on Monday during a protest of the budget deal House Republicans cut with President Barack Obama. The Mayor publicly chastised a rider in the budget that stops local taxpayer funds from paying for abortions in the District of Columbia. The Mayor also chastised a provision in the budget that allocates money for vouchers for low-income students to attend private schools. Capitol Police say they arrested 41 protesters for unlawful assembly, for “blocking passage” on Constitution Avenue near the Capitol. Protesters chanted “Free D.C.” and “We can’t take it no more.” Tensions have long run high between D.C. officials and congressional Republicans for years. The Republican Party has largely opposed the District’s effort to gain a full-voting member in the House. The district’s member of Congress, currently Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, can vote only in committee.
Do you agree or disagree with the Mayor's stance on the abortion rider? Why? Do you agree or disagree with the Mayor's stance on providing vouchers for low-income students to attend private school? Why? Should D.C. have a full-voting member in the House? Why or why not? What do you think about the method the Mayor used to get his message across to the House, the Senate, and the President?
26 comments:
Downing says . . . My personal opinion is that abortion is wrong. However, I have never been in position to have to make that decision. So it is difficult for me to tell someone what they can or can not do, abortion wise. But, I am totally opposed to any federal funds, that is my taxpayer dollars, funding abortions. I am opposed to providing vouchers for any students to pay for admission to a private school. That money should be used to pay for needed cahnges in the public schools, including faculty training and equipment upgrades. DC should have a voting member in Congress. It is only fair.
Congress does not lsiten to citizens. They say they do, but all too often, pass legislation that a majority of citizens do not want. Therefore, I can udnerstand the frustration of the protesters. I would probably not join in the protest, however.
Downing says... I need to proofread better. :( My personal opinion is that abortion is wrong. However, I have never been in position to have to make that decision. So it is difficult for me to tell someone what they can or can not do, abortion wise. But, I am totally opposed to any federal funds, that is my taxpayer dollars, funding abortions. I am opposed to providing vouchers for any students to pay for admission to a private school. That money should be used to pay for needed changes in the public schools, including faculty training and equipment upgrades. DC should have a voting member in Congress. It is only fair.
Congress does not listen to citizens. They say they do, but all too often, pass legislation that a majority of citizens do not want. Therefore, I can understand the frustration of the protesters. I would probably not join in the protest, however.
I don't think that the government should fund abortions. It should be a private medical matter for the woman to pay. I also don't agree with the payment of private school for low income families. The private schools tend to have scholarship programs so that would be the chance to get into the school. I agree with the governments decision because budget cuts had to be made somewhere.
Matt: This is ridiculous. D.C. isn't even a state and they are demanding state rights. Plus, how many people actually live in D.C.? Like, 12? People only go to D.C. for business purposes, it's not like they have such a large amount of citizens that they need someone to represent them.
Jonathan says... I am completely against abortion. If you dont want a child then keep ya legs closed!! Simple as that if you can't handle the responsibility then don't have sex. If somebody tries to get rid of their child the government should make them take care of their flesh and blood.
Robbie says.. I agree with him. He is doing it for a good cause. Abortion is a bad way to end someones life. If you dont want the baby then dont have sex! If you get pregnent that your own fault butyou still shouldnt kill the infent that hasent even had a chance to live its life.
Jamie says…
I personally don’t agree with abortions. I agree with her giving students money to attend private school if they really want to continue there education.
Lauren...I do not believe in abortion. I do not think that taxpayers should have to fund abortion because it is not right. Abortion has to be hard but that should be thought about ahead of time. I also do not agree with the voucher for low-income families. There is nothing wrong with public schools. Therefore, the money should be used to improve the facilities and equipment for all schools.
Sheron says…I think people should pay for their own abortions. I agree with government funding for private schools for low income families. It’s a small gain towards a better economy.
The Republicans just don't want D.C.
to gain a vote because the majority of D.C. citizens would vote democratic. I think it is an unfair loophole that keeps them from voting, although many of the protesters themselves seemed half-hearted at best.
Tee: I don't really have too much of an opinion on abortion. Last time I checked, I can't get impregnated in any way, so I'm not too for or against it. I'm not too sure of my opinion on all of this, but it all seems pretty unusual.
Ashley says... Things do happen! I think getting an abortion is not right but people to do what's best for them. If yoy don't want a kid, then don't do anything, but things can happen. I think our money should go to a better cause. I think everyone has a freedom of speech and the people out their were speaking their minds. Money is very tight right now for some people and not everyone can affortd it. I can relate to why they want to protest and even though I might have my own ideas and my point of view I wouldn't protest like they did. The mayor is probably going through a rough time right now but it takes time to make the decisions that are best for his people.
Destiny saids....No I don't agree with abortion. I think it is very wrong to kill your own baby. Life begins in the stomach and most people might not agree with me they might say that it begins outside, but that is my opinion.
Kristin says... I believe abortion is wrong. In my eyes it's murder, and I don't believe that taxpayers money should go to paying for abortions. I think it's wrong to try to make people pay for something that's against what they believe. I'm also against vouchers for low-income students to attend private schools. There are so many other things that money is needed for.
LaKendra... I CAN NOT support abortion in any way! If you can make a baby I feel that you should man up and take responsibility for what your actions, unless you became pregnant by something that was against your will. Therefore, I do not think that tax money should be used to fund abortion. I also do not believe that tax money should be used for vouchers for students to get into private schools. There are many public schools in our country that need the help and money in order to provide a more safe and more successful learning environment. Providing vouchers for a child to go to a private school is just not needed. DC should have a voting member in congress.
ernie says... I do not agree with abortion at all. If someone doesnt want to have a baby they should make sure it dont happen. Abortion is a really bad thing I think atleast.
Madi.. I personally do not support abortion, I think that it is very wrong. That being said, I don't think that tax money should be used to fund abortion. I also don't think that tax money should be used for vouchers for low-income students to attend private school. I believe that there are a ton of public schools that need that money in order for the majority of students go to those schools.
Cadeja say’s: I am highly against abortion. I just recently had a cousin to have an abortion but not because she wanted to. I believe in my heart that abortions are illegal, not they should be, but they are. It’s murder! But our personal hard earned money should not be paying for anybody elses personal decisions in life. I believe that it is robbing us out of our money and our parents money that we need. It is nice to help someone out but not when it involves something as abortion.
Davontae said...
I think here are a ton of public schools that need that money in order for the majority of students go to those schools.It it is also good to help someone when it involves something as abortion.
The means of protest was one that is usually effective. Money should not be used to help pay for abortions. If someone makes a big decision to have sex and get an abortion then they should be able to pay for it. I do agree with the voucher for private school. If anyone wants to give their children a better education then the government should help.
Michael Clifford
Jalissa Chambliss
Yes I do agree. I say that because if you believe in something, you are going to stand for what you believe in.To me i wouldn't be for it. I think if you are old enough to engage in having sex then you should be responsible to take care of the baby. Most people have their own opinions.
Yes, Because I don't think its right to kill an unborn child. Yes, I think it is right because everyone needs and education reguardless of their income. I guess they should so it wont be a big thing everytime voting time come around. I think that by him being mayor he should have found a better way to get his message across.
I think its wrong because abortion is exspensive. Its also an easy way to help out young teenagers and women who cant aford a child. Im not for abortion because i feel like its murder to kill your baby. However theres many women who do believe in it and may need it in the future or even now. I feel like the US did good by fighting for what they believe in because that lets the world lnow we wont go down with out a fight and we fight for what is right and what we believe. All we need is a good leader to help show the way and that is what Dc had.
I don't support abortion, and I think its wrong. I don't think tax money should be used for abortions because its wrong. We shouldn't have to pay taxes for people to get abortions. I think there are a lot of public schools out there that need the money more than the low-income students that attend private schools. I don't think we should have to pay for them.
Apparently what’s going on in D.C. is against the constitution. In my opinion we aren’t protesting enough. Gandhi’s method worked in India, but there isn’t a single politician in this country that’s going to listen to a protest. They would just laugh at you. The only way to get any kind of point across is for small amounts of violence, and if that doesn’t work, then large amounts of violence. This country is heading down a hill into a pit of lava and apparently we don’t have breaks!
Gavin Dale
I think that abortion is very wrong. I also feel that tax money should not be used for paying for them either. I disagree with vouchers for low income students. I though the method that the Mayor used was helpful but also stupid because they ended up getting arrested.
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