The District's chances of getting a full voting representative in the House are getting slimmer by the day, and Shadow Sen. Paul Strauss said, "time is running out" for the bill. "If we don't get this done this year, I think it could die. We might be able to get it next year, but by then you are a year away from the Census and Congress may decide to just wait until it's over and then we may have to wait until 2011 or 2012," Mr. Strauss said. The bill would basically grant the District a full-voting member 0x2014 basically changing District Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton to Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton 0x2014 and also grant the state of Utah a new seat in the House. The idea is to reach a zero sum with the District having a Democrat member and Utah likely getting a Republican member. In an effort to bring awareness to the issue, the D.C. Statehood delegation has drafted actress Hayden Panettiere, who plays a cheerleader with a remarkable ability to heal from all wounds on NBC's show "Heroes," to do a guest spot advocating for the city. The spot asks that as people file their taxes they "Think Inside the Box," that is check the box donating a portion of their return to the D.C. Statehood Delegation to help the city promote this bill for voting rights. Take a look.
— Brian DeBose, national political reporter, The Washington Times

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