Subject: DNC Chair Op-Ed: For everyone to count, we must count everyone
From: DNC Press <[email-masked]>
To: DNC Press <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2015 17:12:40 +0000

For everyone to count, we must count everyone<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/commentary/fl-viewpoint-count-1207-20151204-story.html>

by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for the Sun Sentinel

In March of this year I joined a pilgrimage to Selma, Ala., to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, a pivotal moment that led to greater understanding of the need to protect the rights of every American. It led to President Lyndon Johnson<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/presidents-of-the-united-states/lyndon-b.-johnson-PEHST000117-topic.html>signing the Voting Rights Act<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/voting-rights-act-of-1965-EVGAP00065-topic.html> in 1965 to ensure the voting rights guaranteed by the 13th and 15th amendments would be protected and enforced.

Two years ago the Voting Rights Act was effectively gutted, and now, the same organization that led that legal attack is at it again. On Dec. 8, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Evenwel v. Abbott, a case that threatens political representation for some of our country's most vulnerable — our nation's children. When the plaintiff's lawyers address the bench they will argue states must exclude large segments of their populations when drawing legislative districts simply because they cannot vote.

Imagine what it would mean if we applied that kind of exclusion in other areas. What would it mean for school districts if school children weren't counted for purposes of government funding? What if we pretended countless others were ignored when allocating transportation dollars for the maintenance of roads and bridges?

No government can close its eyes to large portions of the people it is supposed to represent. No democracy can work if government officials aren't accountable to the people in their districts, whether they vote or not.

That's why the Democratic National Committee filed an amicus or "friend of the court" brief in this case. We are joining hands with other concerned citizens and civil rights organizations to stand up for our belief that Americans, regardless of their age, where they live, or if they're currently able to vote, deserve political representation.

The Children's Defense Fund noted in its own brief that leaving out 23 percent of the American population who are children would result in those children and their families having "less access to critical resources, including quality education, health care, and services supporting children living at or below the poverty line."

While Sue Evenwel, the plaintiff, is a member of the Texas Republican Party, her position is so extreme that the Republican governor of Texas is the defendant who opposes her.

Take a minute to consider: If Evenwel has her way, a full 30 percent of African-Americans would be left out of our democracy for purposes of representation. The same holds true for one-third of Native Americans, 45 percent of Asian Americans and a majority, 55 percent, of Hispanics.

The Democratic Party will continue to work diligently to shed light on this egregious attack on our democracy.

I was among the countless Americans moved to tears, smiles and chills by the sight of President Obama and Congressman John Lewis<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/john-lewis-PEPLT003911-topic.html> walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge a few months ago. The steps taken half a century ago in the struggle for equality and the blood men and women like Lewis left on that bridge, paved the way for equal representation, and the idea that any child could grow up to be president. Removing a child's voice today would have an equally significant impact going forward.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/debbie-wasserman-schultz-PEPLT005868-topic.html> represents Florida's 23rd congressional district and serves as the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.