Norton accuses GOP of trying to 'humiliate' and 'disrespect' Gray

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) ripped into her Republican colleagues Tuesday morning at a hearing on the District's school voucher program, accusing them of trying to "humiliate" Mayor Vincent C. Gray and "disrespect his office."

The dispute centers on Gray's absence from the hearing -- convened by the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives -- to evaluate the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. The program, which provides low-income D.C. students federal money to pay for private school tuition, has long divided local officials.

As late as Monday evening, Gray was included on a witness list published by the subcommittee. An opponent of continuing the scholarship program -- which congressional Democrats have sought to end, while Republicans want to keep it going -- Gray had been slated to serve as the one "minority witness" selected by panel Democrats.

Late Monday night, the committee said Gray was no longer scheduled to appear and would be replaced by another Democratic witness. So why did the mayor cancel?

In her opening statement at the hearing, Norton lashed out at committee Republicans for their treatment of Gray, saying the mayor had made a few small scheduling requests to ensure he could appear and was denied by the panel majority.

"In 20 years of service in the Congress I have never seen any highly placed public official treated so shabbily," Norton said, adding: "It was offensive, petty and beneath the dignity of Congress."

At a break during the hearing, Norton elaborated on her complaints. She said Gray had asked if the hearing could begin a bit earlier than it's scheduled 9:30 a.m. start time, and was denied. She said Gray then asked if he could be the first witness to testify, so he could leave right away afterwards. Norton said Gray was told he could serve on the first panel -- which also included parents and students participating in the scholarship program -- but wouldn't necessarily get to testify first.

Norton said that congressional panels typically did not treat high-ranking witnesses that way, nor was it common to ask elected officials to testify on a panel with their constituents. But she also said she did not believe the subcommittee chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), was involved in the decision not to accommodate Gray.

"The chairman knew nothing about it," Norton said. "I don't know who did it but my best guess is that it is someone on the staff."

Before the hearing began, a committee GOP aide said reporters would have to ask Gray's office for details on why he had cancelled his appearance. As of this posting, the committee had not responded to a follow-up request for comment on Norton's complaints. Gray's office had also not responded to a request for comment.