Congress Can’t Shut Down Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Grand Opening

By Warren Rojas

Posted October 1, 2013 at 6:40pm

Lawmakers and staff might be having a rough go of it getting into the Capitol, but the doors of D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s new district office were wide open and teeming with people Tuesday evening during a festive welcome event.

“The Republicans can shut down the federal government, but it is my prerogative, under House guidelines, to decide whether to keep all employees working, and I have decided that our business of serving D.C. residents cannot stop,” she announced in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanNorton/posts/10151631569400658" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">social-media blast</a> heralding the open house for her office at 90 K St. NE. An aide to the Democrat told HOH that the office has actually been in operation since April, replacing the now-shuttered space the local pol gave up in the National Press Building. Well-wishers were still waiting for Norton to arrive when we visited Tuesday evening — she was actually on the House floor giving the GOP an earful about the budget impasse at that very moment — but appeared to be making do with the tasty nibbles (assorted sandwiches, cheese and fruit plates, gourmet cookies) and NoMa Business Improvement District swag bags provided for the event.<script id="5e2bd50d2be64735bd9c6970a280aeab">(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9484058d-cb86-4c6b-b476-f5e62bd11798&cid=69ef7590-f88b-4a7b-b1ad-bbee64894f4f'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9484058d-cb86-4c6b-b476-f5e62bd11798" }).render("5e2bd50d2be64735bd9c6970a280aeab"); });</script> The office is expected to function 9-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, regardless of what Congress is up to. </body>