Dems May Give House Vote To D.C.

Bipartisan-Backed Bill Would Give Votes To Nation's Capital And A New District In Utah

(AP)  After more than 200 years of paying taxes, fighting in the nation's wars and abiding by sometimes arbitrary acts of Congress, Washington residents are close to getting a full-fledged representative in the House.

The turning point in this long battle for enfranchisement may be an unlikely partnership with the people of Utah.

The new Democratic majority, in the first months of the new Congress, is expected to take up a bill that would increase the voting membership of the House from 435 to 437, giving new vote each to Utah, a Republican stronghold, and the District of Columbia, dominated by Democrats.

The bill is backed by incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the next chairman of the House Judiciary Committee that will be responsible for moving it.

Prospects are also good in the Senate. Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, who calls himself an independent Democrat, will chair the committee of jurisdiction there. Lieberman is a leading supporter of the measure, and Utah's two Republican senators have endorsed it as well.

Senate action is needed because Congress in 1929 enacted a law fixing House membership at 435 seats. The number was increased to 437 in 1959 after Alaska and Hawaii became states, but reverted to 435 after the 1960 census. The legislation that would add new seats for D.C. and Utah would keep the House at 437 members.

Washington residents have been clamoring for representation ever since Congress moved to Washington from Philadelphia in 1800. Regardless, the 600,000 citizens of the district are still the only residents of a national capital in any democracy in the world without full voting rights.

Ilir Zherka, executive director of DC Vote, an advocacy group seeking voting representation in the House and Senate, said racist attitudes toward Washington, with its heavily black population since the Civil War, long have been a factor, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s when the demands for equal rights and statehood became more vocal in the city.

Some progress was made: The 23rd Amendment in 1961 gave D.C. residents the right to vote in presidential elections. In 1971 Congress allowed the district to send a nonvoting delegate to the House. Currently, along with delegates from American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton can cast votes at the committee level but not on the House floor.

[bluestardad]

is Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for having women register for the draft of National Service?

[Syndicate]

No one should live in DC. It should be a government district free from residential housing. Problem solved. There are Americans living in American territories who are not represented. Such as Puerto Rico and Gaum. The solution they can opt for is statehood. I beleive those who lack representation are also exempt from federal taxes. Considering How important one vote is thats not a bad trade. DC will be taxed now right? I know the article already says they are but I doubt it is correct. What kind of taxes do they pay. Local? Obviously not state taxes.

[sharncedar]

Hooray, the Dems are tackling real issues. Maybe they will put some of thir political capital to work on other pressing issues, such as what color to paint Nancy Pelosi's office. You know, colors signify alot. I hope they choose a pink and brown stripe, to signify the unity of the gay community with the people of color! But of course there should be more debate, the Democrats can spend the next two years deciding! Hooray, its the Democrats!

[marcelde]

"it's a shame there are americans in two states without actual representation."

(M) I agree. All U.S. Citizens must have the right to vote. But Wash. D.C. is a "district", not a "state".

(M) It's good that there is Bipartisan support for this measure. Now all we need are other real functioning parties besides the Democrats and the Republicans.

it's a shame there are americans in two states without actual representation.