HR 5388, the bill in Congress to give the District of Columbia a member of the U.S. House, and also to temporarily expand the size of the House so that Utah gets a fourth seat, is considered likely to pass Congress in December 2006. Leaders of both major parties say they support the bill.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
Let’s give the Resident Commissioner a vote while we’re at it. Then perhaps the Delegate from Guam and then…
It is just unconstitutional that DC (occupied only as early as 1800!), PR, Guam, Virgin Islands, other minor islands have residents whom are not allowed to vote for president.
Granting DC electorial status is only a partial halting step in fairness. The electorial college needs to be suspended and then DC needs to evolve into the County of Columbia as the newest real estate in the state of Maryland!
As the only industrial entity still not using the metric system………..
DC does vote for president.
It was my understanding that the size of the House would be permanently increased to 437. Is this not true?
Interestingly, yes, the House would increase to 437 seats, giving DC a Representative, but not treating DC as a State, thus no Senator. The next thing you know, they’ll want those, too.
That’s just stupid. Why should Utah get another U. S. Representative? Becaue they were close? That wasn’t done before, why do it now? This has to be one of the stupidest bills I’ve heard of in a while. If Congress just gives one to D. C. and not to Utah, that would be fine with me, but Utah doesn’t deserve one.
How does DC already have a voice through Maryland? They don’t vote in any Maryland offices.
As for Puerto Rico and stuff, I haven’t heard of any active movement to get them a voting member on the floor. DC has one, and thus they get a vote.
And the Resident Commissioner and Delegates from the Virgin Islands and American Samoa do get to vote in committee – in fact the Delegate from the Virgin Islands will likely chair the National Parks Subcommittee this Congress.