From Deseret News archives:
One final push for 4th Utah seat
Hatch, Bennett urge action though 'the hour is late'
The letter was sent just as the House leadership opted to not take up the bill that would create the fourth seat and approve a House vote for the District of Columbia. It is still unlikely the House will take it up before today, but supporters are not giving up hope.
"The hour is late, but there is still time to come together to in the spirit of compromise," the senators wrote. "This legislation, which provides critical representation to American citizens, may also serve as a beacon for a Congress newly dedicated to getting work done for the American people, without regard to politics or partisanship."
Bennett and Hatch, both Republicans, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., sent the letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., asking for the bill to pass if the House acts on it before Congress adjourns.
"By bringing this bill to the floor and passing it, we can provide Utah's seat and voting representation to the citizens of the District," the senators wrote.
"No doubt, the citizens of Utah and the District of Columbia face different challenges, in greatly different parts of the country, and with greatly differing lifestyles, but they share a commonality: the right to be represented in our country's legislature," they said.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the Democratic delegate representing D.C., said Wednesday that there was no doubt the bill would get through the Senate if the House leaders decide to take it up in these last days of Congress.
"All along I have thought that the Senate vote on the bill would be easier than passage in the House because Senate traditions virtually mandate that matters affecting only one state be handled as the Senators from that state desire."
Norton said that while the House agenda appears to be final, "the gavel has not fallen, and the letter from the Utah Senators and Lieberman renews our hope."
E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com
