4th-seat issue going before the full House

WASHINGTON — It is now up to the full House to decide whether Utah should get an additional seat in Congress and the District of Columbia should have a voting member in the House, based on action in the House Judiciary Committee Thursday.

The committee passed "The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007" with a 21-13 vote, with a House floor voted expected before the end of the month when Congress goes on its spring recess.

The bill would give Utah an at-large seat in Congress — as part of a bipartisan deal — in exchange for House voting rights to the District of Columbia. This way neither the Democrats nor Republicans get a political advantage, because Utah's seat would likely go to a Republican while the district's seat would likely go to a Democrat, according to the bill's supporters. Utah missed getting a new seat after the 2000 Census, but it is likely to get one after 2010. The district has not had a vote in Congress since 1801.

Republicans made numerous attempts to amend the bill, although all failed, including one by Rep. Chris Cannon , R-Utah.

Cannon wanted to change the at-large portion of the bill, giving the state of Utah the option to use a new four-district map approved at the end of last year and whatever else it would decide to do.

An amendment offered by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., would have required the state to use a map approved last year instead of the at-large seat but it also failed. Sensenbrenner was chairman of the committee last year and put the bill on hold until the map was drawn. Congress adjourned before it could pass the bill.

Other failed amendments would have kept the changes from taking effect until the 112th or 113th session, pushing it years beyond the current 110th session, while others would have made a congressional district out of every military base.

Cannon was one of only two Republicans who voted for the bill. DC Vote executive director Ilir Zherka was surprised to see Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., vote for the bill, which he said will be persuasive for other Republicans. He is sure the bill will pass the House but is not sure on the "margin of victory."

"It was a grueling day and we're glad that it's over," Zherka said.

The fight will then move to the Senate, where Zherka admitted they do not yet have the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster on a bill but said they are working on it.

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E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com