From Deseret News archives:

4th-seat bill is likely stalled for 2 weeks

Published: Thursday, March 29, 2007 12:17 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
WASHINGTON — Utah and the District of Columbia will have to wait two more weeks for any further action from the House on a bill that would create a fourth seat for Utah and grant voting rights to the district's representative.

Congress is about to go on its two-week spring break after votes on Friday, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the Utah/D.C. vote bill will go on the calendar the week of April 16, his office confirmed Wednesday.

Utah's fourth seat — likely to go to a Republican — is included in the bill as a way to balance out the district's likely Democratic vote.

Advocates for voting rights in the district want the vote to come before Congress adjourns for the recess, but Hoyer's office said Wednesday it is not likely to come up.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., said she "appreciated" Hoyer's deadline to get the bill back on the floor as soon as possible.

"Because of the priority Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer have given D.C. voting rights, the bill is essentially done," Norton said. "Republican procedural game-playing cannot defeat a principled and bipartisan voting-rights bill for 650,000 Americans. We don't get mad — but we do get even."

Story continues below
The bill was expected to pass last week, but a last-minute effort by Republican opponents would have forced a vote on removing the district's gun ban — putting Democrats in the awkward position of having to approve voting rights but standing against gun control at the same time.

DC Vote, an advocacy group for the voting right, has a rally and march scheduled for April 16. Those events are getting increased attention due to the delay in the bill's passage, according to organizers.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

I live in the area and drive the road every day and it is in need of repair...

Protests against Phoenix LDS temple

"I take my life in my hands driving around the wards and temples on...

Back in April, there was an article about the Calvary Baptist Church in an...

Time for big matchups in WAC, MWC

oh, that's funny. trying to make someone else look stupid when really you...

Legalize marijuana.

Bronco, Kyle rubber match

"For whatever difference it makes, the Pitt team Utah defeated in the Fiesta...

Our society constantly clamors over "rights" but often neglects the...

Legalize marijuana.

Reagan much-beloved in Utah

Based on your findings, Pres. Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon,...

For the record, the following is from the latest Rasmussen poll on November...

Advertisements