From Deseret News archives:
4th-seat bill now in Senate
Hatch, Lieberman to introduce issue today
The bill passed the House last month without the support of Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah but still faces constitutional concerns from some lawmakers and a potential veto threat from the White House.
Bishop supports Utah getting a fourth seat but did not like the way the bill has changed since it was first introduced. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, also supports a fourth seat for Utah but will study the Senate bill once it's introduced, according to his office.
The Office of Management and Budget released a "statement of administration policy" in March saying the president's advisers would recommend he veto the bill. But Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., and Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, both doubt Bush would veto it if it came to his desk.
The Senate Republican Conference sent a memo in March saying the bill "presents more problems than it solves."
The bill creates an at-large district for Utah, which would likely go to a Republican, as a way to balance out a voting member in the House for the District of Columbia, which leans Democratic.
The bill's opponents question whether Congress can grant the District a vote because it a not a state or whether Utah's at-large district violates the "one man, one vote" principle established by the Supreme Court.
"Essentially, this would provide every Utahn two members of Congress, compared to one for every other American in the other 49 states," the Republican memo said. "Each voter in Utah would have greater representation (2 Members) compared to every voter in every other state (1 Member). This inequality would cause the voters of Utah to have a disproportionately larger voting power compared to voters in all of the other states."
The memo says the bill would be "essentially transforming that Member into a Senator in the House of Representatives" and could cause problems related to constituent services.
But the Congressional Research Service released a report in March that the bill would not violate the "one man, one vote" principle because "each Utah voter would have the opportunity to vote both for a candidate to represent his or her congressional district as well as for a candidate to represent the state at-large."
"Each person's vote for an at-large candidate would not affect the value of his or her vote for a candidate representing a congressional district," according to the Congressional Research Service report. "Further, each person's vote for an at-large candidate would not affect the value of his or her vote for a candidate representing a congressional district."
Congressional Research Service Legislative Attorney L. Paige Whitaker said in the report that the Constitution allows Congress to regulate congressional election so a temporary at-large congressional district "would likely be upheld as constitutional."
E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com
Comments
- Kimbo Slice to make UFC debut 12:36 p.m.
- NPR newscaster Carl Kasell to retire 12:34 p.m.
- Jackson's doctor returns to work 12:33 p.m.
- Stocks higher on home sales data 12:32 p.m.
- Gosselin divorce could be final soon 12:31 p.m.
- Fox CEO wants US to join France 12:30 p.m.
- 10 excuses to flee 'New Moon' 12:30 p.m.
- Lehi woman hurt in ATV rollover 12:30 p.m.
- Charlie Chaplin home to be museum 12:28 p.m.
- 10 years in prison for enticing teen 12:23 p.m.
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
212 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
205 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
173 - BYU records with win
130 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
129 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
102 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
A survey by Accountemps says that this year, fewer people plan to shop...
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
Its too bad your not going to play a MWC team again this year in your bowl...
The pictures of "seer stones" available on the Internet are not(is not) the...
You make a good point! You Ute fans are already looking to next year, because...
Google the Heritage Foundation and "The Price of Prop 8." They've compiled a...
I agree with those asking we stop talking about the next presidential...
Please try to come up with another reason utah will win other than basing...
way to capture the crown!!!
Hey Hey, that's OK, you'll work for us someday.... Boise St is nothing but...
Agreed, I have 2 family members who are gay/lesbian. Nobody seems to...
Great book, and individual (met at signing at Costco).


You can be the first to comment on this story.