Hatch pushing for vote on Utah's 4th seat

WASHINGTON — The window of opportunity to get Utah's fourth House seat approved by the Senate is slowly closing, but voting-rights advocates, backed by Sen. Orrin Hatch, want to keep the issue alive and see it pass through the Senate.

The fourth seat bill is primarily designed to give the District of Columbia a voting member in the House. Utah's likely new Republican member is included in the bill not only because the state missed an additional member after the 2000 Census but also to balance out states' political configuration, as the District likely would have a Democrat representative.

The House has passed a version of the bill, so the responsibility now falls to the Senate to get it done so it could be reconciled between the two bodies and then sent to the president.

Congress is set to go on a monthlong recess starting in August, so the bill's supporters want to make sure it gets done before then.

Questions still linger on the bill's constitutionality, so Hatch, a Republican representing Utah, has scheduled a briefing Monday for Senate staff with Walter Smith, executive director of DC Appleseed organization, who has studied the issue extensively.

"I hope this briefing will help convince you that Congress may do what Congress should do, provide the most precious right of representation to all Americans," Hatch said in a letter sent to his fellow senators Tuesday.

He said he believes Congress "is on firm constitutional ground in enacting this important piece of legislation."

Meanwhile, DC Vote, a voting-rights advocacy group in Washington, held its first of two planned rallies outside the Senate office buildings. DC Vote spokesman Kevin Kiger said it is important to give the senators the visual that people are willing to come on a hot and humid Wednesday afternoon to support the cause. About 65 people attended the rally. Another rally is planned for next Wednesday.

He said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he is willing to bring it to the floor if there are enough votes. Kiger said at the last count it is close enough that the group feels comfortable telling Reid it could go to the floor.

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