DC Statehood Measure Moves Through Senate
A measure that would give the District of Columbia a voting member of the House of Representatives cleared a critical hurdle this morning, as the Senate opted to send the proposal to the full chamber for consideration. The procedural vote was 62-34, surpassing the 60-vote margin required to prevent a filibuster.
"This vote was an encouraging first step in the passage of the DC Voting Rights Act by the U.S. Senate, and I hope that the vote on final passage will follow suit," Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty said in a statement. "We are extremely pleased that the issue of DC voting rights is finally getting a full and fair hearing by the Congress, and I look forward to the House of Representatives taking up its important companion legislation quickly to bring the District yet another step closer to full representation. I'd like to especially thank Senators Joe Lieberman and Orrin Hatch for championing this bill."
The bill, which would add two seats to the House -- one each from Washington, D.C, and Utah, garnered support from eight Republicans. Utah provides a conservative foil for the heavily Democratic District.
Congress has considered related legislation previously, but the proposal routinely stalls. Republicans charge that the Constitution provides that the House "shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states." The District is not a state, of course.
Almost six in 10 Americans support legislation giving Washington a full voting member in the House, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), serving her 10th term in the House, said yesterday that the House mark-up in the Judiciary Committee will take place tomorrow afternoon. Should the House and Senate pass the bill, Pres. Obama would likely sign it. He was a co-sponsor of similar measure during his time in the Senate.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)