Senate Approves Voting Rights for DC

The Senate has passed a measure that would give the District of Columbia a seat in the House of Representatives with full voting rights. DC's current representative cannot vote on the house floor. A similar bill failed in 2007 when it fell short of enough Republican support to prevent a filibuster. In addition to the House seat with voting rights for Democratic-leaning DC, the bill passed by the Senate yesterday evening would also create a new Congressional district for the staunchly Republican state of Utah.
It also included an amendment that would reverse the district's gun control laws. Reporter questions about the amendment visibly annoyed DC’S non-voting Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton at a press conference called to celebrate the Senate vote:
"We're not going to let this great victory be spoiled by questions about something that none of us would tell you even if we knew."
The gun control amendment may be stripped in conference before it reaches the House floor. If passed, the voting rights law could face a Supreme Court challenge as it would give the District of Columbia rights that the Constitution grants only to states. This is why some DC democracy activists say that only statehood will bring full rights to residents of the nation's capital.

Click here for the full newscast for Friday, February 27, 2009