A last-ditch procedural maneuver paired with a hostility to the city’s gun control laws derailed a bill to give District of Columbia residents a vote in the House of Representatives Thursday.
Just as the voting rights bill was about to win passage in a historic floor vote, Republican Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas moved to send the measure back to committee and tacked on an amendment to overturn the District’s strict gun ban. The amendment forced gun rights advocates from both parties into an intolerable position — to support voting rights they would have to vote against theright to bear arms.
Stunned Democratic leadership was forced to postpone the vote on the bipartisan measure, which would expand the House by two seats, one for the District and the other for Utah. It was unclear Thursday when the debate would continue.
“We were all taken by surprise that this motion to commit would undermine completely the opportunity for this bill to pass,” said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., a co-sponsor of the bill with District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, was optimistic the measure soon would return to the floor for a vote. But supporters agree the Democratic leadership will have to rewrite the rules to prohibit similar maneuvers.
“This is the legislative process not working well for the residents of the District of Columbia, but I’m confident we’ll get it passed,” Mayor Adrian Fenty said.
The chaos followed several hours of debate over the merits of the bill, which has the strong support of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who called the delay “temporary” and pledged to address the issue “as soon as possible.”
“Our decision comes down to whether this House wants to be remembered for granting the vote, or denying it,” Norton said.
Supporters said the Constitution clearly gives Congress authority to legislate in all cases for the District. That D.C. residents are disenfranchised is “repugnant to the very notion of our democracy,” said Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-N.Y.
But outnumbered critics argued the Constitution is clear: The House is comprised of representatives “of the several states,” and D.C. is not a state. The measure as written is “deeply flawed,” Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, said.
The White House strongly opposes the measure and has threatened a presidential veto.
