The White House budget office Tuesday formally rejected a bill now before Congress that would give D.C. a full vote in the House of Representatives.
“The Administration strongly opposes passage of H.R. 1433,” according to a statement of administrative policy issued by the Office of Management and Budget. “The bill violates the Constitution’s provisions governing the composition and election of the United States Congress. Accordingly, if H.R. 1433 were presented to the President, his senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill.”
A spokesman for President Bush last week said the administration considers the bill, co-sponsored by Virginia Rep. Tom Davis, R, and District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D, unconstitutional. But the policy statement solidifies the administration’s position.
The measure would increase the House by two votes, one going to D.C. and the other to Utah.
“It’s disheartening that the administration doesn’t realize the disservice thousands of District residents endure each moment we are without representation,” Mayor Adrian Fenty said in a statement, vowing to continue the fight.
The bill, which has already passed two House committees, is slated for debate on the House floor this week.
Bush issued four policy statements last week, yet the bills he opposed each received more than 100 Republican votes, Davis spokesman Brian McNicoll said.
“They obviously don’t mean a lot anymore,” McNicoll said. “There’s no reason to vote against the bill.”
Both supporters and critics say the Constitution is on their side.
The White House argues the House is to be representative of the people “of several states,” and the District is not a state. Proponents, however, claim Congress has the ultimate power to legislate D.C. affairs.
