Last week I expressed my disappointment with President George Bush (here). This week I have to reason to applaud, and it is no small matter. Defending the Constitution is never a small matter.
At issue is H.R. 328. This legislation similar to the bill (H.R. 5388) Congressman Tom Davis concocted in the last legislative session. Naturally, he is a sponsor of this legislation. Davis’ shameful irresponsibility in this regard has seriously undermined public respect for an important Constitutional principle. The Constitution, not incumbent politicians, determines our election processes.
Supposedly Congress is just trying to give the District of Columbia (DC) a vote in Congress (here). Sounds nice but the method that Congress wants to use is wholly unconstitutional. Because it would set a precedent for giving DC two senators, the Democrats prefer this method. The bill has House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s support (here).
If the issue was just DC voting rights, DC would already have voting rights. Congress could give the residential areas in DC back to Maryland. DC residents could then vote for both a congressman and two senators.
Fortunately, the White House opposes the bill. Sometimes Bush comes through. Hopefully, if it becomes necessary, Bush will veto this bill (see here and here). Otherwise, our leaders will no doubt find more expansive ways to tinker with election processes. Gerrymandering congressional districts, after all, is hardly a new art form. It just that we we usually have only seen this done at the state level.
The PWC GOP took a stand against H.R. 5388, and this post includes the text of PWC GOP resolution against H.R. 5388 (here ). This post warned that the H.R. 5388 would not go away (here). We need to keep an eagle eye on this new Congress.
Note that other Virginia bloggers are picking up on this issue. Below the Beltway has run a series (here).
