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Voting rights for DC ... Finally a real possibility!

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Diana

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1044
Location: Washington DC

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:15 pm Post subject: Voting rights for DC ... Finally a real possibility!

Our license plates say "Taxation without Representation." We pay federal taxes, can serve in the military, and are US citizens but we have no votes in congress. Hello! It looks like this very old wrong will finally be righted with this congress and new administration. Hey, we'd really appreciate your support! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/11/AR2009021101486.html?hpid=topnews _________________ Diana

LisaW

Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Posts: 173

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject:

Sure, why not? It's just ignoring the Constitution. No biggie, right?

Quote:

The Congress shall have Power To… exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States… (The U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8, Clause 17)

Did you not know where you were moving to was in the District? Were you not aware of what the Federal city was all about?

http://www.heritage.org/research/legalissues/wm1404.cfm

Quote:

In The Federalist No. 43, James Madison explained the need for a "federal district," subject to Congress's exclusive jurisdiction and separate from the territory, and authority, of any single state:

The indispensable necessity of compleat authority at the seat of Government carries its own evidence with it. It is a power exercised by every Legislature of the Union, I might say of the world, by virtue of its general supremacy. Without it, not only the public authority might be insulted and its proceedings be interrupted, with impunity; but a dependence of the members of the general Government, on the State comprehending the seat of the Government for protection in the exercise of their duty, might bring on the national councils an imputation of awe or influence, equally dishonorable to the Government, and dissatisfactory to the other members of the confederacy.

Madison's concerns about insults to the "public authority" were not speculative. In June 1783, several hundred unpaid and angry Continental soldiers had marched on Philadelphia, menacing Congress in Independence Hall itself. Pennsylvania refused all requests for assistance and, after two days, Congress adjourned. Its Members fled into New Jersey.

The incident made a lasting impression. The Framers referenced it over and again in defending their provision for a "federal town," which Anti-Federalists persisted in visualizing as a sink of corruption and a potential nursery for tyrants. In fact, however, the need for a territory in which the general government exercised full sovereignty, not beholden to any state, was probably inherent in the federal system itself.

Do it right ... work on a legal and proper Amendment to the Constitution.
_________________
"The White House isn't the place to learn how to deal with international crisis, the balance of power, war and peace, the economic future of the next generation." --- Joe Biden, 1988

Diana

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1044
Location: Washington DC

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject:

LisaW wrote:

Did you not know where you were moving to was in the District? Were you not aware of what the Federal city was all about?

Uh, yeah. Thanks for asking. How about my voting age daughter who was born in the District? Different for her?

There is no logic in leaping to the erroneous conclusion that "choosing" to live in the District means giving up the right to advocate and/or actively work to change what is wrong -- like the founders did.
_________________
Diana

LizE

Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 246

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: Re: Voting rights for DC ... Finally a real possibility!

Diana wrote:

Our license plates say "Taxation without Representation."

Maybe it would just be easier for the rest of us to change our license plates to say that, too. Because that's sure the way it feels these days. But good luck with your efforts!

LisaW

Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Posts: 173

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject:

Diana wrote:

LisaW wrote:

Did you not know where you were moving to was in the District? Were you not aware of what the Federal city was all about?

Of course it does. Moving next to an airport -- and then complaining about the noise is much the same thing. The whole point of the District was to be a location that wasn't aligned with any state, group, whatever. Your daughter is of voting age? I presume, therefore, she is of an age to move to a location that suits her desires better, as do you.

And, the District has the entire United States Congress as representatives -- and they'll do as bang up job for you as they are for the rest of us out here.
_________________
"The White House isn't the place to learn how to deal with international crisis, the balance of power, war and peace, the economic future of the next generation." --- Joe Biden, 1988

Susan/DC

Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 1602

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:47 pm Post subject: Voting Rights in DC

LisaW wrote:

Sure, why not? It's just ignoring the Constitution. No biggie, right?

Quote:

Did you not know where you were moving to was in the District? Were you not aware of what the Federal city was all about?

http://www.heritage.org/research/legalissues/wm1404.cfm

Quote:

Do it right ... work on a legal and proper Amendment to the Constitution.

Granting a voting representative for the residents of the District would not make them "beholden to any state", if anything, it would give them less dependent on the other states. Not to mention that originally they were not allowed to vote for president either, and somehow they were given that right without the Constitution falling apart. Personally, I'd rather just be exempted from federal taxes.

Sandlynn

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1613
Location: Washington, D.C.

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:02 pm Post subject:

Quote:

D.C. Voting Rights Act Clears Filibuster February 24, 2009, 11:41 A.M.

The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act overcame a major hurdle Tuesday, passing a Senate cloture vote by 62-34

YEA!!!

Diana

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1044
Location: Washington DC

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:03 pm Post subject:

I was going to report on the 62-34 vote today but it's already old news. Don't think we'll have any trouble getting President Obama's signature once it passes the House. Good news, Sandlynn and Susan. Looks like we won't have to uproot our households and move the kids, dogs, and cats out of the District after all. _________________ Diana

Sandlynn

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1613
Location: Washington, D.C.

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:26 pm Post subject:

Diana wrote:

I was going to report on the 62-34 vote today but it's already old news. Don't think we'll have any trouble getting President Obama's signature once it passes the House.

Good news, Sandlynn and Susan. Looks like we won't have to uproot our households and move the kids, dogs, and cats out of the District after all. Very Happy

Does this mean we have to give Stephen Colbert a key to the city?

(By the way, I always thought it an outrage that we have District residents fighting and dying in wars but have no vote on anything that has to do with it.)

Diana

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1044
Location: Washington DC

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:50 pm Post subject:

Sandlynn wrote:

Does this mean we have to give Stephen Colbert a key to the city?

Yes, and Anne Coulter as well. Laughing

Did you see Colbert's interview with Eleanor Holmes Norton before they took it off You Tube? It was hilarious. She did quite well for herself and actually made Colbert laugh.
_________________
Diana

Sandlynn

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1613
Location: Washington, D.C.

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject:

More news:

Quote:

Senate Passes D.C. Voting Rights Act
Updated: Feb. 26, 4:51 P.M.
The Senate passed the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act on Thursday, 61-37, marking the first time in 30 years the chamber has passed a measure to give the city representation in Congress.

erhea13

Joined: 01 Nov 2008
Posts: 114
Location: So Cal

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Voting Rights in DC

Susan/DC wrote:

First of all, people do not really even get to vote for president as there are only a few states that actually tie electoral votes to popular vote - I will not even entertain debate on the Electoral College because the can of worms is too big - so, giving D.C. that vote does not really matter. Also, nothing in the Constitution explicitly prohibits that vote, only the voting seat in Congress. If you just bypass the Constitution for political expediency, you just open the door for that course of action to be taken further. I would bet a year's college tuition that all of you complaining about not voting in D.C. were exceedinngly upset with the provisions of the Patriot Act that subverted the Constitution by executive order. Giving D.C. the right to vote in Congress without a Constitutional Amendment is the same type of expediency.

BTW: Can anyone tell me if D.C. has an electoral vote? I should probably know that but I don't.
_________________
"I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal." - Jane Austen
"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid." - Jane Austen

Sandlynn

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1613
Location: Washington, D.C.

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: Voting Rights in DC

erhea13 wrote:

Susan/DC wrote:

Yes, we vote for President so we have electoral votes. I believe we have three, as much as the smallest state in terms of population.

Quote:

I would bet a year's college tuition that all of you complaining about not voting in D.C. were exceedinngly upset with the provisions of the Patriot Act that subverted the Constitution by executive order.

Are you suggesting all of us were or weren't upset by this?

By the way, what Congress "gives" to we District citizens, they take away. Ensign, senator from Nevada, attached an amendment to the D.C. voting rights bill stripping D.C. officials of their authority to regulate guns, effectively stripping all of our gun laws (because that has so much to do with giving District citizens one vote in Congress).

Ensign. Someone, I guarantee, who does not have the best interest of District citizens at heart, since this was a backdoor attempt to keep the bill from passing by saddling it with an amendment none of us would ever support, and someone the vast majority of District residents would never, never vote for. He may very well represent the wishes of Nevada but he sure doesn't represent D.C.'s and this I find offensive. This dilly-dallying in the District's affairs. Often regarding issues we've voted for and paid for with local money, like they did with the needle exchange program.

I love how they talk a big game of the rights of citizens to manage their own affairs, keeping the federal government out of it, but they are constantly in our business. Constantly. Even in our school affairs. And, mostly, they are using us as a soap box to appeal to their base and to their rabid supporters at home to raise campaign funds. Ensign's aiming to be the next NRA poster child so this is how he's solidfying his bona fides, by meddling in D.C.'s affairs to score points elsewhere. I swear, Congress should just carve out 535 gerrymandered plots within D.C. and run their own little fiefdoms from each. District residents, be damned!

I'm going to make sure to send money to his opponent in his next election.

LisaW

Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Posts: 173

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Voting Rights in DC

Sandlynn wrote:

[

By the way, what Congress "gives" to we District citizens, they take away. Ensign, senator from Nevada, attached an amendment to the D.C. voting rights bill stripping D.C. officials of their authority to regulate guns, effectively stripping all of our gun laws (because that has so much to do with giving District citizens one vote in Congress).

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. Too much is "tacked onto" bills that too many times need to be passed in a timely fashion that is garbage. But, as far as a gun control ordinance -- since you're willing to ignore the Constitution in one aspect, why not another? Or, perhaps Ensign thinks since DC residents don't seem to show much in the way of good sense when electing officials, like, oh, Mayor, maybe they shouldn't be allowed to handle other adult items, either.
_________________
"The White House isn't the place to learn how to deal with international crisis, the balance of power, war and peace, the economic future of the next generation." --- Joe Biden, 1988

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