Utah 4th Seat Measure Advances in U.S. Senate

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) An effort to give Utah a fourth seat in Congress cleared a committee hurdle today and is destined for debate by the full Senate. Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman are co-sponsors of the measure, which also makes the District of Columbia a voting member of Congress. Lieberman says DC residents deserve the seat:

"The residents of DC have been the direct target of terrorist attacks and yet they have no voting power over how the federal government provides for homeland security," said Lieberman during committee debate. "They have given their lives in disproportionate numbers to protect our country in foreign wars, but have no voting say in the development and funding of our foreign policy."

Utah merits another seat in Congress because of its growing population, added Lieberman. But opponents say the Beehive State should just wait until the next census when it will automatically get another seat. That would alleviate concerns over giving DC a vote in Congress when the constitution guarantees representation only to states.

The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today in a bi-partisan vote of 9 to 1. Senator Hatch says support from Senators of different political parties raises his hopes the bill will pass the full Senate. The U.S. House passed a similar measure earlier this year.

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