What Would We Do Without Congressional Researchers?

Tue   13 Feb 2007   12:07 by Kevin McGehee 61° and light rain in Coweta County, GA 3 comments [Courting Disaster] [Yippee-Ki-Yay!]

H/t the former Juan Non-Volokh: The research arm of Congress says that legislation to give the District a vote in the House of Representatives is probably unconstitutional, a finding that could jeopardize its chances of passage, officials and analysts said yesterday. The report by the Congressional Research Service is not binding, and its conclusions reflect what some prominent legal scholars have been warning for years. But it could carry extra weight because the service generally gets high marks for its nonpartisan advice to the House and Senate. The report, dated Jan. 24 and made public yesterday, declared: “Although not beyond question, it would appear likely that the Congress does not have authority to grant voting representation in the House of Representatives to the District.“ The bill’s chief sponsors, D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) and Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), have lined up other legal opinions to counter the research service’s conclusions. But the report gives added ammunition to lawmakers who want to torpedo the bill and could signal a court fight if the legislation passes. The report lands at a time when the D.C. voting rights effort has been gaining momentum. The new Democratic majority in the House has vowed to move quickly on such legislation. » Washington Post:   Report Questions Constitutionality of Giving D.C. a Vote I, of course, questioned the constitutionality back in December.

 

Ivan Ivanovich said: If you are feelin sorry for those poor DC residents please take a look at this. I was shocked to find the GDP per person to be 3.35 times my state of Michigan. We make a lot of good stuff up here. What the hell is the “Product” in DC? Is hot air that expensive? » Tue   13 Feb 2007   18:49 Kevin McGehee said: D.C.‘s “product” is the red tape and other requirements responsible for, among other things, most of the selling price of cars and trucks. Maybe they don’t let Michigan claim that part. » Tue   13 Feb 2007   19:11 Dodd said: I’d just like to add some emphasis to the lede: The research arm of Congress says that legislation to give the District a vote in the House of Representatives is probably unconstitutional, a finding that could jeopardize its chances of passage So nice to have Democrats in control of Congress again, huh? » Tue   13 Feb 2007   22:47 You must be registered and logged in to comment.