Now What?
It’s been a while since I’ve updated this blog – the bill in Congress had stalled after the poison pill “gun amendment” was added in the Senate and that’s where it still is as there doesn’t seem to be a path out of the House with it stripped off.
I’ve also had some technical issues with the site that I neglected for too long…but it’s back up and I’ll be getting it back to where it needs to be shortly.
(We also welcomed our second child to our family in July…so blogging has taken a back seat to bottles and diaper changes!)
For a good overview of where things are with the DC Voting Rights Act, check out these posts by Martin Austermuhle at DCist:
- Voting Rights Not Likley to Make Defense Bill
- Democrats Could Try Sneaky Move on DC Voting Rights
- Voting Rights Roundup: Back to It
The idea had been floated to attach the DC Voting Rights Act to the Defense Department Appropriation bill, which would then be part of the larger bill and avoid a straight up or down vote on the issue itself. However, several prominent members of the Senate have opposed that approach…meaning it likely won’t happen.
If we don’t accept the gun provision then Democrats in Congress are not willing to risk pushing for a vote on a bill that would put vulnerable members directly in the cross-hairs of the NRA as their entire majority could be lost in 2010.
Martin is correct in his assessment that time is running out…and sums it up nicely here in the last sentences:
in 2010, the legislation itself becomes somewhat irrelevant since the census and congressional reapportionment will grant Utah the additional seat that was originally included in the legislation as a means to attract Republican support. Barring some unforeseen development, the District appears to be heading back to square one.
What do we do from here? Leave a comment and let me know?
