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Catania Applauds New Hampshire Resolution Supporting D.C. Voting Rights |
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NEW HAMPSHIRE COULD BECOME FIRST LEGISLATURE TO ADMONISH ITS SENATORS FOR VOTING AGAINST D.C. VOTING RIGHTS
Councilmember Catania praised New Hampshire Representative Cindy Rosenwald (Hillsborough District 22) for introducing a resolution supporting full voting rights for the nearly 600,000 residents of the District of Columbia. The resolution also expressed regret that United States Senators John E. Sununu and Judd Gregg, both of New Hampshire, recently voted against District voting rights. If approved, New Hampshire’s legislature could become the first to formally admonish members of the state’s congressional delegation for voting against congressional representation for District residents.
“It’s encouraging to see other legislatures address the issue of District voting rights,” said Catania. “Rep. Rosenwald deserves a lot of credit for raising the issue.”
Rosenwald introduced the resolution in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on Friday. It was logged and given the title, “2008-H-2574R, expressing regret that New Hampshire's United States Senators voted to deny the District of Columbia the right to be represented in Congress,” yesterday. The resolution also highlights the fact that Sununu and Gregg have supported using U.S. troops, including residents of the District of Colombia, to establish representative democracies in Afghanistan and Iraq, but have been hostile to establishing those same rights for District residents.
“The right to be represented in your country’s legislature is a basic element of democracy,” Catania explained. “Certain issues should be above politics, and it is unfortunate that some members of Congress have chosen partisan politics over democratic ideals.”
Catania also noted the symbolism of elevating the issue in New Hampshire, which will host the country’s first presidential primary in January. “Very soon, the eyes of the world will be on New Hampshire. It is very appropriate that we should be in Concord discussing voting rights during this time.” Under the rules of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, every introduced bill receives a hearing. Currently, no date has been set. However, Rosenwald expects that her resolution will receive a full hearing sometime in January or February 2008. September 25, 2007 Press Release |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 September 2007 )
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