Huckabee backs D.C. voting rights bill

The Hill ^ | 8/31/07 | Karissa Marcum

[LdSentinal]

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) is breaking with President Bush on the D.C. voting rights bill.

In a teleconference with reporters on Friday, Huckabee said, “They’re American citizens. They pay taxes and it just doesn’t seem right that someone could be even partially disenfranchised.”

The bill would allow the District of Columbia to have a full voting member of Congress and permanently increase House membership by two seats, the other one for Republican-leaning Utah. The House passed its measure in April and the Senate is expected to act on the issue this fall.

Huckabee acknowledged the reluctance of some of his fellow Republicans to back the bill. He has not been shy in bucking his party on some matters, saying, “I’ve been running for president of the United States, I am not running for president of the Republican Party.”

The White House released a statement in March stating the president would be advised to veto the bill if it reached his desk, citing concerns that giving the district a representative would be unconstitutional.

[LdSentinal]

Crazy.

[Perdogg]

This guy is getting more undesirable by the day.

Now, if backs a constitution amendment, that’s one thing. I can disagree with him, but if he supports DC voting rights via legislation, then he’s crazy,

[Gabz]

Regardless of this stance, the Huckster doesn’t stand a chance.

[goldstategop]

I hope President Bush vetoes the bill. Its unconstitutional.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[PAR35]

Looks like he’s joined Rudy on my list of Republicans that I’d never vote for.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Now he’s trying to convince me not to support him for senator.

[mvpel]

All they have to do in order to get a voice in Congress is to move out of DC.

I like the idea of DC ceding all residential and commercial property in the district to the neighboring states, and just shut down the city government entirely.

[elkfersupper]

This guy is a cross between Jesse Jackson, Lyndon Johnson and Carrie Nation.

[pnh102]

Ugh... looks like Huckabee is now part of the "Shoot Feet First" GOP Caucus.

Why hasn't any Republican supported the idea of exempting DC from federal taxes? This would resolve the taxation without representation problem and it would allow for DC to be governed by the same rules that currently apply to unrepresented US territories.

[Secret Agent Man]

Sorry, Huckabee’s out.

[freekitty]

This is a very bad idea. Washington DC is the seat of power and they should not be given more. I’ll bet most of the people in Washington DC are employed in someway by the government. Cab we say conflict.

Now if they distributed concentrated power around the country; it might be different.

[ZULU]

Huckabee just showed he is a real lame-brain. Giving a city like Washington D.C. two Senators and a Congressman is GUARNETEEING more votes for Dems in Congress.

Looks like Huckabee is just ANOTHER EXAMPLE of why the Republican Party has betrayed its constituents and why we need a NEW opposition party to replace it.

IF these idiots are so concerned that residents of Washington D.C. don’t have representatives in Congress, let them vote in Maryland Congressional elections. That states is crewed up enough as it is. They could hardly hurt it. Besides, D.C. is on the Maryland side of the Potomac.

[SoCalPol]

Hucksterbee is open border - amnesty.
He is a joke from Hope, AK.

[pnh102]

I agree with you totally about DC's getting congressional representation being a bad idea, but is it right that us in Maryland must be made to suffer having to deal with the train wreck that is DC voting in our elections? :)

Not imposing federal taxes on DC residents is a more pracitcal and constitutional idea. It deprives the Federal government of more money after all.

[goldstategop]

The city core could either be ceded to Maryland or Virginia. Then it could have both House and Senate representation. Or failing that, Congress could exempt the city's inhabitants from federal income and Social Security taxes - a status now enjoyed by Puerto Rico. No one living there would then be subject to "taxation without representation."

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[ClaireSolt]

Wouldn’t that also be unconstitutional?

[pnh102]

So I'm interested in hearing the arguments behind the opposition represented here.

My opposition is purely political. We have enough socialists and anti-USA Democrat party senators and congressmen, why add more?

[goldstategop]

Which proposal? If you referring to taxation, Congress has exclusive powers over the District. If it wants to exclude its residents from being taxed, the Constitution gives it that power. DC only acquired home rule in 1974.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[epow]

Too bad, I like Huckabee's position on many issues, but I just crossed him off my list of acceptable candidates.

Any candidate is off my list who advocates voting rights for additional political subdivisions such as the D.C. and Puerto Rico which are known to be hotbeds of ultra-liberal Demoncrap corruption and vote fraud. We have more than enough entire states in that category without adding more political entities.