D.C. Young Republicans Endorse Davis D.C. Voting Rights Bill

The District of Columbia Young Republicans, one of the largest grassroots organizations focused on the District, last night endorsed the D.C. Fairness in Representation Act of 2005 (H.R. 2043). The legislation sponsored by Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) would give the District a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Jim Moore, counsel to Congressman Davis, spoke to the group for the first 30 minutes of the meeting and laid out a defense of the bill. Members peppered Moore with questions and debated whether the founding fathers intended to leave open the issue of voting rights for the District. However, the vote on the endorsement resolution left no doubt as to the outcome: The resolution passed nearly unanimously with only a single dissenting vote.

The Davis bill, also known as the D.C. FAIR Act, would give the District its own voting member in the House in exchange for giving the state of Utah a fourth vote in the House. The law would temporarily raise the number of Representatives from 435 to 437. After the next census reapportionment, the number of House seats would return to 435, but D.C. would still retain its House seat.

The text of the resolution:

Resolution Concerning the
D.C. Fairness in Representation Act

Adopted December 12, 2005
By the District of Columbia Young Republicans

Whereas the Republican Party has a rich history of commitment to the dignity, equality, and civil rights of all individuals;

Whereas the District of Columbia, by virtue of the Constitution’s original design, has no elected representative in Congress;

Whereas the demographics of the District have changed drastically since the time of its founding, but the lack of voting rights remains unchanged;

Whereas Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) has proposed the D.C. Fairness in Representation (FAIR) Act in order to remedy the lack of such representation in a manner that is prudent, expeditious, and politically-feasible;

Whereas the D.C. FAIR Act would give the District of Columbia one vote in the House of Representatives;

Therefore, be it resolved that:

The D.C. Young Republicans endorse the D.C. FAIR Act and support efforts to further its enactment.