Just as they did in 1995 after seizing control of the U.S. House, Republicans have stripped the limited voting power of representatives from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas. These representatives enjoyed, when Democrats were in charge, the ability to vote during meetings of the Committee of the Whole.

 

The Committee of the Whole consists of all members of the House, although it does not operate the same as when the full House is in session. The committee allows the representatives to conduct certain business, such as the consideration of resolutions and bills, without adhering to all House rules. For instance, when the House is in session, it must have at least 218 members for a quorum. But the Committee of the Whole only needs 100 for quorum.

 

Representative Mike Honda (D-California) said he was “appalled” by the Republican leadership’s move to deny voting rights to representatives from territories and DC. “Irrespective of what House Speaker [John] Boehner might say, this has nothing to do with constitutionality—since the courts supported previous Democratic House rules which allowed delegates voting rights—and everything to do with Republicans wresting rights and silencing voices,” Honda said.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

House Republicans Wrestling Democratic Representation from Districts and Territories (by Mike Honda, Huffington Post)

Committee of the Whole (United States House of Representatives) (Wikipedia)