Dateline: February 1, 2007

Rep. Thornberry opposes delegate voting powers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) last week voted against a bill which gives Delegates of U.S. territories the ability to vote on legislation on the floor of the House of Representatives.

“Under this measure, the 57,000 people in American Samoa will have the same voting rights as the 600,000 people in the 13th District.  That dilutes the strength of the vote of each and every citizen in our district,” Thornberry explained.

Previously, the Delegates of the five territories (Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the District of Columbia) could sit on House committees but could not cast a vote on legislation when it reaches the floor of the House. 

The only time in the history of the United States that such voting has been allowed was in 1993-1994, when it was very controversial. It was repealed two years later.

 “I oppose this resolution for two reasons. One is that it weakens and impairs the constitutional right to equal representation of citizens in the 50 states, including those in the 13th district of Texas,” Thornberry said.

“Secondly, it is a clear step toward statehood, which Speaker Pelosi (D-California) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) have been very vocal in supporting for the District of Columbia.”

One of the many problems with allowing Delegates to vote on legislation is that people who choose to live in territories, rather than in one of the 50 states, do not pay individual federal income tax.  They may well vote to increase taxes on those in the 50 states without having it affect any of their constituents.

Article I of the Constitution provides, “the House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States.”

Delegates of the territories are not subject to age, citizenship, and residency qualifications set forth in the Constitution for Members of the House of Representatives.

“The votes I cast on behalf of my constituents may well be canceled out by the vote of someone who represents one-tenth the number of people and has never paid federal income tax,” Thornberry said. “That attacks our constitutional system of equal representation.”