Posted on 03/08/2006 4:02:54 PM PST by VU4G10
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- State lawmakers are trying to drum up support for a congressional proposal to count only United States citizens when drawing congressional districts.
Supporters including House Speaker Jon Husted say it's unfair that states with large populations of non-citizens get more congressional seats than Ohio.
The House Rules and Reference Committee approved a resolution Tuesday encouraging Congress to amend the Constitution to make the change.
Current Census predictions say Ohio will lose two congressional seats in 2010 if the state continues to grow at a slower rate than other states, according to population trends.
Meanwhile, states like Texas and Florida could add as many as three seats.
"We should not empower people that are not citizens of the United States to affect how our government is run and operated," said Husted, a Dayton-area Republican.
Changing the process would not only require amending the U.S. Constitution, a long road by itself, but also overcoming opposition from states that benefit from large immigrant populations.
U.S. Rep. Candace Miller, a Michigan Republican, said the issue was one of fairness.
"There is no other country or nation on the entire planet that had anything as convoluted as we are doing here," Miller said.
The American Friends Service Committee, which advocates on behalf of immigrants, criticized the proposal as a harsh reaction to current anti-immigrant sentiment.
It is about time! Heck, Mexifornia only has three new districts based on illegal alien count...ain't it just lovely???
State lawmakers are trying to drum up support for a congressional proposal to count only United States citizens when drawing congressional districts.
Unbelieveable! How can this even be questioned? UGGGGG! This country is SERIOUSLY screwed up!
20.000.000.00 Illegals are skewing our federal elections!!!
"current anti-immigrant sentiment"
Anti-ILLEGAL immigrant. %$&^$$#@ it!
Should they maybe count 3/5?
Needs to be repeated over and over and over and over and over and over
Miller has been pushing this for a while now.
Needs to be repeated over and over and over and over and over and over
Does the constitution in fact require illegal residents to be counted for purposes of representation? I find that hard to believe!
Should they maybe count 3/5?
The American Friends Service Committee, which advocates on behalf of immigrants illegal aliens, criticized the proposal as a harsh reaction to current anti-immigrant illegal alien sentiment.
ping
Ok, I'm going to go out on a limb here. No one is as opposed to the illegal immigrants and I, but.... those states do get stuck with picking up one hellacious tab for education, health care, infrastructure and other costs related to those scum bags, so although I am not for empowering their states to get more seats, shouldn't they get something? Its not their fault our Country has bad border control. Ok, educate me now.
Truth is truth no matter how much you may disagree with someone on other stuff. This is such an obvious no brainer, HOW can it even be up for discussion?
Since they vote it doesn't make a lot of sense.
Bush's invitees.
The 14th Amendment, modifying similar language in Article I, section 2 of the Constitution states:
"Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed."
Anyone living in the area, legally or illegally, citizen or non-citizen resident, under-18 or legal voter, is counted according to the Constitution. The wording is clear and the only way to change it is by amending the Constitution.
There are certainly at least a dozen states, and many federal legislators, who derive power and funding from the swollen populations in their states without having to worry about a voter rebellion. So it's not going to get changed. Sorry.
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